Atari 8bit Computers Homepage at Old School Gamer
The Atari 8-bit family is a series of 8-bit home computers introduced by Atari, Inc. in 1979 as the Atari 400 and Atari 800.[2] The series was successively upgraded to Atari 1200XL , Atari 600XL, Atari 800XL, Atari 65XE, Atari 130XE, Atari 800XE, and Atari XEGS, the last discontinued in 1992. They differ primarily in packaging, each based on the MOS Technology 6502 CPU at 1.79 MHz[a] and the same custom coprocessor chips. As the first home computer architecture with coprocessors, it has graphics and sound more advanced than most contemporary machines. Video games were a major draw, and first-person space combat simulator Star Raiders is considered the platform’s killer app. The plug-and-play peripherals use the Atari SIO serial bus, with one developer eventually also co-patenting USB. While using the same internal technology, the Atari 800 was sold as a high-end model, while the 400 was more affordable. The 400 has a pressure-sensitive, spillproof membrane keyboard and initially shipped with 8 KB of RAM. The 800 has a conventional keyboard, a second (rarely used) cartridge slot, and hidden slots that allow easy RAM upgrades to 48K. Both models were replaced by the XL series in 1983. – Information from Wikipedia.
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The Atari 8-bit Computers: Home Computing Pioneers with Arcade Souls
The Atari 8-bit computers represent a fascinating paradox – simultaneously pioneers, icons, and emblems of a turbulent period within the blossoming personal computing space. Their influence upon shaping expectations for home computers, both positive and negative,...
News and Other Things of Interest to Atari 8-Bit People
The Atari 8-bit Computers: Home Computing Pioneers with Arcade Souls
The Atari 8-bit computers represent a fascinating paradox – simultaneously pioneers, icons, and emblems of a turbulent period within the blossoming personal computing space. Their influence upon shaping expectations for home computers, both positive and negative,...
My First Game: Jon Williams and Jet-Boot Jack
Everyone has to start somewhere. Even the most dedicated and renowned game developers began with a straightforward idea, polishing and honing it until their first game duly appeared. Sometimes these would be released virtually unnoticed; on other occasions, they’d hit...