Atari 800XL Computer Overview

We take a look at the Atari 800XL 8-bit computer that was released in 1983 by Atari and peak under the covers at it's architecture and features.

[@lb7144]

My first computer was a 600xl as a teen, mostly for the games. I had the cassette drive and wrote a few games from a programming book. Just hours of fun on a neat little computer. We weren’t financially well off but my dad could always find a good deal at Sears. He really surprised me with this kit. A few years back I found an 800xl on eBay in excellent condition. Snatched it up with a few games and I was 14 all over again. Thanks for these vids

[@iOnline72]

800XL was my first home computer. It's what got me started. I'm an IT consultant now. Still strongly believe it was technically better than the C64. ...yes, I'm that old.🙄

[@8bitandmore]

We are all old now lol

[@aaronbrowne7862]

Well the Amiga has its origins in the Atari 8 bit architecture not the c64. That says a lot.

[@neleabels]

*heavily inhaling and preparing rant* And I am THAT old! 😂

[@SeaJay_Oceans]

Hi Kid , from a happy owner of Sinclair ZX80. 1K of RAM was Plenty ! Oh the joy I felt when I got my first ZX81, 16K RAM pack, amd thermal printer.

[@neleabels]

@@SeaJay_Oceans No. 1K of Ram was never plenty. Not even back at that time...😀

[@dawitghebrehiwet8600]

Fun video. I got my Atari 800 XL in 1984 and still have it. Your video brings back great memories. Thanks :-)

[@8bitandmore]

That's awesome!

[@scallywag0088]

This was also my first computer in the UK. Got it for Xmas from my parents back in the 80's. I wanted a Sinclair ZX spectrum but my dad said it was to expensive and the Atari was on sale at the time with a game bundle. Think one of the games bundled was cavern commander a thrust clone. Good memories and one of my favourite xmas presents along with my BMX I got a year or two earlier. Oh, the nostalgia. The 80's was the greatest decade to be a kid.

[@8bitandmore]

Thanks for watching! Yes the '80s were one of a kind

[@b213videoz]

Where were you 30 years ago? I would have gladly swapped my ZX for your Atari :-) I know that ZX has more games but Atari is superior to it (graphics, no colour clashing, music)

[@siturl5834]

Same happened to me....i liked it, but my mates Speccy had so many better games to chose from. I never got a BMX though....had a Grifter lol

[@westleyjohnstone4719]

Had a grifter, and a insanely heavy bmx , once i moaned enough to my mum. Never had a atari, friends had a 5200 and another got the 65xe . Borrowed a st for a month once

[@Ori-Retro-Gamer]

My first 8-bit 1984 , and i love it still in 2023

[@gamedoutgamer]

Great job on the restoration. That's the sought after Alps keyboard variant 800XL. They are a little harder to find. The different 800XL keyboards vary from awesome (yours) to terrible. FYI the RF shield provides rigidity to the case. It picks up and handles better with the RF shield installed. Labeling the warmer chips (CPU+GTIA+some ANTICs) is not advised since they will get hotter with the label on it. A8's don't have overheating chip problems but since they are so old it's not advised to tempt fate. Love your enthusiasm and clearly spoken commentary! Have fun!

[@lorensims4846]

My Atari 800 had that same keyboard. It was wonderful.

[@iio58]

Loved this. The 800XL was my first computer too. So many great games on it

[@8bitandmore]

Nice!

[@naytch2003]

Same with mine..i still have one

[@iio58]

@@naytch2003 Amazing! What do you play on it? I downloaded an emulator on my PC and love Miner 2049er still, Shamus and some other cartridges I used to love. Also Bruce Lee, Bristles and Rally Speedway I had on tape.

[@naytch2003]

@@iio58 yeah Bruce lee was my first 800xl game amongst getaway and salmon run

[@mentor397]

The Atari 800XL was my/our first home computer. I did have to share it with family, unfortunately. I believe we had three of them, since we were rough on equipment and they were cheap to replace. I was... more enthusiastic than successful in repairing broken things. Good times. I've inherited the last one, but I've no place to set it up, so I'm stuck with an emulator. Still, stuff like this... good times.

[@craiggilchrist4223]

My 3rd home Computer First was a ZX81 then Atari 400 then the 800XL. Its still running today. I also own a 65XE and use an sd2sio unit on both.

[@MechaFenris]

It was my first computer as well. I got one for Christmas and a 410 datasette. :) It took me two years to afford a floppy drive. :) Man, those were the days.

[@johnkapcoe8861]

Same!

[@ronnylucas8857]

The Atari 800/800XL is one of my 8-bit dreams, but this machine is pretty rare here in Brazil... :/

[@markknight5178]

I still have my 800xl with a Indug GT floppy drive... a Ferrari for your Atari. This video makes me want to unbox it.

[@8bitandmore]

DO IT!

[@arghyl]

I wanted and Atari console my parents got me this. I loved it. Even waiting 45+ minutes to start the game via tape cassette.

[@jasonkoestner4630]

It's amazing how much Atari took from the computer system for the 5200 fantastic system most god alfull controls ever made

[@dinofmj]

Thank you for reviewing the Atari 800 XL. It was my first computer. Then the Commodere 64C. Then the IBM PC. ..then many Windows PCs...then the MAC with Catalina. God bless you bro.

[@jhonny1392]

Thank you so much for doing this great vid ! It's very emotional to know there still are people that use, repair and modify this incredible little computer !. I also have both of them but remains kept in a closet by now. I use to be a free lance guy in programming these Atari comps many years ago, when I was a teenager. A real good programmer in assembler and basic as well using the USR feature, of course. Have a very Good New Year !, man. Many greetings from Santiago de Chile, South America. John. (And please, keep doing more vids related to Atari comps in the future. Thanks)

[@8bitandmore]

jhonny1392 thank you!

[@0320emo]

Q

[@tjf7101]

Had one of these. Great times with it.

[@briancox1124]

loved my 800xl so sleak and worked great.lovely keyboard.

[@guilleo4445]

Best wishes for you and your dear ones in this holidays.

[@8bitandmore]

thank you, looking forward to a productive 8bit retro year!

[@cyberlizardcouk]

Mapping the Atari. Best $35 I ever spent.

[@8bitandmore]

Super important when programming these beautiful machines

[@JimVeneskey]

@@8bitandmore Your copy looks like a very nicely spiral bound reproduction - where did you get that done?

[@bighuge1060]

I loved this computer. I ended up selling it for cheap upon the selling of my family home but this computer still worked since I bought it in the 1980s.

[@JMDAmigaMusic]

You DID put Atari robot demo remix on the overview ;)

[@IntoTheVerticalBlank]

The 800XL ROCKS!

[@davidcady6315]

The 800 XL was a great machine, and all the available upgrades made it really superb. I myself had additional 256 kB RAM (320 kB in total), QMeg as an additional OS and custom version of TT-DOS (available to be triggered at boot-up), enabling immy usage of 1050. A real beast ;-)

[@8bitandmore]

Thanks for sharing

[@davidcady6315]

@@8bitandmore My pleasure. When I came accross your channel, I was surprised, that those boosts - available around '88 to me - got not only (vastly) improved in the following decades, but as well as the fact they spurred a whole new bunch of stuff to make the 8-bit Atari computers usable even today. LbnL the programming videos of yours are very nice, bringing back some sweet memories of mine. On top of that, I like your capability of explaining (primarily) the 6502 assy in an easy to understand manner - I definitely consider it a strong point of your channel. So thumbs up and thank you for all the work put into your videos.

[@gregargendeli2973]

So many memories. Used to run BBCS on 800xl (moved it over to 130xe with a piggy-back 576k RAM upgrade (right around 1987), SpartaDos, Happy1050s (fixed the disk sector issue), ATR8k, and my last work, using the ATR to connect a couple of ULCMicroNet devices to network up two TRS-80 Model IIs to provide a multi-user BBS (in pascal) on the Atari. Click Bang all night as the 8" heads on the Shugart drives. Ahhh memories...... :)

[@CyberhugTechnologies]

Thanks for the video, legendary computers, both of them. The cartridge habit from the 2600 was cool, graphics engine was cool, sound was cool - Best for me tho, the quality of the PCB, the plastics, the keyboard and the materials used. Definitively not the cheapest ones so, they can still be working today!

[@santospoland]

Your videos and fantastic … really happy I found your channel. Thanks for everything you are sharing!

[@joeking1709]

it was my first ever computer, it blew my mind! thanks for this vid ;)

[@8_Bit]

Nice job! I've got a 130XE and 800XL, nice computers. l want an original Atari 800 next, I've been watching eBay for the perfect one to show up :) Merry Christmas, see you next year!

[@8bitandmore]

8-Bit Show And Tell yes the 800 is a solid machine built like a tank lol, merry christmas

[@vinayk7]

Owning something like this those days must be limits of "UltraCool!"

[@AndrewTubbiolo]

Actually 0 deg Kelvin is the limit of ultra cool.

[@JetScreamer_YT]

Hanging with Alan Alda's Atari. Cool! He is one of the last Vaudevillians.

[@eugenetswong]

Thanks for posting once more before Christmas! I thought that you'd be too busy. Merry Christmas!

[@fragalot]

The 800XL was also my first computer my parents bought in 1984. The 600XL/800XL had different keyboards.. most of them had a membrane switch with a spring pushing down on it from the key cap. One of Atari 800XL I came across actually had mechanical switches for it's keyboard. They weren't "clicky" but they were independent switchers soldered though-hole into a circuit board, with a ribbon cable soldered to that which connected to the motherboard. And it looks like this is EXACTLY the same keyboard you have in this video. Heck my Atari 800XL is really an Frankenstein 800XL taking parts from other XLs that I had over the years, and keeping the "good stuff" for my personal Atari 800XL as well as a 256k RAM upgrade (RamboXL). I didn't the same thing with my older Atari 800 but it only has 48k RAM. I still have both, and they both still work. I also have SpartaDosX cart but the ERPOM got zapped :( IDK if i can get that re-flashed or not. I literally had every peripheral for my Atari 800XL, at one point in the early 90s, except a SCSI hard disk drive. I had a 2400 baud modem with an 850 interface, XEP80 box that gave you a 80 column text display via joystick port, two 1050's that were USDoubled which lead to me using SpartaDos

[@8bitandmore]

Awesome memories.

[@reliquary1267]

The 800XL was also the start of my IT/Computer journey. Book stores use to have a variety of games you could type in and modify written in Atari Basic. You had to save to cassette or 5.25 disk, hoping the power didn't flicker haha.

[@8bitandmore]

Same here, because of Atari I have the career I have

[@brutusmaximumus]

This was my first computer, got it for Christmas when I was 13 in 1983 with a tape deck. Learned BASIC using the little manual it came with and magazines I would buy at the local bookstore.

[@Raketenclub]

did you also type: "rem pause 10 for seconds" and nothing happened? :))) i got crazy! i really can remember when i first typed in the code for the bird whistle sound from the manual and jumped around like beeing crazy!

[@mjp29]

The Atari system was far more stable than the Commodore 64

[@theedspage]

I had an 800xl when I was a kid. I wish I would have kept it.

[@mikeburkhart6707]

Maybe someone has mentioned this already, but the stock 800XL monitor out jack did not have chroma. You can pull chroma from the board and hook it up easy with the tools you already have. Edit: oops, should have watched the whole video.

[@davidlord5739]

My second Atari computer. Best addon for it was the OminmonXL...

[@lsvemir27]

My second comp. 1986. after zx-spectrum off course :) Excelent cannal I sub. mandatory :)

[@Dan-in-Virginia]

Blast to the past. I had an Atari 800 and replaced it with a 130XE.

[@Mokimanify]

I haven't seen those self tests in 30 years

[@grakkal]

That XL looks like it could use an Ultimate 1MB upgrade. Imagine built-in SpartaDOS X, R-Time 8, and an entire megabyte with very little soldering needed. Just sayin', I love mine.

[@8bitandmore]

your absolutely right and I think I will order one!

[@Raketenclub]

@@8bitandmore there was also a hercules extension card available.... give a shit on HDMI :))

[@SupremeNerd]

I never had one of these but always wanted one. I was lucky to get a coleco Gemini. I enjoyed the hell out of this video. thanks for sharing your gift

[@activemotionpictures]

Thank you for sharing this video I watched, and it was very concise and well explained!

[@jmponcer]

This was my first computer 🖥️

[@brianwild4640]

i used to have one with 4 custom OS chips piggy backed on each other was awesome

[@ByteMeCompletely]

I became a U.S. Navy Tactical Data Systems technician in 1976. I left the Navy in early 1982. I bought an Atari 5200 and loved the analog sticks. I loved Defender and Star Raiders. I bought an Atari 400, to play games and light office type work, i.e., word processing and spreadsheets. I eventually bought several subsequent Atari models, including the 800XL, and 130 XE. I would have bought an Atari Amiga. No way would I buy anything Commobore.

[@ByteMeCompletely]

As a long time computer tech, I am STILL impressed with what Atari did with an 8-bit CPU.

[@8bitandmore]

Cool background! Commodore was good in it's own right, I like them both. Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@basicforge]

Thanks for the video. Like many other computers, the 800XL came with more than one kind of keyboard, with a different feel for each, I think. Maybe I'm not remembering correctly.

[@bjbell52]

My first computer (okay, technically it was my second. I bought a radio shack computer but never took it out of the box and returned it the next day), was an Atari 400 I bought in 1979. It had 16K when all the other Atari 400's only had 8K. All my friends had Apple computers and they used them to play games. They laughed at me when my Atari Basic manual said it could only display 4 colors on the screen, but they stopped laughing when it came out the Atari could display 128 colors, had sprite graphics and hardware fine scrolling. That's when they started saying the Apple was a business machine which is garbage considering the Apple's word processor took up 40k out of 48k leaving 8k for the document where the Atari could put the program on a cartridge and it would take up only 16k despite being 40k in size, leaving 32k for the document.

[@cs1992]

I had a C64. I knew of nobody that had an Atari computer.

[@muttBunch]

This is amazing. I love this. Get this man more subscribers :)

[@billkendrick1]

The monitor DIN port also has composite (not just the split chroma & luma lines), which is probably used by folks more frequently. DIN->svideo cables are rare, and newer TVs usually don't have SV inputs. Older TVs didn't have split chroma/luma RCA Jack's (whereas old computer monitors, like the Commodore 1902, did). I actually JUST came across -- and immediately bought -- a monitor DIN cable with an svideo connector, so I could use that instead of composite (along with my Sega Genesis, Jaguar, etc.) via a cheapish HDMI upscaler I've got on our LCD TV. Turns out, my 800XL is, like yours, one of the ones where they didn't connect chroma, so it's destined for a friend's workbench soon. ;)

[@8bitandmore]

Bill Kendrick your exactly right regarding the composite!

[@BekBrace]

01:04 My same exact story, man

[@luceatlux7087]

this was my machine. as a kid, i always wondered why they had to make a Nintendo because, in my eyes, this atari version rivaled the nintendo in graphics and gameplay (with a few exceptional titles). still, 5 years of difference between the two and this machine held up well... i was still plying this with my buddies while we had nintendos (Wizard of Wor, anyone?). i guess the nintndo did seem to have more in-depth games. i guess the tendo-carts held more data? (ps: i never remember NOT seeing the keyboard yellowed. i assumed they came that way.)

[@yorgle11]

I wish I had one of these as a kid. I'm sure I would have loved it. There's no good reason the Atari computers couldn't have larger game cartridges. The only reason they're smaller than Nintendo carts is because they were made at an earlier time. Larger carts would need bank switching but that was common in the 8-bit era, and Nintendo had to do the same thing on their carts. The NES can address more cartridge ROM per bank, but the A8 could copy multiple banks-worth of data into it's internal RAM (which it has much more of than the NES) to achieve a similar effect if needed. It's too bad Atari never made a successful dedicated game console using this hardware. That's what it was always intended to be. The closest they came to getting it right was with the XEGS but that came way too late. The computers were great but I think most people who just wanted to play games didn't pay attention to them, and they probably weren't even visible in the same stores. It was only noticed by computer enthusiasts, so in that sense the hardware was wasted. If a well designed consolized A8 had been on the market then I think it could have been very competitive against Nintendo's arrival. I would argue that a well executed A8 console could have been preferable to the NES for more complex games due to having more internal RAM and likely support for a keyboard and floppy drive (but if it feels too much like using a computer then it might also get ignored again).

[@tony92506]

awesome video!!

[@miikasuominen3845]

S-Video on 800XL doesn't have chroma connected. Corrected by soldering one wire from mobo to connector. Google for it. Good picture with that. If I recall right, C64 s-video cable was what I bought... That was years ago, though... P. S. Actually it was:Atari 65XE 800 S-Video AV cable TV lead cord From Retro Gaming Cables (UK)... Though it's out of stock now... Aaand, you did just that, a moment later in video ;)

[@slaapliedje]

By the way if you are getting barely any color and you are using composite and not s-video, it is the potentiometer that needs to be adjusted. I had dropped my 800xl down the stairs decades ago and thought it was broken because it would only output black and white. Just adjusted the POT, and color returned! These computers are awesome and last forever.

[@8bitandmore]

Your right I had that once one an 800xl that I repaired for a friend. I tried that on this one early on but found out it was fine lol.... thanks for watching!

[@firepower9966]

One of the best looking 8bit micro's

[@guilleo4445]

Happy New year

[@8bitandmore]

Same! Thank you

[@alexandermirdzveli3200]

Very good review. Thanks a lot!

[@FrancisFjordCupola]

While the 800XL looks nice... but that 130 in the background is just so gorgeous.

[@russeflat13]

Got mine in April 1985

[@jordimayorgisbert6490]

Like me!!! Atari 800XL I learned assembler, interafacing with its joystick ports, using my cartridge for assembling language program, ... Recoding characters, making awesome graphics, playing with its Missile-Player system... And using the A=USR(1536) for launching my assembler routines... Nice times...

[@argonwheatbelly637]

The real trick was fitting essential code into the 76 cycles frees per hsync to avoid flicker.

[@Zobeid]

I owned a 800XL as my first "real" computer (I don't count the Atari 400 because reasons), and I loved it. The only negative thing I can say about the 800XL is that the revised OS ROM broke compatibility with some older 400/800 games for no readily apparent benefit. That was a minor nuisance. I had a ROM switcher, upgraded 1050 floppy drive, Indus GT drive, Technics MJ-10 monitor and a ton of pirated games. Fun times! I also learned some programming with OSS Basic XL and Action! languages, although I never got much real traction as a coder until a few years later with the Atari 520ST.

[@wallacelang1374]

I have an Atari 800XL with both an Atari 1010 tape deck and an Atari 1050 floppy disk drive. My 800XL and my 1010 work just fine, but unfortunately my 1050 got jostled when I moved about 25 years ago. Thus I have not been able to use any of my 5.25 inch disks, so I am missing some of my favorite software.

[@micksmithson6724]

Correction as a European, the Atari 80)XL was my first Real home PC, but as for Europeans markets "money was tight" ? Not sure why you think that,. I had the 1050 Floppy disk drive (from Silica Systems in Selfridges), we also had cassette drives because it was a cheaper way of producing games compared to cartridges and there were lots of bedroom programmers. The added benefit of tape to tape piracy also being a reason we had them.

[@d0nKsTaH]

Had a 600XL (my first PC technically if you don't count game consoles like Intellivision) Then a couple years later moved up to a 130XE and got a bunch of 600/800 software for it. Was great I had Koala pad, a light pen, and loads of stuff....

[@davidmacphee8348]

Me too

[@rdoetjes]

This is so cool! I never knew the Atari had 256 colours and was well advanced. My friend across the hallway had an XL800 and it’s the only one I’ve seen in real life here in NL. We played Bruce Lee on it and that’s about it. I was/am a commodore kid, I know my way around the memory map still pretty decently. But I now have become seriously interested in having a deeper look in the Atari. One thing that is hellishly over complex is writing to the screen. Apparently you can’t poke straight into video RAM but have to use IO calls of the OS. But I see you have videos on 6502 assembler on the Atari as well, so I will have a look.

[@rbrtck]

You can definitely write directly to the display data in RAM.

[@clutch2827]

Wanted one of those so badly. Ended up getting an Apple IIe instead.

[@doofuss73]

First computer I ever had... Programed basic with it....

[@RetroGraty]

65xe here with tape recorder back in 1989. Cheers.

[@8bitandmore]

Awesome!

[@elfenmagix8173]

The 1050 disk drive and the 1010 cassette recorder were introduced with the 1200XL Computer and carried over to the 800XL and 600XL. The 800XL was everything the 1200XL was PLUS built-in Atari BASIC. The 1200XL did not have built-in BASIC like the Atari 400 & 800 before it.

[@8bitandmore]

Thanks for the info and for tuning in!

[@aaronbrowne7862]

The SIO port was a precursor to USB.

[@SeaJay_Oceans]

It would be fun to upgrade an Atari XL to use a Celeron N4020 to communicate to the internet & display graphics... The 8-Bit OS of Atari XE & Commodore C64 just needed expanding to run on modern 64-Bit processors. GEMS was & still is more trustworthy than corrupt MS Windows data harvesting Win 10 & 11 with 'Edge'.

[@TheReimecker]

Awesome Channel !!

[@8bitandmore]

Thanks for the visit

[@TheReimecker]

@@8bitandmore I like yout clean and straight forward style when you work on this machines !! Keep doing it !!

[@TheReimecker]

@@8bitandmore I am a huge atari fan. unfortunately, I've never had the pleasure of seeing an 800 or 400 XL or XE live

[@Truthseeker1515]

I got mine in the UK in February 1986, I was 12. This was also my first PC. What I did not know is that it was released as early as 1983! And ceased production in early 1985. I must have had one of the last ones! Sadly I used it it to play games (Zaxxon, Super-Zaxxon, The Lone Ranger, Drop-Zone,The Goonies) using a very slow cassette player which was not an Atari stand-alone one. Subscribed to "Atari User", a monthly UK publication that ran until 1988. My folks purchased Eric Deeson's "Easy Programming for the Atari Micros" but I did not learn to programme in BASIC which is a shame. Just copied some cool graphic codes. I never used the cartridge slot either, I have no idea why. Do you still have the original Red game cassettes which came with the computer?

[@8bitandmore]

Very cool story I'm glad to hear that you enjoyed the video and thanks again for watching. I never got any of those red games cassettes you're speaking of maybe they didn't have those here in the US.

[@edorola]

Hi 8-bam! Did you ever install an UAV board in any 800xl? I have some awful verticals línes on my xl and the way you do DIY stuff, encouraged me to put hands to work. Greatings and thank you for the videos and the passion on the retro hardware.

[@8bitandmore]

I have not personally installed one but I think are a few videos from flashjazzcat showing how to do

[@musclesmouse]

Never saw the Alan Alda ad

[@ByteMeCompletely]

I wish someone would buy all the hardware and software intellectual property for the Atari and make a modern version, using SD cards, etc. And include vector graphics hardware too, for arcade games.

[@ricardobornman1698]

An awesome machine. You'll know when you play "Last of the V8's"

[@8bitandmore]

Is that a real game?

[@ricardobornman1698]

@@8bitandmore Yup. I played it on my Atari 800XL. You should find it on KZbin.

[@lou9925]

Thanks for the memories .... I have to ask what type of watch is that?

[@8bitandmore]

Seiko divers

[@cwxdaf152]

Why not the screws? I get you tinker. But is it because the plastic stand-offs typically hold the board in place enough, or do you go back in after you've finished tinkering to secure it?

[@John-uc6gb]

Good video.

[@8bitandmore]

Thanks!

[@basshumpyourface]

Grew up on the 800, 800XL, then 1040STe! Thanks for the vid. Subbed!

[@8bitandmore]

Yes I also had an ST back in the day and played Ultima IV all day lol, thanks for watching!

[@slightlyevolved]

Correct me ont hsi, but im pretty sure the 1050 disk drive abd 1010 tape drive were released with the 1200xl, not the 600xl. Obviously,they both have the same industrial design language though. I'd have to dig it out of the box, but I'm nearly certain my 1200 manual mentions them by model.

[@MagicRoosterBluesBand]

Atari made the same mistakes Sega made; bring out tons of hardware and confuse the consumer. There was no need for the 65XE, 130XE and XE game console (Plus the ST line that looks just like the XE line and the 7800 was already selling). The 800XL was fine. Maybe a 128XL with 80 columns down the road. Oh well, just my rant. I had an Atari 400 and later 800XL and loved them. Thought they were better than the C64.

[@deckard5pegasus673]

I had a 1200XL. Despite the hate on it, I think the 1200 is a much better machine and higher quality, better keyboard, etc. than the 800xl. Contrary to popular belief the 800xl is a downgrade, and much cheaper made. In regards to the 1200 downfalls, you can modify the 1200xl mother board to fix any issue or to extend the memory, and I never wanted built in BASIC. Putting a catridge is fine

[@sideburn]

I made my first income pirating Atari 800 games with my 800xl and a Modem and a Happy Drive 😆 I burned through several 800xl’s and 130xe’s. You could go to federated group and pick one up for $150 bucks. My first was a TRS-80 coco but the ataris were the best!!!

[@superspit]

oh I miss mine...though power supply kept giving up. Fond memories. Then the C64!

[@PaulKostrzewa]

How do you have your SDrive-MAX set to use it with a 1050? I'd love to use both at the same time on my 800XL but don't know how to set the SDrive...

[@damienthorn2917]

an HDMI mod? like to see that.

[@andreujuanc]

Dude, 3:07 I almost cried D:

[@harleybrignall9034]

256 colours? I should really buy some new Ram chips and an sd card reader for my 800xl

[@oisnowy5368]

The computer looks pretty nice... but why did they make it beep incessantly with every keypress and while working with the disk drive?

[@8bitandmore]

Some liked the sound, it kind of provides feedback that something is happening lol.

[@JMDAmigaMusic]

Amiga dad!

[@papa_robot]

I have the same T-Shirt

[@hobbybuilds4174]

Im on a atari 800xl computer and i was wondering how do i get a full screen graphics mode, one without the text bar at the bottom. I tried "GRAPHICS 5+16" but that just took me back to the ready prompt. Plz help!!!

[@8bitandmore]

The reason it takes you right back to the ready prompt is because if there is no code running it reverts back to text mode to show you the ready sign. Try this short program and you will see a line drawn on the left side of the screen and a full graphics 5 screen: 10 GRAPHICS 5+16:COLOR 1 20 FOR =I=0 TO 20 30 PLOT 0,I 40 NEXT I 50 GOTO 50 Notice line 50 creates and endless loop keeping the Atari in graphics mode and not reverting back to graphics 0

[@hobbybuilds4174]

@@8bitandmore Thank you, and do you happen to know the command for getting keyboard input without having to press "return" after each input.

[@ricklopez193]

@@hobbybuilds4174 try this 10 OPEN #1,4,0,"K:" 20 GET #1,K 30 PRINT CHR$(K) 40 GOTO 20

[@Raketenclub]

@8-bit and more ... i once followed some guys that planned to re-engineer the antic and pokey chips etc. the special atari custom chips. this was years ago. i barely remember, but he designs of the chips were lost and some guys found old tapes with very special formatted data on it for the drawings etc. do you know this project and have any clue what happened to it?

[@8bitandmore]

No, actually I have not heard of that endeavor but it would be interesting to read about it.

[@Raketenclub]

@@8bitandmore i found a good starting point, this is not the url i meant for the tape, but its very interesting, som e people doing a recap of antic :O -> atariage.com/forums/topic/172580-antic-decap-and-reverse-engineering/ - the first post has links to an old discussion too. unfortunately i cant find the original post where the tapes and cad drawings are mentioned. have fun reading.