Atari 400 Mini review: Worth it?

[@jl8138]

I echo the sentiment that a video on leveraging the multi disk functionality would be great, and maybe including a rundown of all the Atari 8-bit software (non-game) options that unlocks? I'm expecting the mini for Christmas and one of my goals after updating the firmware and beefing out the games library is to hook up a USB keyboard and start testing the thing's limits as an actual quasi-computer. Would be awesome to see a precedent for that kind of experiment first on KZbin, though.

[@b.o.4492]

A video showing the multi disk stuff would be helpful. Enjoyed the video. Liked and subscribed. Atari 5200 games the control for me is really hit or miss on the 400 mini.

[@griveros25]

Do you have a video showing how do you put games on the USB stick?

[@commodoreisnottheonlyfruit]

It really is a case of locating the ROMs, formatting a USB stick FAT32, putting the ROMs on the stick and inserting it into the A400

[@abcxyz15000]

Good review

[@Number6_]

It was great when I bought one 40 years ago.

[@commodoreisnottheonlyfruit]

Everything was better 40 years ago, my knees, my back, everything :-)

[@lorenzocervo]

hey boss! great review!!!

[@commodoreisnottheonlyfruit]

hey Lorenzo hope all is good. Have you bought one yet?

[@lorenzocervo]

Not yet but I am getting one soon!!

[@johnreebel2391]

So what are people using for a power supply? I Googled "atari 400 mini power adapter" and didn't see anything that looked appropriate.

[@commodoreisnottheonlyfruit]

I use the usb hub that's built into my TV

[@rayrwise5728]

Great video. I just bought the mini and I’m happy with it, but where can I get the other games on the USB drive? I saw you had Star Wars arcade, I would like to get/buy that game.

[@commodoreisnottheonlyfruit]

A fairly basic Google search for Atari cartridges would do the trick if you don’t own any 🥹

[@bnatens1]

thanks mate awesome

[@commodoreisnottheonlyfruit]

I'm glad you enjoyed the video!

[@shawnbrent1165]

looks like an interesting system

[@NathanOZlegend]

that's cool

[@danielktdoranie]

I don’t think it would be that hard to implement a membrane keyboard… I wish they’d skip the minis and just make the full sized reproductions like they did with their Commodore 64 copy

[@commodoreisnottheonlyfruit]

I think we'll see a full sized Amiga before long, it's been hinted at for ages. I doubt we'll ever see an ST, maxi or mini, more's the pity.

[@danielktdoranie]

@@commodoreisnottheonlyfruit yeah they’ve confirmed a full sized A500 clone with working keyboard… I have two A500 computers already (with PiStorms) so that doesn’t hold interest to me. They published their 2023 to 2025 product roadmap and it includes another mini and maxi in late 2024 I am willing to bet it will be an ST. Like you, I don’t care much for the games more interested in FreeMiNT, productivity software and internet/communications software. I may be mistaken by the C64 Maxi they made, I understand it can’t be networked so you can’t Telnet or SSH into a BBS: that kept me from buying one.

[@j.tann1970]

The problem I have with these minis is that they are essentially ARM based mini computers, similar to a cut down Raspberry Pi 3, running a dedicated launcher that runs already available emulators and game ROMs. If they did it with a CPLD or FPGA so the machine is a miniaturized replica of the original then I'd be more impressed, but then they would not be able to 'increase it's worth' by including a ton of games unless they provide an SD card with them on to go with it.

[@danielktdoranie]

It’s a simple solution for someone who just wants a trip down memory lane and play old games they had as a kid. I agree with you completely. Personally if they were FPGA and had a full sized keyboard it would be cool

[@werpu12]

Well if you spend the money on a mister fpga instead you get exactly that an fpga "emulation" of an Atari 8 bit system!

[@j.tann1970]

@@werpu12 Emulation is a means to make the software run on different hardware by converting the code and tricking the code into thinking it's accessing the original hardware. FPGA, and CLPD, implementations of hardware are reproductions, or copies, of the hardware inside a single chip. Albeit with extras added to interface with modern TVs and load ROMS from SD cards etc. They are the closest you can get to the real hardware. The software runs them natively without conversion. Think of two NES consoles, one with revision 1 hardware the other revision 2, they are the same machine but with different form factors because Nintendo found better/cheaper ways to do the same thing. The revision 2 is not emulating revision 1, neither is FPGA or CPLD. In case you do don't know, CPLD is basically the same as FPGA but using EPROM technology instead of SRAM. Therefore CPLD chips, once configured do not lose that configuration until erased or re-configured. FPGA needs to be configured each power cycle which makes it better for things like the Mister as it also means it can be re-configured at any time. CPLD would be good for these Mini machines where you only want them being the one machine (well, not in the case of the 400 Mini as it can be changed to other machines!)

[@chriswareham]

Your description of the joystick makes it sound like they've successfully recreated the feel of the original ones that came with the Atari 2600! They had a foil dome beneath the fire button and four axes of the stick itself, and these domes were pressed down by pressing the fire button or moving the stick to make contact with a pad on the circuit board. Simple and cheap design, but horrible tactile response and the domes wore out very quickly.

[@commodoreisnottheonlyfruit]

Thought that might be hte case :-)

[@j.tann1970]

Did you know that UK sales laws say electronic devices have to have everything needed to operate the device as intended without having to purchase anything extra? The lack of power supply means it's being sold illegally in the UK! Not a lot of people know this law and manufacturers these days tend to take advantage of that. Also, even though the makers of the 400 Mini (BTW You missed a space in the title!) are not in the UK and may be selling it over seas, that does not negate the law if they are selling to the UK. Yes, mobile phones and other devices with rechargeable batteries don't come with power supplies but they get away with it by providing a battery that has some power in it so technically it's useable out of the box as per the law.

[@commodoreisnottheonlyfruit]

I never knew that. every day's a school day on this channel. According to their web site, retro games are UK based too.

[@OriginalGrasshopper]

Retro Games is based in England though. So how are they avoiding this U.K. law?

[@OriginalGrasshopper]

Retro Games is based in England though. So how are they avoiding this U.K. law?

[@j.tann1970]

@@OriginalGrasshopper Then they are not aware of the law like most people!