Jump to content
IGNORED

Atari 8 Books - Any Decent Sources Today?


777ismyname

Recommended Posts

Is there a non-Amazon/non-eBay source for Atari books similar to Compute’s 1st/2nd Book of Atari xxxx, De are Atari, and such? I picked up a few books on eBay for $8 each recently, but so many of the good old standbys from days gone by are usually prohibitively expensive, with many of them pushing upper double digit $$.

 

 

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Link to comment
Share on other sites

5 hours ago, 777ismyname said:

 

Is there a non-Amazon/non-eBay source for Atari books similar to Compute’s 1st/2nd Book of Atari xxxx, De are Atari, and such?

 

Have you tried any used bookstores? Not thrift shops, but stores that actually specialize in used books.

 

I would be surprised to see any vintage computer books in such a place, but given that demand is (presumably) fairly low, prices should be more reasonable than online. You would do better with older stores that have been sitting on stock for years.

 

If you are OK with PDF copies in the interim, there is a reasonable  selection online: http://69.60.118.202/atari/atari-books.htm

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Some books are available as reprints (usually from India) on abebooks or the like, probably not spiral-bound.  Used book prices seem to be algorithm-driven, that is a high price somewhere on the web will increase other prices up to ridiculous levels. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

4 hours ago, slx said:

Some books are available as reprints (usually from India) on abebooks or the like, probably not spiral-bound.  Used book prices seem to be algorithm-driven, that is a high price somewhere on the web will increase other prices up to ridiculous levels. 

I tried the India reprint route once, never received anything.....

Link to comment
Share on other sites

 
Have you tried any used bookstores? Not thrift shops, but stores that actually specialize in used books.
 
I would be surprised to see any vintage computer books in such a place, but given that demand is (presumably) fairly low, prices should be more reasonable than online. You would do better with older stores that have been sitting on stock for years.
 
If you are OK with PDF copies in the interim, there is a reasonable  selection online: http://69.60.118.202/atari/atari-books.htm


Thank you, jhd. My rural area, or the region in general, has very few used bookstores...but I do stop and look from time to time. The .pdf versions are awesome and as far as I can tell I have most of them :) I’ve given some though of having a print shop fix up a couple or three for me.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Most online used book stores have the Atari programming books marked in the $25 and up range. The best bet is to post a wanted ad on the marketplace here
 

Thank you! I don’t think I’ve ever visited that part of these forums. Payday is in a few days and I will try it out.

I likely have many of the books at my mother’s house in deep storage. I have a missing XEGS and XF551 that I’m jonesing to get at, so I need to get to digging :)

$25 isn’t too bad and not too much different than having the longer ones printed and bound. I can deal with $25. Many of the ones on eBay are a multiple of that. I live a couple of mile from the Blue Ridge Parkway and go up the mountain a bit, walk some trails a bit, and go sit in the shade and read.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have duplicate copies of Compute!'s 1st, 2nd and 3rd books of Atari, 1st and 2nd books of Atari Graphics, and Mapping The Atari.
 
Been meaning to list them on eBay but I'd rather sell direct to a fellow AA member.. PM me if interested and I'm sure we can make a deal.

I shall do that, adam242! Thank you!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 9/19/2019 at 9:26 AM, Kehvn said:

I have quite a few books and atari mags that I was thinking of putting up for sale. Are you looking for anything in particular?

Kehvn, I'm just looking for some of the old standbys: De Re Atari, Compute's 1st, etc., Atari Graphics and Arcade Design, Dr. Wacko stuff, Mapping The Atari - stuff like that. It always good to see other North Carolinians on here :) jhd had mentioned used book stores. I really need to get over to Charlotte, there must be tons of used bookstore from there on over towards you.

 

On 9/19/2019 at 11:34 AM, jhd said:

 

Have you tried any used bookstores? Not thrift shops, but stores that actually specialize in used books.

 

I would be surprised to see any vintage computer books in such a place, but given that demand is (presumably) fairly low, prices should be more reasonable than online. You would do better with older stores that have been sitting on stock for years.

 

If you are OK with PDF copies in the interim, there is a reasonable  selection online: http://69.60.118.202/atari/atari-books.htm

Thank you, jhd, I will check that link out! My rural area, or the region in general, has very few used bookstores...but I do stop and look from time to time. The .pdf versions are awesome and as far as I can tell I have most of them :) I’ve given some though of having a print shop fix up a couple or three for me.

 

On 9/19/2019 at 1:03 PM, orpheuswaking said:

Most online used book stores have the Atari programming books marked in the $25 and up range. The best bet is to post a wanted ad on the marketplace here

 

Thank you! I don’t think I’ve ever visited that part of these forums. Payday is in a few days and I will try it out.

I likely have many of the books at my mother’s house in deep storage. I have a missing XEGS and XF551 that I’m jonesing to get at, so I need to get to digging :)

$25 isn’t too bad and not too much different than having the longer ones printed and bound. I can deal with $25. Many of the ones on eBay are a multiple of that. I live a couple of mile from the Blue Ridge Parkway and go up the mountain a bit, walk some trails a bit, and go sit in the shade and read.

 

8 hours ago, _The Doctor__ said:

yep it seems all these 'algorithms' run away with themselves like hockey sticksn charts to the sky....

Indeed! Several that I've peeked at on eBay this summer have been pushing $100 :(

 

On 9/19/2019 at 7:09 PM, adam242 said:

I have duplicate copies of Compute!'s 1st, 2nd and 3rd books of Atari, 1st and 2nd books of Atari Graphics, and Mapping The Atari.

 

Been meaning to list them on eBay but I'd rather sell direct to a fellow AA member.. PM me if interested and I'm sure we can make a deal.

I shall send you one on Saturday. Thank you, adam242!

 

9 hours ago, slx said:

Some books are available as reprints (usually from India) on abebooks or the like, probably not spiral-bound.  Used book prices seem to be algorithm-driven, that is a high price somewhere on the web will increase other prices up to ridiculous levels. 

That is evidently how it goes, unfortunately :(

 

4 hours ago, Almerian said:

I tried the India reprint route once, never received anything.....

I haven't looked at those services, but have looked at the big box office supply stores. A recommendation I had received recently was Lulu and they were a good deal cheaper than Staples. I hesitate to do the print shop route.

 

On 9/19/2019 at 1:11 PM, DrVenkman said:

Atarimania has all the books mentioned - and many more - as high quality scans in the books and documents section. 

That is an excellent resource and I have downloaded a large part of them. Certain ones I would really like to have a physical copy. I have quite a few from bitd in storage at my mother's house and really need to get over there and find my XEGS and XF551.

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think we all would like to own real printed versions but as you have found they are being sold for fortunes mostly so we have to do with PDF's in many cases, thankfully I still have my Mapping The Atari but the De Ra and all the others, sadly long gone, lost in moves etc..

 

Good luck on getting some real ones but your pay day is going to have to be massive :)

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

7 hours ago, Mclaneinc said:

I think we all would like to own real printed versions but as you have found they are being sold for fortunes mostly so we have to do with PDF's in many cases, thankfully I still have my Mapping The Atari but the De Ra and all the others, sadly long gone, lost in moves etc..

 

Good luck on getting some real ones but your pay day is going to have to be massive :)

Yes, I have PDF downloads of just about every Atari book available that way, definitely all the ones I was interested in. But I find it a pain, since I use a real Atari, and not an emulator for programming, to have to look at a PDF on my PC while working on my Atari. I'd much rather have real books on a book stand next to my Atari monitor. And I think it would still cost me more on paper and especially ink, to actually print them out rather than buy an original!

 

I used to have a few books back in the day, like Mapping The Atari and some BASIC books. Eventually sold in the late 80's, since I never bothered with them, to buy some new XEGS games for my 130XE. But in my late-middle age, I find myself getting into the more technical on the software side (have been for decades with hardware), and wanting to learn to program and use those books again. But thanks to my algorithm, which is making friends (unwittingly) with people on-line that happen to have lots of doubles of old books, and talking about needing to start collecting said books in passing, and then getting a surprise package with a couple dozen old Atari books for free! ;) The only real book I still want, at this point, that I don't yet have is De Re Atari. Thanks @Timothy Kline !

Edited by Gunstar
Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 9/19/2019 at 4:00 AM, 777ismyname said:

 

Is there a non-Amazon/non-eBay source for Atari books similar to Compute’s 1st/2nd Book of Atari xxxx, De are Atari, and such? I picked up a few books on eBay for $8 each recently, but so many of the good old standbys from days gone by are usually prohibitively expensive, with many of them pushing upper double digit $$.

 

 

Best has many new books, most of them at decent prices.  Copies of De Re Atari for ~$30.

 

B&C has it for ~$40

 

Bruce used to have new copies 'The Master Memory Map' and others - Since he no longer lists his inventory on his website I would contact him, he has a lot of stuff not listed on his ebay store. I think he also had the Dr.Wacko book.

 

I like having the hard copies as well, but I was having trouble finding ' Atari Graphics and Arcade Design' so I had a company print me one from the PDF. Was around $30

 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

4 hours ago, Gunstar said:

Yes, I have PDF downloads of just about every Atari book available that way, definitely all the ones I was interested in. But I find it a pain, since I use a real Atari, and not an emulator for programming, to have to look at a PDF on my PC while working on my Atari.

I use a tablet for that if I don't have a printed version. Easier to search and instant magnification for ageing eyes!

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 9/21/2019 at 4:23 PM, slx said:

Bravo Sierra Computers has some books listed for very decent prices:

http://atarisales.sdf.org/8btbooks.htm

Thank you, slx! I had forgotten that website :( I will check them out in a little bit!

 

On 9/21/2019 at 4:13 PM, slx said:

I use a tablet for that if I don't have a printed version. Easier to search and instant magnification for ageing eyes!

 

I may have to repossess my iPad from my daughter. She moved back into one of my apartments after being gone for several years and came to the daddy's "store" and fixed herself right up :)

 

On 9/21/2019 at 11:58 AM, Ute said:

Best has many new books, most of them at decent prices.  Copies of De Re Atari for ~$30.

 

B&C has it for ~$40

 

Bruce used to have new copies 'The Master Memory Map' and others - Since he no longer lists his inventory on his website I would contact him, he has a lot of stuff not listed on his ebay store. I think he also had the Dr.Wacko book.

 

I like having the hard copies as well, but I was having trouble finding ' Atari Graphics and Arcade Design' so I had a company print me one from the PDF. Was around $30

 

Thank you! It may well pay me to go to mother's house and go through my storage building. I know that I have a never opened, still wrapped De Re Atari. After seeing what the OSS carts are going for, I need to find some of them. I have a new in package BASIC XL, BASIC XE, and Action! I got them from some mail order vendor's clearance sale in late 88 or early 89.

 

I priced print jobs at Lulu and they were quite a bit cheaper than Staples, Office Depot/Max, etc. Where one printing was $28.xx at Staples, it was almost $10 cheaper at Lulu. My financial impotence dictates that I may have to go that route :) I have to DM a couple of guys on here to see what they have and what I can afford, then I will try your suggestions.

 

Back to using a tablet...it just struck me that I may as well use this laptop I am typing on. It is a really decent Dell E6230 that I picked up for peanuts (less than the better deals on the books we are discussing). It was sold as non-working, but only needed a CMOS battery. I am using it as the SIO2PC-USB drive devices.

On 9/21/2019 at 11:10 AM, mytek said:

Thank you, mytek! And a bigger thank you for all the awesome stuff you have designed!! It is Atari hardware porn :)

 

 

On 9/21/2019 at 4:39 AM, Mclaneinc said:

I think we all would like to own real printed versions but as you have found they are being sold for fortunes mostly so we have to do with PDF's in many cases, thankfully I still have my Mapping The Atari but the De Ra and all the others, sadly long gone, lost in moves etc..

 

Good luck on getting some real ones but your pay day is going to have to be massive :)

Thank you, Paul. The times of receiving massive paydays is well behind me. I am quite physically infirm. I still owe over $400,000 for my last several heart surgeries and untold $$$$$$$ to my various spinal surgeons, oncologists, hematologists, etc. It would be like a massive payday if some of the authors/rights holders would release some of the books into the public domain. I may attempt to contact some of the aforementioned to see if they would make it happen.

 

Thank you all for the help!

  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

4 hours ago, 777ismyname said:

 

Thank you, Paul. The times of receiving massive paydays is well behind me. I am quite physically infirm. I still owe over $400,000 for my last several heart surgeries and untold $$$$$$$ to my various spinal surgeons, oncologists, hematologists, etc. It would be like a massive payday if some of the authors/rights holders would release some of the books into the public domain. I may attempt to contact some of the aforementioned to see if they would make it happen.

 

I'm so sorry to hear about the debt, sadly you are not the only one on here with poor health, myself included...Spinal issues are quite common amongst the group..

 

I can only wish you luck if you do the lottery and the best health possible...

 

Good luck with the authors..

 

Paul.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

37 minutes ago, Mclaneinc said:

I'm so sorry to hear about the debt, sadly you are not the only one on here with poor health, myself included...Spinal issues are quite common amongst the group..

 

I can only wish you luck if you do the lottery and the best health possible...

 

Good luck with the authors..

 

Paul.

I no longer worry about medical debit one bit :) I will never sweat that stuff again. I occasionally purchase a lottery ticket, but only with loose change. Thank you for the well wishes and I reciprocate your sentiments.

 

Now, time to play with this SIO2PC-USB device :)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I rarely see the old type-in books around any more though I don't look specifically for books very often.

The thing to remember is that they're all over 30 years old now and some even over 40.  Sure, young for a book but like retro computing gear there was that period between obsolete and retro cool where a lot of them were just thrown out.

 

The only Atari type-in books I have are the one I wrote and the one from Virgin that came out before it.

I've got multiple other Virgin books for other computers, from memory ZX81, Spectrum and BBC.

And my C64 games book and one or two others.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...