R4ngerM4n Posted March 12, 2016 Share Posted March 12, 2016 Hi, are there any official documents from Atari or magazine reports that explicitly confirm that 'XL' means 'eXtended Line'? Everyone claims it, but I couldn't find any proof. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marius Posted March 12, 2016 Share Posted March 12, 2016 I'd say eXceptional Lovable 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 12, 2016 Share Posted March 12, 2016 xtra loadtime (for tapes) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R4ngerM4n Posted March 12, 2016 Author Share Posted March 12, 2016 Please stay on-topic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marius Posted March 12, 2016 Share Posted March 12, 2016 Please stay on-topic. Please don't be eXtra Lame Some fun from time to time won't kill anyone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mclaneinc Posted March 12, 2016 Share Posted March 12, 2016 (edited) Never heard it called that ever...Hmmm..I'll have a dig... From Atari Protos.. http://www.atariprotos.com/8bit/8bit.htm Not official but might be worth asking where they got the name from.. Re the XL The 8-bit computer line started out with the Atari 400 and 800 in 1979 (code named Candy and Colleen). These powerhouses contained 16K and 48K respectively, and are capable of running much (but not all) of the available 8-bit software. In 1982 Atari decided to shake things up with the new XL series (eXtended Line) Re The XE In 1985 Atari released it's last line of systems called the XE line (XL Enhanced). The 65XE and 130XE were cheap replacements for the 600XL and 800XL with only minor enhancements (more memory and new peripherals). From the Atari Sweet 16 Project http://www.atarimuseum.com/computers/8BITS/1200xl/sweet16.html The Atari 1200XL was Atari's final design revision for the Sweet 16 line of computers, actually it was first called just the Atari 1200, there was no XL. It was decided that since the system had new features it should have (XL: Extended Line). And from Pigwa / The Atari Explorer com The machines received much critical acclaim for the advanced graphics and sound they produced - for the late 1970's, they were definitely ahead of their time. During this period, IBM, Apple, Tandy and Commodore were the main players in the market - While the other manufacturers were updating their systems, it wasn't until late in 1982 that the first new revisions of the Atari computer line were launched. The new line would be called "XL" or extended line. Edited March 12, 2016 by Mclaneinc 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 12, 2016 Share Posted March 12, 2016 Please stay on-topic. Xcessively Lifeless Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emkay Posted March 12, 2016 Share Posted March 12, 2016 And now let's find the eXtended Line in the computers. As far As I know, the XL exaclty missed a line compared to the 800 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willsy Posted March 12, 2016 Share Posted March 12, 2016 Extended Line. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+MrFish Posted March 12, 2016 Share Posted March 12, 2016 In this interview with Jack Tramiel the host gives a different explanation of what XE means. Jack doesn't seem to correct him either: Jack Tramiel Interview (1985) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R4ngerM4n Posted March 13, 2016 Author Share Posted March 13, 2016 (edited) Very interesting, thanks for posting. 'E' for 'Eight bit' and 'X' because it is compatible. So this would clearly contradict with what seems to be the standard explanation (EXtended Line Enhanced) so far. Edited March 13, 2016 by R4ngerM4n Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+MrFish Posted March 13, 2016 Share Posted March 13, 2016 Actually it makes some sense, if ST stands for Sixteen/Thirty-Two, then they're specifying the bits in each line in order to differentiate. On the Atari History Museum they call them "XL Extended", which is kind of strange if XL mean "Extended Line". That'd make them the Extended Line Extended. Wikipedia says it means XL Expanded, which I think is another common idea about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bryan Posted March 13, 2016 Share Posted March 13, 2016 In the end they're all "backronyms" since obviously XL just sounds upscale and classy. XE has a similar look while being new and different. If they'd wanted it to mean "Fixed and Updated" they still wouldn't have called it the 800FU. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rybags Posted March 13, 2016 Share Posted March 13, 2016 Or the later revision, 800 FU2. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+MrFish Posted March 13, 2016 Share Posted March 13, 2016 Haha... I wouldn't consider it a backronym if it's coming from an interview with Jack Tramiel in 1985. But all the other ones, yes, most likely the case. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kenjennings Posted March 13, 2016 Share Posted March 13, 2016 XL = eXtra 'Leet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emkay Posted March 13, 2016 Share Posted March 13, 2016 You guys are all wrong: XL is "eXcluded-chroma Line" XE is "eXcluded-chroma line Enabled" 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marius Posted March 13, 2016 Share Posted March 13, 2016 You guys are all wrong: XL is "eXcluded-chroma Line" XE is "eXcluded-chroma line Enabled" Whaha. Best comment ever! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Like us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
AtariAge on Instagram
Watch us on YouTube
Chat on Discord
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.