800XL or ST?

[liquidcross]

I'm considering picking up an Atari computer at some point...but should I go with an 800 series or an ST series? Naturally, I'd mainly be using the system for games...but how do the systems differ as far as ease of use, peripheral availability, compatibility with monitors, etc?

 

Thanks!

[oesii]

Hard to compare computers that were developed so many years apart and with so many different components. Best case scenario is to be patient and pick up one of each when you find them for less than $20

 

I think the 8bit has a more recognizable 80's arcade library of games and the ST has some nice PC/Amiga games that were popular in the late 80's-early 90's. If you have a preference then get one or the other.

 

Also the ST has a much easier operating system to use, it feels like the Amiga or Mac OS's of the time. But the 8bit has a cartridge port that is home to hundreds of games that you can plug in right away and play.

 

I'm sure everyone here can go on and on like this for twenty pages, so just try a few games in emulation and see what you like and then start experimenting.

[Goochman]

ST will have better quality games (obviously ) - The ST has networking and HD solutions readily available - However, depending on the ST you get you will have a proprietary monitor to use.

 

The 800XL is small, cheap and plugs into any TV. Games are not as involed or colorful but still fun.

 

Your call

[Bryan]

I had an ST for many years and got enjoyment out of it, but I prefer the elegant design of older 8-bit Atari's.

 

-Bry

[emkay]

For comparison:

 

Here are two auctions on EBAY germany...:

 

800 + Floppy

 

and

 

1040 ST + Monitor + external HD

 

Take a look at the prizings.

[liquidcross]

Ouch. If only the STs weren't so expensive...

[AtariDude]

I think what caused the ST to be much more expensive is the rare keyboard with the dinosaur on it

 

In all seriousness, the ST was a more advanced machine and could be used for a lot of different tasks (it even was able to emulate a MAC computer and at faster speeds than the real thing!). The 8 bit is a good, entry level computer with a good collection of arcade games.

 

If price is an issue, the 8 bit machine will tend to be less expensive than the ST because the ST usually comes with the monitor and that tends to add to the price.

[Zeptari1]

I got lucky!

 

I went into a mom and pop type video game store a couple years ago and asked them if they had any old atari games in the back. He said he tought so, and went into the back of the store. I waited a few min's, boy was i wicked surprised when he came out with a 1040 under his arm's...

he said i got this and a monitor for it and a box of disks and a mouse too.

I said how much...well anyways i paid $30 for everything!

 

Funny this is I paid over $1,000 for a 520 and a single sided drive when the ST line first came out in the fall of 85.!!!!

 

Them days rocked!

 

As much as i liked my 800xl... i just did so much more on the st!

Drawing in degas, going on local BBS's<<<-- taht was a big one... i was online sooo long ago....plus it was my fiest computer that used a mouse!

And much latter is was the fist computer i got a hard disk drive for!

 

Atari user meetings here in western mass we're great too!

I remember seeing neodesk for the first time! the guys that made it show it off us!

 

too much atari ST excitement!!!

 

i gotta go!

[AtariDude]

Yeah I remember Neodesk. If Atari had released that with the ST, it really would have rocked even more than it did. The ST deserved a better fate than it ultimately received. Here was a computer that you could get real work done, come emulate a MAC really well, and was affordable.

 

You got a pretty good price on that ST. I remember going to a computer show about 2 years ago where someone was trying to sell an Atari 1040STE for $125 with monitor and power supply but he would not guarantee that it worked. I thought he was out of his mind to try to sell it at that price. Plus the cover looked like it was loose a little bit.