andymanone

July 30

I received a third entry for the ABBUC Hardware Competition 2023 at short notice today.

The project, called "AtarINO" by none other than the developer of the legendary MIDICar project.

You can find the details here:

-> AtarINO – development set of devices - ABBUC Hardware Competition 2023

Cheers,

andY

July 30

Second entry for the ABBUC Hardware Contest is alive:

-> DecentXL mechanical keyboard for Atari 600/800XL - ABBUC Hardware Competition 2023

Cheers,

andY

July 29

@ZeroPage Homebrew @davpa @PacManPlus

Many thanks to James, David and Bob!

It was a very informative and interesting interview which I followed with excitement until the last minute 👍!

Thanks for all the new insights and thanks to all involved🤝!

Cheers,

andY

July 28

@ZeroPage Homebrew: I´m sorry that I confused you. I see you said in the Interview , you don´t now what I mean 😉

With my metaphor : "With this you push extremely many people and the ATARI community in front of the head."

I mean: It´s like "get a punch in the face"

Cheers,

andY

July 27

My most important question to David Paige would be:

Why is ATARI so "ignorant" towards all ATARI users outside the United States?
There is a huge fan community in Europe and also other continents, which currently have absolutely no chance to buy the current and upcoming (physical) products legally.
With this you push extremely many people and the ATARI community in front of the head.

Are there any realistic plans to change this in the near future ?

Thanks & Cheers,

andY

July 19

The first entry for the ABBUC Hardware Contest is alive:

-> MIDICar Remote - ABBUC Hardware Competition 2023

Cheers,

andY

July 18

Here a short update from me (even if I'm not as often present at the moment as I used to 🙁😞

I have currently received two "advance" entries for the hardware contest 😎.

The two participants first contacted me privately and will then officially submit their project soon 😎👍.

I´m very happy about this and will keep you up to date !

Cheers,
andY

June 27

ATARI 1040 STF in German Music Show.

Band: Silicon Dream with "Albert Einstein" and "Marcello Mastroianni"

Silicon Dream - Albert Einstein & Marcello Mastroianni

Cheers,

andY

May 17

Okay,

I was not aware that you will offer an XE-style housing for it 😉.

I thought it would be the bare board, so I was just thinking about

how to get it into a nice shape....

Cheers.,

andY

May 17

On 5/6/2023 at 5:16 AM, ScreamingAtTheRadio said:

Hello Bertrand,

it's me again....

Maybe, one stupid question @your new sidecar XE85 project:

Are the dimensions and the distances of the keys identical with the part of the ATARI ST/STE case? So could you cut a part out of a broken 520ST case and use it as a case for the Siedecar?

Thanks & cheers,

andY

April 20

@Albert

I guess you are very busy, but could I still ask you to pin the topic temporarily?

Thanks in advance,

André

April 11

Hello together!

The ABBUC hardware contest 2023 starts now! Everyone is invited to participate with own, new hardware. For more details read the rules (see link below).

The deadline this year : 31. July 2023

You can find the rules here:

Rules AHC 2023

Cheers,

andY

March 29

1 hour ago, macsonny said:

Site or link?

He sells it directly, just write him a PM 😉.

Cheers,

andY

March 26

41 minutes ago, MrZarniwoop said:

I would guess it was from Xbox Design Lab.

Yes, your right 👍 !

I was asking the seller and he told me, that it was a "custom made" version by XBOX Labs Design....

But still looks cool... I like it 😊!

Cheers,
andY

March 26

Hi folks,

I got one of the first VCS 800 at the Indigogo campaign and I am very happy with it😍!

But since I always like to have at least two of each kind of device in my collection,

I have been looking for a cheap second device for a long time.

Since ATARI unfortunately (still) doesn't sell the VCS 800 in the EU / Germany, outside the USA

you always have to rely on an expensive import with expensive shipping costs and tax fees.

The costs start with good luck at about 400$ then often rise to 600$ and more 😟.

Now I recently had the fortune to find a private sale in Germany on Ebay.

We negotiated a bit and in the end we agreed on a total of 300€.

In the package was the VS 800, then the two ATARI controllers and additionally something very special!

An XBOX controller in ATARI VCS design😲😎!

Same design and colors as the original, only that here both joysticks are in red (original only the left one)

and the Pad with direction keys instead of round.
The controller even has a VCS logo in the middle😎!

Some pictures attached...

I have researched, but so far not found the source of the controller.

Maybe it is custom made" but it looks very cool.

Does anyone know if this controller was officially available somewhere?

Cheers,

andY

March 23

.

March 23

On 12/28/2022 at 11:44 PM, Songbird said:

Not a stupid question at all! We don't have the pre-order page open yet. That will come in January however, and we'll be sure to post on Twitter, here, and the Songbird email newsletter.

Yeeaahh!!

Both Aries64 controllers for the NUON arrived today 😍!!!

Thanks, Carl! They look great 😎!

I will test them first thing tomorrow or weekend😊!

Cheers,

andY

March 20

First of all I would like to say,
I am not the owner of the campaign.
I am also not related to the owner or involved in the project.

Nevertheless I would like to point out a - in my eyes very nice - software project of a small "one-man-company",
which is currently running on Kickstarter.

It's about the sweet game "Alice Sisters" which the author wants to release as a retail version for the beloved ATARI Falcon 030 ❤️.

I have already paid my full contribution, but unfortunately the programmer is still missing "a few cents" to realize the project 😔.

It would be a pity if it would fail because of the financing.

So if you want to support a good cause (even with a small donation) or if you want to get a retail version for your Falcon 030,
I invite you to participate.

Alice Sisters: a cute platformer game with co-op 2 players mechanics for the ATARI Falcon 030, GBA and PS1 by Orion-Soft

So I hope for a successful result and am looking forward to it, to hold the promised game for my Falcon in my hands next time 😍.

Cheers,

andY

March 18

On 3/16/2023 at 11:16 PM, Cyprian said:

cool

what about a bit lower clock e.g. 9MHz?

Hi Cyprian,

yes, I immediately ordered a few more crystals to test with 6.144MHz, 8.000MHz, 9.216MHz and 12MHz each.

Strangely enough, the tests with lower frequencies failed, (8.000MHz, 9.216MHz) turned out badly.

The portfolio starts, but the display shows chaotic characters and halves the lines. Absolutely unreadable.

Than I ordered additional crystals with exactly twice the frequency of the standard clock (9,830400 MHz)
and then some with the double frequency of the (known) 6,144MHz mod's, so 12,288MHz.

Funnily enough, the test with 9.830400 MHz (standard clock x2) was just as bad as the others under 12 MHz,

BUT (!)

The test with the 12.288MHz was a little bit more successful😎!

There are again some characters that are not deleted, and there is always a wrong line break,
but if you execute the command "cls" once or twice in the prompt, the remaining characters are
deleted and the text is partially displayed normally.

The test tool then even shows 12.27MHz!

With the 12.288MHz crystal, the Pofo also behaves better than with the previous smooth 12'er.

But it can't start programs from the ROM cleanly, I assume that the access speed of the ROM's is

just too slow for the (almost 3 times) CPU speed 🙄.

Well, I'll continue a little bit, let's see what I can figure out...

Cheers,
andY

March 16

Hi folks,

the standard upgrade from 4.9152 MHz to 6.144 MHz is well known and proven🙂.

But I wanted to shift a gear higher and try to go to the limits😎.

Here some first tests with an ATARI Portfolio HPC-006 with 12 MHz!

The graphic controller makes some problems, characters are not deleted or refreshed.

But basically the Portfolio can be started, accessed and operated.

The CPU testtool also shows a fabulous 11,98MHz clock frequency😎.

But these are only the first tests, I'll give an update if there is further progress.

Cheers,

andY

February 8

13 minutes ago, Songbird said:

Aries64 NUON controller adapter is open for pre-order! Use any N64 controller on NUON. Price is $49.95. Release date is March 15. Spread the word!

https://songbird-productions.com/product/aries64-nuon-controller-adapter/

Thanks mate😎!

Order was placed!

I also spread the cool news in our german ATARI forum...

Cheers,

andY

February 6

4 hours ago, Mclaneinc said:

Hi folks, not seen Matt / Gunstar on here for a while, nor has he been on another forum we both frequent. I've messaged him, but no reply, which is odd. Bit worried that something may have happened to his mother who he looks after, she's been quite ill for some time. Last time he was on here or the other forum was the 22nd of Jan. He's a workaholic so it's possible he is just busy, but just hoping that someone has chatted with him since. I'd knock on his door, but he's the other side of the big pond from us in the UK.

Cheers,

Paul..

Hi Paul,

we had a similar topic in our German ABBUC forum a short time ago 🙁.
Everybody was worried, but luckily I had a private email address in addition and emailed the user and I was very happy and relieved that he answered and he said:
He is healthy and everything is ok, but he just needed a "ATARI break".

Now he is also again regularly in the forum🙂.

I hope very much, it is with Gunstar a similar situation....

Cheers,

andY

January 14

On 12/30/2022 at 3:21 PM, andymanone said:

My very latest bargain on Ebay was an cool ATARI 8-BIT "TRAK 5,25 inch floppy drive" with track display😍!

It was offered for buy it now 49,95 USD and I didn't hesitate for a second and hit the buy button😎.

Cheers,

andY

Short update:

the TRAK floppy arrived safely on Friday🙂.

It had some defects, but I was able to fix them in the end and now it runs perfectly😎.

The whole story (how to fix it) can be found here in the ABBUC forum, but unfortunately in german language.

But if you are interested, you can use "Google Translator" or "DeepL"...

Cheers,

andY

January 14

2 minutes ago, Beeblebrox said:

Ah many thanks

I'll see when the ones I've ordered arrive whether they will do but the offer is much appreciated.

Ahh great👍!

So feel free to let me know if you still need my help 🙂.

Cheers,

andY

January 14

On 1/13/2023 at 10:29 AM, Beeblebrox said:

I am in the market for an internal speaker for my 800 which is missing. I know it's more or less only used for keyclicks and a few rudametary sounds, but I'd like to get one nonetheless.

Anyone know the spec and also a modern (cheap) UK source for one?

So a modern replacement for this:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/133063072388

I can make up a connector but just need to know the tech spec, dimensions, etc so I can either search for a replacement, go with a speaker supplier in the UK anyone may recommend, etc.

I think it's likely I'll be able to get something cheap from Ebay or Amazon once I know what to search for.

Had a quick look on AA and Googled but without a spec I'm just guessing. I can by a NoS one from the States on Ebnay but obviously not worth it after shipping/fees.

thanks in advance