Is it only games?

[Pengwin]

I'm just curious, how many people here use their A8 for doing stuff other than games and game programming?

 

Do other people still use an A8 for word processing, accounts, databases, etc?

Edited November 22, 2006 by Pengwin

[Gunstar]

I still use my Atari for word processing becuase I've lost too many files using windows based word processors when I hadn't saved it yet and the system crashes, or when my HD crashes and files are lost. My Atari is far more stable than the Windows environment, and I can still get high quality printouts with a modern deskjet printer hooked up to my Atari. I also use my Atari for graphic art just because I find it more fun to do art on the Atari, regardless of resolution and pallette. I also use database/budget software on my Atari for the same reasons as word processing as well as the fact that I don't have to worry about hacker's getting my personal info or viruses corrupting my data. I save copies on both Atari floppies and on the PC via the SIO2PC&A.P.E, with less worry of people using my info if they do get it off my PC, due to the ancient format the data is in that might throw hackers for a loop trying to figure out why they can't open the files on their PC's(at least for the casual hacker, obviously a good hacker finds little problem in opening the stuff).

Edited November 22, 2006 by Gunstar

[+remowilliams]

I'm just curious, how many people here use their A8 for doing stuff other than games and game programming?

 

Do other people still use an A8 for word processing, accounts, databases, etc?

Just the games. The times of it being a useful tool for any sort of modern productivity passed a loooooong time ago. "Hey Joe, could you put that Powerpoint presentation on 536 floppies for me? Thanks"

Edited November 22, 2006 by remowilliams

[Gunstar]

I'm just curious, how many people here use their A8 for doing stuff other than games and game programming?

 

Do other people still use an A8 for word processing, accounts, databases, etc?

Just the games. The times of it being a useful tool for any sort of modern productivity passed a loooooong time ago.

Well obviously you are wrong here, I'm proof of that. I use it for VERY constructive productivity. When it comes out onto paper in the end, you can't tell my paper was written on an 8-bit instead of a modern PC.

Edited November 22, 2006 by Gunstar

[DamageX]

Other than game/demo programming, I rarely do anything productive on any of my computers, 1MHz and 1GHz alike. I used to use the A8 to type things up quick, until my XDM 121 crapped out. Despite other limitations, that printer was faster than most dot-matrix and without the clogging problems of an inkjet.

[Ross PK]

Just the games, and any programming I do which is rare is just magazine type ins.

[+DarkLord]

I'm just curious, how many people here use their A8 for doing stuff other than games and game programming?

 

Do other people still use an A8 for word processing, accounts, databases, etc?

 

Quite a few 8bit users still use their machines for telecommunications - logging

on to my BBS (DarkForce!), for example.

 

I'm sort of speaking for others, but its not "hearsay" because I know... I am

the SysOp after all.

[dinosaur]

I'm just curious, how many people here use their A8 for doing stuff other than games and game programming?

 

Do other people still use an A8 for word processing, accounts, databases, etc?

 

Quite a few 8bit users still use their machines for telecommunications - logging

on to my BBS (DarkForce!), for example.

 

I'm sort of speaking for others, but its not "hearsay" because I know... I am

the SysOp after all.

 

I used the 8bit for telecommunications and Internet for years.

Unfortunately the Maryland library system has ended the shell account ISP access.

 

The Atari will telecommunicate no more,until I can find another shell account.

 

I am investigating adial.co.uk Using 1010-987 it only costs 53¢ to connect and 4¢

a minute to call the UK.

[Thelen]

Hi Gunstar, I'm very curious about your print-outs with the a8+printer ! Do you have some pics ?

[Gury]

Hi Pengwin, it was great chat yesterday, see ya on next Wedn. chats.

 

About the use of A8... Well, I was thinking about the same question. The games are the main reason, but it does not mean I can't use it for other things. The next best thing is programming it, it is fun, but it is just that finishing projects is harder. When I get appropriate printer and 80-column card with appropriate monitor, I will use Atari for other purposes, not just games. Even 40-column mode is not so bad for editing text, you just have to adapt yourself to such setting.

 

If editorial staff of old Atari magazines used it to prepare articles and such, using AtariWriter, Paperclip, First XLent Word Processor, Letter Perfect... and great database like SysFile and SysCalc for tabbed calculations, it can be used even today. The data can be stored on separate disks and loading when necessary. Using new additions, like SIO2PC, Flashcards, it make things even easier.

Edited November 23, 2006 by Gury

[kchris73]

Just games, and even for that, I have too little time, although hopefully that will change next year once I get a major project done.

[thomasholzer]

I used to use my A8 for everything, comms, WP, music making, graphics, digitizing (used to have the Print Technik Video digitizer), porn. And games, of course.

 

Recently I used my A8 for learning French (Conversational French) and yes, it worked. Scored a babe in France too :-)

[+DarkLord]

 

I used the 8bit for telecommunications and Internet for years.

Unfortunately the Maryland library system has ended the shell account ISP access.

 

The Atari will telecommunicate no more,until I can find another shell account.

 

I am investigating adial.co.uk Using 1010-987 it only costs 53¢ to connect and 4¢

a minute to call the UK.

 

Get a Lantronix UDS10....

[jetset]

I still use my Atari for word processing becuase I've lost too many files using windows based word processors when I hadn't saved it yet and the system crashes, or when my HD crashes and files are lost. My Atari is far more stable than the Windows environment,

 

 

Sounds to me like someone is just a MS hater. Do you still use tin foil on the end of the rabbit ears on your television too?

 

Windos has its problems theres no question, but if you are having that many problems that you have to use an Atari800 for word processing, you probablly shouldn't be allowed to even own a PC made during the last 15 years.

Edited November 23, 2006 by jetset

[+DarkLord]

I still use my Atari for word processing becuase I've lost too many files using windows based word processors when I hadn't saved it yet and the system crashes, or when my HD crashes and files are lost. My Atari is far more stable than the Windows environment,

 

 

Sounds to me like someone is just a MS hater. Do you still use tin foil on the end of the rabbit ears on your television too?

 

Windos has its problems theres no question, but if you are having that many problems that you have to use an Atari800 for word processing, you probablly shouldn't be allowed to even own a PC made during the last 15 years.

 

Or the only real alternative - Linux.

[kevin242]

I still use my Atari for word processing becuase I've lost too many files using windows based word processors when I hadn't saved it yet and the system crashes, or when my HD crashes and files are lost. My Atari is far more stable than the Windows environment,

 

 

Sounds to me like someone is just a MS hater. Do you still use tin foil on the end of the rabbit ears on your television too?

 

Windos has its problems theres no question, but if you are having that many problems that you have to use an Atari800 for word processing, you probablly shouldn't be allowed to even own a PC made during the last 15 years.

 

Or the only real alternative - Linux.

 

don't forget OS X.

 

As far as using an 8bit Atari for word processing what the hell are you writing? My God the 8bit is a great platform but it's hard to imagine using Bank Street Writer or Atari Writer again. Say what you will about modern computers Word Processing is one area the Atari never excelled at (altho I did use it until I went to college and bought an Amiga because I needed 80 columns and spell checking not to mention the outline fonts that allowed very close to ink jet quality on dot matrix which Atari's 6502 was incapable of doing).

 

Dont any of your documents go over 64k or 128k?