[The Atari 65XE Video Game System...Huh?]

I meant, did Atari really sell XEgs systems in that style box, or is this particular XEgs now mated not with the box it was sold with, but with a mismatched box that originally was sold containing an actual 65XE computer.

 

I suppose you have no way of knowing.

 

Another thought, is there 65XE styrofoam that would fit in this 65XE box?  Or are the dimensions of this style 65XE box unique to the dimensions of XEgs styrofoam?   I don't know myself whether common 65XE and XEgs boxes are the same dimensions or different dimensions, but anyone with both could answer that question easily enough.

 

 

[The Atari 65XE Video Game System...Huh?]

On 6/30/2023 at 4:51 PM, manterola said:

Adding to the confusion...

I just got this "65XE Computer System" while visiting Chile.

Just a complete XEGS with a different box, but same styrofoam.

That 65XE box style seems rather unique, I can't find more examples of it.

 

How certain is it that it is the original box for that XEgs?  Is there any interesting info on other sides of the box?

[Why Are There Two Different Packages For XE System?]

I see two different versions of the box art as well, at least the top panel.

 

[ACTS - Atari Computer Test System]

Jerry Jessop has described a "Pits Test System"

https://www.computingpioneers.com/index.php/Jerry_Jessop 

https://ataripodcast.libsyn.com/antic-interview-30-jerry-jessop-atari

 

and some of the early product catalogs mentioned a "Sentinel System"

https://archive.org/details/atari-personal-computer-product-catalog-1981-atari/page/5/mode/1up

 

Perhaps they are all the same thing.. or perhaps several different tries at the same general idea?

[1027 UK power supply]

If anyone realizes they have the original equipment 240V UK power supply unit for the 1027 in their closet, I hope they will consider sharing details and pictures of it here someday.  Seemingly most people trashed them when their 1027 became unusable.

[1027 UK power supply]

I'm looking for details/pictures of the original equipment unit. 

[1027 UK power supply]

What was the standard power supply unit used with the 1027 printer in the UK?

 

There's the C061636 (two versions) for 120V AC, and the C061605 for 220V AC, but I can't find an equivalent one for 240V AC for the UK.

 

Except for this page with a blurry picture of something but with almost the right description, is that it?

https://collections.museumsvictoria.com.au/items/406491

 

 

 

[Multi-Viewterm?]

On 6/19/2023 at 10:21 AM, MrFish said:

 

Also, you might want to contact the 8-bit FAQ curator and set him straight on what it actually is that you have.

 

 

Indeed I had the impression that what Atari previewed at the January 1985 CES was not a working unit, that's why I called it a mockup.

 

I noticed this morning that available photos show the 65XEP in three different forms. 

1. The modern pictures have three empty holes on the front of the console. 
2. The two pictures from Atari Gaming Headquarters show those holes occupied by switches or buttons of some kind: http://www.atarihq.com/museum/atcomp/index.html  
3. Finally, the only image from the January 1985 CES shows nothing where the switches/buttons/holes are in the other images: https://www.stcarchiv.de/hc1985/04/ces-1985-kampf-der-kolosse 

So if there's really just the single prototype unit, it seems it has seen modifications over time.  Either that or there's more than one unit out there.

[1200XL Rev.B OS / FSM]

11 hours ago, x=usr(1536) said:

Anyway, both versions of the Tech Tip were published several months after the Rev. 11 ROMs were released in Dec., 1982. 

I think 1982-12-23 should be considered the date when Rev.B was completed, not its release date.

 

So the chronology looks like:

 

1982-10-26 Rev.A completed

1982-12-23 Rev.B completed

1983-03      1200XL released to consumers.  All units with Rev.A on board.  A few early units apparently with Rev.A OS EPROMs instead of the production Rev.A OS ROMs.

1983-07-12 Tech Tip 18 comes out, telling authorized service centers to replace any failed EPROMs with the production OS ROMs.  (I think there were only Rev.A OS ROMs available so far.)

1983-07      1200XL production ended.

1983-09-29 Tech Tip 18A comes out, telling authorized service centers that the guidance from TT18 regarding Rev.A OS EPROMs is still valid, except now the replacement is Rev.B OS ROMs.  Plus new guidance: if someone complains about System Reset not working as expected, whether they have the Rev.A OS EPROMs or the production Rev.A OS ROMs, respond by installing the new Rev.B OS ROMs.

 

I suggest the release date for Rev.B may have coincided with the release of Tech Tip 18A, around 1983-09-29.

 

I will update the FAQ with references to TT18A where XL OS Rev.B is mentioned.

[Safe power supplies?]

4 hours ago, cawley1 said:

It sounds like it's OK - I have tried it with a PSU tester and it outputs the same voltage as the other types of PSU I have here, nothing strange.

 

Oddly, I have another type here I can't find anything about - it's part number is CO70046-01. It looks like the original external ST power supply, but in a shorter case.

It has;

Input : 240v~/50Hz/22VA

Output : 5v - 1.0A

Type : PS35 P/N CO 70046- 01

Magpower Manufacturers PTE LTD

Made in Singapore

 

Complies with BS 5850

For use with Atari computer only

Date 4-87

That's a new one to me!  

 

I have power supply details here: https://mcurrent.name/powersupplies/atari8bitpower.txt

 

Would you be able to make pictures of your C070046 ?

[1400XL / 1450XLD L1, L2 LED differnces noticed]

Well, you got one like.   I looked over various pictures to further confirm what you noticed, indeed I had not noticed before.  Thanks for pointing it out!

 

From further looking at photos in literature from the time, it's not obvious to me whether one was an earlier design and the other a later design, or what.

[Calling All 400s!]

1 hour ago, ClausB said:

From eBay, the earliest production unit yet posted, week 41 of 1979:

So it looks like they made some number of demo 16K units at the very beginning, when there were only going to be 8K units for retail.  16K units were not announced for retail until January 1981.  Very cool!

[How to submit to AtariMania?]

BTW #1 Sometimes people contact me trying to contact or contribute to AtariMania since the outdated copy of my FAQ that's there makes my name and email arguably more prominent and easier to find than contact info for the people who actually run the site.  "No, I don't run or help run AtariMania" is something I've needed to explain to a fair number of people over the years.

 

BTW #2 I've noticed at least two different Contacts links on the site.  These might be the odd ones, where the Contacts link goes to 4 emails as described by Gitbizy:

 my_atarimania.html and register.html

On other pages the Contacts link goes to a single address.

[What launch games were offered for the Atari 400 when it came out?]

You could go with the games listed in the Sears 1979 Wish Book:

https://christmas.musetechnical.com/ShowCatalogPage/1979-Sears-Christmas-Book/0654

https://christmas.musetechnical.com/ShowCatalogPage/1979-Sears-Christmas-Book/0655

[Atari XL/XE OS Rev. 1 - 800XL?]

600XL production seems to have started September July 1983.  The 600XL Field Service Manual dated October 1983 already makes no mention of the Rev.1 OS chip, only the Rev.2 OS chip part number is mentioned.  So Rev.1 seems already phased out by October, which is before 800XL production seems to have started in November.

[The Atari interview discussion thread]

On 10/23/2021 at 6:49 PM, _The Doctor__ said:

George Opperman perhaps is the George that Dave couldn't remember...

George Simcock, director of software development (both VCS and 400/800) from 1978-1980, seems much more likely to me.

[Help....Atari 800 "Mosaic 64K RAM Card" docs?]

 

[MOSAIC Memory manual?]

Here we have:

• Mosaic 64K RAM Select Owner's Manual (with two inserts)
• Mosaic 64K Cable Connectors Package #1 card
  SuperDrive, which came with this version of Cable Package #1, is already at AtariMania.)

Mosaic 64K RAM Select Owner's Manual.pdf Mosaic 64K Cable Connectors Package #1 card.pdf

[Help....Atari 800 "Mosaic 64K RAM Card" docs?]

 

[MOSAIC Memory manual?]

Do these pages help?

Mosaic64KPartialDocs.zip

[An Original Portable PONG Game?]

according to http://www.pong-story.com/gi.htm the Atari chip C010765, which I think I see in the full size images, was used in Atari Ultra PONG and Ultra PONG Doubles (C-402).

[CMC I/O Module for 800's - Info wanted]

Higher rez here?

CMC-Parallel-Serial-Card.pdf

[Pre-production copy of Star Raiders manual found]

Earlier draft of the manual: https://archive.org/details/AtariStarRaidersDraftManual

 

Looking to decipher the initialers on page two, I'm pretty confident about two of them:

Micro- (Microelectronics) D.K. = Dennis Koble, who was Atari (Consumer) software manager at the time.

Legal- SP = Skip Paul (Charles S. Paul), Atari corporate VP and general counsel at the time.

[8-Bit FAQ link]

9 hours ago, orpheuswaking said:

Is the vendor FAQ still maintained anywhere ?

Yes, here: https://mcurrent.name/atari-8-bit/vendev.txt 

 

Is it still useful in 2021?

[Atari 400/800 vs 5200 Game Differences]

On 7/9/2021 at 5:03 AM, Kr0tki said:

Yeah - and to open the Pandora's box, in addition to the PB cartridge, there is a variety of all-slightly-different official releases of the 1st Frogger by Sierra-On-Line (1 disk and two tapes) ?

 

Well I cannot prove beyond all doubts that the 5200 versions were _not_ released in 1984, but it seems that it is indeed the case, that both games (and also Gremlins) were delayed until 1986. It is a common misconception that both games were fist released for the 5200 in March 1984, thanks to LucasArts themselves, who once provided this date on their old website, and to Wikipedia who cited that website in their articles on RoF and Ballblazer. It is IMO wrong and needs to be straightened up - apparently the 1985 Epyx releases were the 1st releases worldwide. Unfortunately, I have not been able to find any concrete evidence (such as a newspaper article or press release) to back it up (it's hard to find reports on anything 5200-related after 1984), so the Wikipedia pages remain as they are for now.

 

Based on the 5200 sales figures for 1986 and 1987 I think 5200 Gremlins didn't get out until 1987.