Transforming the 2600 into an 8-Bit Computer: The SpectraVideo CompuMate

[@8_Bit]

6:05 pressing space will put the drawing in a non-destructive mode to move the cursor without drawing or erasing.

[@Mrshoujo]

Actually, Atari called their keyboard The Graduate. They cancelled it in favor of selling the 600XL which they considered a better value being priced a bit higher than their 2600 keyboard.

[@boulderdashc6425]

Thanks for talking about the SpectraVideo and the CompuMate. Played on a SpectraVideo computer as a kid and have a Compumate for my 2600 myself!

[@jessragan6714]

Comp-U-WAT, mate? I thought Spectravideo became Bondwell and released some game controllers for the NES and Genesis.

[@RaposaCadela]

Awesome!

[@Larry]

If you're having issues capturing, try running it through an old VHS player. Its always what I did, plus a lot will convert the signal to SCART or S-Video.

[@retrogameon]

Noted! I'll pull out the old Sharp next time

[@SteveGuidi]

Thanks for reviewing this device! I learned about it a few days ago as I'm working on building a replacement for the Atari 2600 Keyboard Controller(s) via an Arduino and modern keyboard. I did an in-depth overview of the capabilities of the BASIC Programming cartridge on my channel, but find it amazing that Spectravideo could only eliminate that cartridge's limitations by introducing other limitations of their own. With BASIC Programming, you get a cumbersome keyboard controller, 64 bytes of RAM, no way to store programs, but you can combine graphics/sound and edit lines. With Spectravideo, you get a proper keyboard, more RAM, and a storage mechanism, but you can't combine graphics/sound with a program or edit line numbers.

[@vwestlife]

The capturing problem is because it displays alternate lines of the image on alternate fields of the interlaced video signal, and many methods of capturing video simply discard one of the fields when de-interlacing the video, thus losing half the lines. (This is also why the ghosts in the 2600's version of Pac-Man flicker so much worse in captured or emulated footage than they appear on a CRT television.)

[@retrogameon]

Sounds like I was somewhat on the right track. Thank you for you technical explanation

[@andlabs]

Is there a capture device that does handle this correctly?

[@Mike.Garcia]

Nice video man! in BASIC you can edit a line by re-entering it, so 90 fixed line cashies! impressive packaging!

[@retrogameon]

So by re-entering the line? Wouldn't want to make too many mistakes before you quickly run out of memory on this thing haha

[@Mike.Garcia]

@@retrogameon I mean, Re entering the same line number, over writes that line in RAM.. That's what they called an 'editor' back then :D

[@supersonic64able]

impressive that their computers also become the basis for the msx standard, sad they still went under.

[@awardwinner9184]

I'm glad I didn't buy it haha. Somehow with you I feel its going back in its box. But at least you used it. Good vid again

[@retrogameon]

I'll be on the lookout for more programs but I ain't holding my breath

[@andlabs]

13:43 You could actually program with Atari's BASIC Programming cartridge with a special controller. Fair warning though: it makes even this thing's restrictions seem generous by comparison. boston.conman.org/2015/06/14.1 boston.conman.org/2015/06/16.1 Though I guess this is what you meant by "instructional cartridge"? It's a shame Spectravideo could never really capitalize on the Quickshot or the MSX, but oh well.

[@FernandoNomellini]

I had one ! Dactar-Comp

[@nz9636]

How much do they go for now?

[@ChadWSmith]

Pfft! Silly SpectraVision! Nobody will buy computers except for nerds! Arcade games are where it's at, Jack! And Atari is the best in the biz! They should have just made Atari games and rode that wave for the decades to come! Arcade games are forever! Computers are just a fad.

[@alexxbaudwhyn7572]

Yeah boi, release old arcade games like dk and dk Jr in 1988 for your flagship console 7800, then top it all off by releasing another console xegs around the same time using the innards of a computer released in the 70s!

[@johneygd]

It’s funny how the compumate turned the atari 2600 into a cheap ass computer, probably because they know nobody wanted to buy a game console anymore but did wanted a computer to do both taxes and play games on it back in 1983,so they probably tout why not take advantage of this computer craze and turn those unwanted game consoles into an actual computer with their keyboards and programs for it, it would,ve be a smart way to make game consoles fly off store shelves😁, if that smart clever strategy actually did work.

[@dennisneo1608]

LGR Farts. Really?