Wanting to learn more about the 8 bit world.

[Gabriel]

Someday in the future, I'm planning on getting an Atari Computer. Going by pure desire, I'd want to get either an Atari 800 (because I had wanted one back in the day) or an Atari XE game system (because of it's obscurity and 80s coolness). But, I'm not sure if either one of those is the RIGHT choice for me.

 

Initially, I'm going to want to play cartridge games, and that's about it. Eventually, I'll want to get a disk drive and do some BASIC programming, as well as look at the vast array of disc software out there. It's an option I want to leave open to pursue, but I may not because I'm more of a Commodore 64 person.

 

The thing about Atari computers that confuses me is the 400/800, XL, XE stuff. So, someone explain it to me.

 

Can I use an old Star Raiders cart for the Atari 400/800 on a XE game system? If it has XL written on it, can I use a cart with an Atari 800? Are there any kind of computer perhipheral restrictions if I get a XE Game System?

[Rybags]

Star Raiders will work on any system.

 

Most cartridges (probably 99% +) will work on 16K systems.

 

Peripherals (serial ones) should be compatible across the whole range, but 16K is too little to be much use for a disk drive.

 

Your best bet would probably be an XEGS with keyboard. An APE interface is a must-have, even more so than a disk drive for a new purchaser.

[jaybird3rd]

There have been a couple of threads comparing the relative merits of the XEGS vs. the 800XL, so you might want to search around a bit for those. Put briefly, the Atari 8-bit computers were repackaged several times over the years, but they're all essentially the same machine except for different OS software and extra RAM:

• 400/800: The original Atari 8-bit series; did not have BASIC built-in. The 800 typically has a maximum of 48K of RAM.
  
• XL Series: Replaced the 400/800 series; added BASIC in the ROM, which usually has to be disabled (by holding down OPTION during powerup) for games to work The 800XL had 64K of RAM, and the 600XL can be easily expanded to 64K.
  
• XE Series and XEGS: Replaced the XL series; the 130XE had 128K of RAM and the 65XE and XEGS had 64K. Aside for cosmetic changes (and the added RAM on the 130XE), these are very much like the 800XL internally, and all have built-in BASIC.
  

As a general rule, software written for one series will work on subsequent series; you can play Star Raiders and other 400/800 games on an XL or XE. Some XE titles require 64K of RAM, but these can also be used on an 800XL or upgraded 600XL. The only exception is a small number of 400/800 titles that don't work on the XL/XE because of changes in the OS, but this can be fixed by using a "translator."

 

Since the XEGS has the SIO serial bus (like all other Atari computers), it is compatible with all peripherals that Atari released.

[Fröhn]

I would get an Atari 800XL, it's the most standard computer for Atari 8 Bit gaming as I see it.