some Atari 800 questions

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I've always wanted an Atari 800 since I was 12. I had to settle for an Atari 400 back in 1982 due to the cost of the 800 at the time ($800 vs. $400). Well, I finally got my wish this year and picked up an 800.

 

I've noticed a few things:

It has a 10K ROM, a 16K RAM and an exposed 32K RAM Board. Is this a normal configuration? I assumed most of them had 10K ROM and 3-16K RAM Boards. Is the 32K RAM Board a third party board, or is it Atari factory installed?

 

also, I noticed on the bottom of the Atari there is a gold imprinted stamp that says "ATARI / 162" is this normal for Atari to stamp these like this? or is this a first run production, # 162 ? It looks like this may be an early Atari 800.

 

The last question is I also have a "ATARI OPERATING SYSTEM SOURCE MANUAL" its a blue cover three ring hole-punched paper with the entire revision "B" source code. Is this an item Atari offered publically, or is this an Internal Atari document? Perhaps it was offered to developers, as part of a software development kit?

 

I've owned most Atari systems and hands down, the Atari 800 is the nicest machine. Built like a tank!

[+doctorclu]

Ah man.. you're mentioning my favorite hot rod. I get on BBS's daily with an Atari 800.

 

 

"I've always wanted an Atari 800 since I was 12. I had to settle for an Atari 400 back in 1982 due to the cost of the 800 at the time ($800 vs. $400). Well, I finally got my wish this year and picked up an 800."

 

Me too. Started on a 400, and in later years got a 800. Actually I can thank my fast typing and my good job to getting used to a 400 keyboard.

 

"I've noticed a few things:

It has a 10K ROM, a 16K RAM and an exposed 32K RAM Board. Is this a normal configuration? I assumed most of them had 10K ROM and 3-16K RAM Boards. Is the 32K RAM Board a third party board, or is it Atari factory installed?"

 

Probably a third party board. I have one or two myself. And sadly the Atari 800 cannot use any directly accessable memory beyond 48k, though anything above that can be used as a ram disk. Makes like interesting as a 800 user when a lot of the new applications are XL and XE based, but the 800 is worth keeping around.

 

"also, I noticed on the bottom of the Atari there is a gold imprinted stamp that says "ATARI / 162" is this normal for Atari to stamp these like this? or is this a first run production, # 162 ? It looks like this may be an early Atari 800."

 

Got that too. There are multiple models of 800's you'll notice. Ones with that stamp, of course the OS rev A or B, and ones that have the brown plastic levers on the top hatch verses the screw on type to name a few differences.

 

"The last question is I also have a "ATARI OPERATING SYSTEM SOURCE MANUAL" its a blue cover three ring hole-punched paper with the entire revision "B" source code. Is this an item Atari offered publically, or is this an Internal Atari document? Perhaps it was offered to developers, as part of a software development kit?"

 

Doesn't sound like the standard stock to me. To matter the fact I may have seen that. It sounds like the service center manual that was fairly hard to find. We have one just like it that is a tech manual. Big Atari symbol on the front, blue cover... sounds familiar.

 

"I've owned most Atari systems and hands down, the Atari 800 is the nicest machine. Built like a tank!"

 

Yes it is. I like the 800 for the following reasons...

 

1) Looks like a typewriter.

2) You rub your hands over the vents on the top of the 800 and it makes a chirping sound.

3) Nice keys.

4) A monitor port.

5) No built in basic to disable.

6) No translator disks needed.

7) Nice slanted but low design, slightly angled to the user.

Easily accessable memory and rom boards.

9) Built in speaker.. for better or for worse.

10) That extra cartridge port which I will find a definate use for one of these days.

 

Doc Clu 800

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2) You rub your hands over the vents on the top of the 800 and it makes a chirping sound.

 

LOL Too Funny. I just did that 10 minutes ago before reading this and though, wow, that was weird noise!

 

Do you know what the ATARI / 162 number represents? Is it a unit number, or batch etc? Does this mean this is an early model Atari 800?