5 replies to this topic

[panda_racer]

A while back my friend and I bought an Atari with a bunch of controllers and games off of ebay. With the controllers we got a Madison Computer light pen. it fits in the Atari and works, but it doesn't do anything useful besides have the light at the tip go on.
here's some pictures (sorry, my camera sucks) does anyone know anything about it?
thanks

[Foxsolo2000]

Wasn't that suppossed to be used with the old XL range of computers? I remember Atari releasing a writing tablet that came with its own light pen that could translate your writing or drawing to the tv screen but I have to admit that your model is new to me.

[Gunstar]

It sounds like you are talking about the Atari Touchtablet, which is NOT a lightpen, the pen it comes with is merely for use with the tablet which is the part that does the actual input to the computer, you could use a stick if you wanted, instead of the pen it came with. The only thing the pen has is a button on it that you can use, but there are also 2 buttons on the touchtablet itself which also do the same thing (for right or left handed people). I do think that Atari DID have a lightpen too, but it doesn't come with a tablet, lightpens are used DIRECTLY on the TV or monitor. What Panda Racer needs is software to use with the lightpen he has, and if that lightpen is truely atari compatible, e.g.-works like Atari's own lightpen, then there are quite a few drawing/painting programs that support lightpens for the Atari, but mostly you just have to find some graphic art program ATR files on the net at the usual Atari download sites, and load them up and see if they have an option for use with a lightpen. I know 'Rambrandt' can use all sorts of devices like joysticks, trackballs, tablets, mice and lightpens too. if you do a quick search, I recently (like a week or two ago) posted a zip file with Rambrandt and utilities and documention. I'd suggest downloading this and getting it on disk (generally you will need SIO2PC&A.P.E software to accomplish this) or load it from the PC with SIO2PC cable, plug in the lightpen, choose the input device in Rambrandt for "lightpen" and see if it works. There are other paint programs that will also work with lightpns, but many that will only work with a joystick too, you just have to search until you find a compatible program.

here is the link: http://www.atariage....showtopic=70489

Edited by Gunstar, Sat Jun 18, 2005 10:50 AM.

[Mindfield]

There were a few light pens for the XL/XE line. In fact, I remember an issue of ANTIC (or was it ANALOG?) had an article that featured instructions on how to build your own, and featured a simple drawing program to test it out. I don't know if there were any commercial art programs that ever made use of it though.

[glitch]

Here's an chapter from electronic computer projects on how to make a light pen

http://www.atariarch...p/chapter_6.php

There is a better one in a book I have at home. I thought atariarchives had already posted it but apparently not. I'll take a look when I get home. I have the official Atari light pen and other than the software that came with it (some art program) I don't know of it working w/ anything else (but then I haven't tried either ).

[panda_racer]

so..
does anyone want this light pen?
I don't have an 8-bit computer, and i most likely won't have one for a long time.