Atari 800! Whoo!
5
What's your favorite Atari 8-bit Home Computer?
Started by Ransom, Jan 29 2012 11:37 AM
41 replies to this topic
#27 OFFLINE
Defender II
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Dragonstomper
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Posted Sat Feb 4, 2012 4:40 PM
I like the PAL 600XL because of the size, monitor jack, & the solid keyboard. 
To me it is the best size and feel.
With a memory upgrade and switchable OS It does everything I need an 8-bit to do on a daily basis and everything else on those times when connected to my other periphals.
I'd like a 1450XLD to copare it to, but that wasn't on th pole list, and no-one has donated one to me yet or offered one for sale.
I could use one for a birthday or Christmas present. Hint, hint.
To me it is the best size and feel.
With a memory upgrade and switchable OS It does everything I need an 8-bit to do on a daily basis and everything else on those times when connected to my other periphals.
I'd like a 1450XLD to copare it to, but that wasn't on th pole list, and no-one has donated one to me yet or offered one for sale.
I could use one for a birthday or Christmas present. Hint, hint.
#28 OFFLINE
boxpressed
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Posted Sat Feb 4, 2012 6:06 PM
My XEGS "Marketting" sample with what appears to be a pre-production mainboard. It's also my first 8-bit--acquired in 2011!
#29 ONLINE
tep392
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Moonsweeper
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Posted Sat Feb 4, 2012 6:11 PM
My sentimental favorite is the 400 which was my first computer.
#30 OFFLINE
scotty
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Chopper Commander
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Posted Sat Feb 4, 2012 7:55 PM
My favorite?? My own PC ruuning Altirra with Microsoft's XL looking keyboard...
This thing is BAD ASS!!! You can not tell me whoever designed this thing did not have an XL as a kid.
http://2.bp.blogspot...01002132617.jpg
Seriously though... I have owned a 400, 800, Several 800 XLs and a 600XL as well as some ST's. Never had a 1200 but would love to get one, as I LOVED the feel of the keyboard. I voted for the 1200XL. Although 1450XLD would have gotten my vote if it was on there.
http://2.bp.blogspot...01002132617.jpg
This thing is BAD ASS!!! You can not tell me whoever designed this thing did not have an XL as a kid.
http://2.bp.blogspot...01002132617.jpg
Seriously though... I have owned a 400, 800, Several 800 XLs and a 600XL as well as some ST's. Never had a 1200 but would love to get one, as I LOVED the feel of the keyboard. I voted for the 1200XL. Although 1450XLD would have gotten my vote if it was on there.
http://2.bp.blogspot...01002132617.jpg
Edited by scotty, Sat Feb 4, 2012 8:02 PM.
#31 OFFLINE
scotty
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Chopper Commander
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Posted Sat Feb 4, 2012 8:04 PM
Not sure why last post displayed wrong pic....
http://ecx.images-am...41C2ZLa9HjL.jpg
http://ecx.images-am...41C2ZLa9HjL.jpg
Edited by scotty, Sat Feb 4, 2012 8:04 PM.
#32 OFFLINE
Sean39
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Moonsweeper
- Atari 800 systems
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Posted Sat Feb 4, 2012 9:22 PM
Hi everyone
Ok I have had the 400,800,and the 130XE. First off the Design work that went into to atar 400 and 800 computers with heavy sheilding was great.
There was alot of Amateur Radio opperators that loved them. One reason being the RF sheilding kept out interference from their transmitters. Aslo at one
time antic magazine showed a program for Amateur radio operators to be able to pick up morse code by just plugging into the Joy stick port. This
computer was great for this since it had 4 joystick ports and not 2. I liked the atari 130XE because it did have some advantages to the memory.
What I found out later there was more programs out for the 800 and 400 than the 130XE. I also found out some of my Cartridges for the 400 and 800
computer wouldnot work on the 130XE. I am sure the same problem came with the 800XL series.
Even though I have a 130XE and this is a hard choice. I really have to go with the Atari 800 computer. I just love the fact it has the expansion slots,and you
could get memory cards big enough to open up one slot for other things like having a card for 80 collom screens. Later on they had it just come
out of the Joystick port for the 80 collom screen.
I do love how the machine looks. I had a frind who had the apple computer at his house. After getting an atari 800 I found I loved it more than his machine.
Now my 13 year old daughter loves playing on my Atari 800,but sometimes I have to break out the 130XE because she like the flight simulator that will seem
to run only on the XE machine.
My vote goes to the Atari 800 and if you have ever seen the 37 page advertisment sheet they had for atari products back then for the 800 and 400
you would be just blown away by how many perifial devices they had to support this computer.
Great computer
Sean
Ok I have had the 400,800,and the 130XE. First off the Design work that went into to atar 400 and 800 computers with heavy sheilding was great.
There was alot of Amateur Radio opperators that loved them. One reason being the RF sheilding kept out interference from their transmitters. Aslo at one
time antic magazine showed a program for Amateur radio operators to be able to pick up morse code by just plugging into the Joy stick port. This
computer was great for this since it had 4 joystick ports and not 2. I liked the atari 130XE because it did have some advantages to the memory.
What I found out later there was more programs out for the 800 and 400 than the 130XE. I also found out some of my Cartridges for the 400 and 800
computer wouldnot work on the 130XE. I am sure the same problem came with the 800XL series.
Even though I have a 130XE and this is a hard choice. I really have to go with the Atari 800 computer. I just love the fact it has the expansion slots,and you
could get memory cards big enough to open up one slot for other things like having a card for 80 collom screens. Later on they had it just come
out of the Joystick port for the 80 collom screen.
I do love how the machine looks. I had a frind who had the apple computer at his house. After getting an atari 800 I found I loved it more than his machine.
Now my 13 year old daughter loves playing on my Atari 800,but sometimes I have to break out the 130XE because she like the flight simulator that will seem
to run only on the XE machine.
My vote goes to the Atari 800 and if you have ever seen the 37 page advertisment sheet they had for atari products back then for the 800 and 400
you would be just blown away by how many perifial devices they had to support this computer.
Great computer
Sean
#33 OFFLINE
AtariDude
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Posted Sat Feb 4, 2012 10:14 PM
Atari 800XL. It was the first computer that i owned and i use it for a lot of hours. I still even have my floppy disks although i do not know if any of them would still work after all these years.
#34 OFFLINE
Larry
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Stargunner
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Posted Tue Feb 7, 2012 2:25 PM
We should judge these by the pound, so... the 800 -- I like 'em BIG.
-Larry
-Larry
#35 ONLINE
sloopy
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Posted Tue Feb 7, 2012 8:48 PM
Larry, on Tue Feb 7, 2012 2:25 PM, said:
We should judge these by the pound, so... the 800 -- I like 'em BIG.
-Larry
-Larry
I like them BIG too...
oh wait... your talkin Atari's... I like them 8bits in all sizes
i'll pass on the sux-teen bit stuff...
<sir-mix-alot> CENSORED </sir-mix-alot>
sloopy.
#36 OFFLINE
JamesD
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Posted Wed Feb 8, 2012 12:52 AM
I always wanted an 800, it's my favorite.
I thought the dual cartridge design with upgradable BASIC/Languages was a great idea. Then Atari totally dropped the ball by leaving the 2nd cartridge slot off of the 400 so nobody could/would do anything with it.
I thought the dual cartridge design with upgradable BASIC/Languages was a great idea. Then Atari totally dropped the ball by leaving the 2nd cartridge slot off of the 400 so nobody could/would do anything with it.
#37 OFFLINE
Pengwin
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Posted Wed Feb 8, 2012 4:30 AM
As the 800XL is the only A8 I have ever owned, I would have to go with that. But I do like the style of it, I was never really taken with the look o the XE series, nor the pre XL models.
#38 OFFLINE
wood_jl
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Posted Wed Feb 8, 2012 2:58 PM
This poll doesn't take into account the fervor of "passionate" A8 owners. What I mean is, "Favorite for what?" Favorite to look at? Old Beige 800. Favorite for nostalgia? 400.
But I assume you just mean "if you had to choose one, today."
In that case, it's a toss-up between 800XL and 130XE, but I'm going to have to give the 130XE a slight edge, because the video output is SO MUCH BRIGHTER than the 800XL, even after you hook up the "missing chroma line" on the 800XL's video port. For gaming (what one of these computers is most likely going to be used for, today) the brighter video more than offsets the 130XE keyboard (which you're not so likely to use much today) being less comfortable than the 800XL. Also, BASIC revision C is on the 130XE.
If someone would make a little board that "fixes" 800XL video to be superior to 130XE (I can't do complicated mods) then it would be grand!
But for stock, out-of-the-box performance, 130XE. Modded? Then 800XL.
But I assume you just mean "if you had to choose one, today."
In that case, it's a toss-up between 800XL and 130XE, but I'm going to have to give the 130XE a slight edge, because the video output is SO MUCH BRIGHTER than the 800XL, even after you hook up the "missing chroma line" on the 800XL's video port. For gaming (what one of these computers is most likely going to be used for, today) the brighter video more than offsets the 130XE keyboard (which you're not so likely to use much today) being less comfortable than the 800XL. Also, BASIC revision C is on the 130XE.
If someone would make a little board that "fixes" 800XL video to be superior to 130XE (I can't do complicated mods) then it would be grand!
But for stock, out-of-the-box performance, 130XE. Modded? Then 800XL.
#39 OFFLINE
Ransom
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Posted Wed Feb 8, 2012 3:20 PM
I should have made it clearer, but what I was going for was which model you like best (i.e., the one to which you have the greatest positive emotional response).
#40 OFFLINE
kogden
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Chopper Commander
Posted Wed Feb 8, 2012 9:12 PM
These days I'd have to say the 600XL is my favorite due to the size and fun hackability. All of the XL's are really cool looking. My 600XL has a very solid keyboard too.
-BUT-
The 130XE is a close second as it was my first computer I truly got to call my own. When I was a kid I would have told you there wasn't ever a better computer on this planet. I don't think my parents saw me for a month when I got that thing for Christmas.
-BUT-
The 130XE is a close second as it was my first computer I truly got to call my own. When I was a kid I would have told you there wasn't ever a better computer on this planet. I don't think my parents saw me for a month when I got that thing for Christmas.
#41 OFFLINE
Ransom
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Posted Mon Feb 20, 2012 11:33 AM
Bump just in case anyone missed voting.
#42 OFFLINE
Ransom
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Posted Tue Feb 21, 2012 11:34 AM
I'm not surprise the 800XL came out on top, but I am surprised the 800 got more votes than the 130XE. Over the years I got the impression a lot of people really liked the 130XE, and didn't hear much from the folks who liked the 800. Maybe times have changed people's minds?
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