ValkerieSilk Posted October 8, 2018 Share Posted October 8, 2018 https://twitter.com/CNET/status/1047667622513262592 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+GoldLeader Posted October 8, 2018 Share Posted October 8, 2018 Atari may make typewriters obsolete! Hahaaa I always liked Alan Alda...We share the same birthday. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gilsaluki Posted October 8, 2018 Share Posted October 8, 2018 Alan did a good job as spokesman for the machine. I am not certain he actually used them in his private life, but he had an infectious way about him. Great salesman for Atari. Too bad, the Tramiels didn't find someone to sell their computers. Jack was the tightest tightwad in the history of business. Watched every nickel going out, until there were no more nickels. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FifthPlayer Posted October 11, 2018 Share Posted October 11, 2018 IIRC, Commodore had William Shatner as pitchman for their computers, at least the VIC-20 and I think also C-64. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrMaddog Posted October 11, 2018 Share Posted October 11, 2018 Definitely remember the Alan Ada ads both on TV and magazines. Funny that a few years later they used the rest of the MASH cast to sell IBM PS/2 computers. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaybird3rd Posted October 11, 2018 Share Posted October 11, 2018 IIRC, Commodore had William Shatner as pitchman for their computers, at least the VIC-20 and I think also C-64. ... and the TI 99/4A got Bill Cosby. The poor old '99 still can't get a break. I really liked the Alan Alda commercials, too. In 1983, around the same time as the huge M*A*S*H finale, I'm sure he was quite a big name for Atari. He strikes me as someone who was intellectually curious enough to have been genuinely interested in home computers at that time, which (to me) put him a cut above the other celebrity pitchmen who were more obviously doing it for the money. The commercials are not the kind you'd see today, of course, but that only makes me like them more. 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ValkerieSilk Posted October 11, 2018 Author Share Posted October 11, 2018 ... and the TI 99/4A got Bill Cosby. The poor old '99 still can't get a break. I really liked the Alan Alda commercials, too. In 1983, around the same time as the huge M*A*S*H finale, I'm sure he was quite a big name for Atari. He strikes me as someone who was intellectually curious enough to have been genuinely interested in home computers at that time, which (to me) put him a cut above the other celebrity pitchmen who were more obviously doing it for the money. The commercials are not the kind you'd see today, of course, but that only makes me like them more. In his tweet, he said he learned Basic on his Atari, so he actually owned one and used it. He definitely loves technology and science... Always wanted to meet him... 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caterpiggle Posted October 12, 2018 Share Posted October 12, 2018 (edited) Hello to you all, Just wonder what manufacturer & model for 2 different monitors set in the YouTube ? Any idea ? Each of those monitor 's screen (glasses) really ODDLY with frame around the glasses ... Edited October 12, 2018 by Caterpiggle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_The Doctor__ Posted October 12, 2018 Share Posted October 12, 2018 I thought I saw 3 different monitor/televisions 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunstar Posted October 12, 2018 Share Posted October 12, 2018 (edited) I wonder how many American celebrities actually owned and used Atari computers back then. I know there were one or two English celebs I learned about over on Atari Sector. Right now I know Alan Alda and Wil Wheaton both owned and used Atari's. I am referring to the computer lines only, I'm sure there were plenty that owned an Atari VCS... I bet Fred Savaged did, he at least had experience with one from the movie 'The Princess Bride' and I bet he played the one on set in between scene filming... Edited October 12, 2018 by Gunstar 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_The Doctor__ Posted October 12, 2018 Share Posted October 12, 2018 You also realize the music industry and some of hollyweird ran on Atari ST's as well so... you might want to say 8 bit Atari computers... since many celebrities used Atari for their livelihood back in the day... 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nezgar Posted October 12, 2018 Share Posted October 12, 2018 And it seems to be the running joke on the ANTIC podcast about Kevin's mission to convince Alan Alda to agree to an interview. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Cafeman Posted October 12, 2018 Share Posted October 12, 2018 I remember those! But I hadn't seen all of them until now. He is the One True Hawkeye! Now age 82 and unfortunately diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease , although thankfully it cant be severe yet based on his activity. Anyway, that art program blows, but I used Atari Writer in HS and college. It certainly made typewriters obsolete for me. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gozar Posted October 14, 2018 Share Posted October 14, 2018 I bet Fred Savaged did, he at least had experience with one from the movie 'The Princess Bride' and I bet he played the one on set in between scene filming... I'm pretty sure it's a C64 in The Princess Bride. Yep: http://princessbrideforever.com/princess-bride-dissecting-freds-bedroom/ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swami Posted October 14, 2018 Share Posted October 14, 2018 Definitely remember the Alan Ada ads both on TV and magazines. Funny that a few years later they used the rest of the MASH cast to sell IBM PS/2 computers. Wow, just made me remember the MASH cast with the IBM PS/2. It seems so odd to think of that all as being contemporary once for some reason. I guess because I haven't thought of it for 30 years but now remember them playing it about every commercial break for a while. The PS/2 mouse; the protocol is still in some mice they sell today, I think. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_The Doctor__ Posted October 14, 2018 Share Posted October 14, 2018 Just the disk drive Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JagChris Posted May 12, 2021 Share Posted May 12, 2021 On 10/11/2018 at 10:15 AM, ValkerieSilk said: In his tweet, he said he learned Basic on his Atari, so he actually owned one and used it. He definitely loves technology and science... Always wanted to meet him... I heard a story he wrote a program called HI DOC! which simulated a session with a psychotherapist. Does anyone know if this program got released to the public? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JagChris Posted May 12, 2021 Share Posted May 12, 2021 Another story was he wouldn't say anything in the commercials he didn't actually believe. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gilsaluki Posted May 12, 2021 Share Posted May 12, 2021 3 hours ago, JagChris said: Another story was he wouldn't say anything in the commercials he didn't actually believe. Sure? I bet the minute his contract expired, he did not use the Atari again. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ratwell Posted May 12, 2021 Share Posted May 12, 2021 There a good playlist of those commercials here: 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stormtrooper of Death Posted May 13, 2021 Share Posted May 13, 2021 (edited) Ratwell, Thanks for the list of commercials. I never heard about the Atari Telectra before. Edited May 13, 2021 by Stormtrooper of Death 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gilsaluki Posted May 13, 2021 Share Posted May 13, 2021 3 hours ago, Stormtrooper of Death said: Ratwell, Thanks for the list of commercials. I never heard about the Atari Telectra before. I had heard about it, seen that commercial. Too bad it was never marketed and deployed. Power wires used as transmission lines for phones...Now we do it all the time. Atari, way ahead of itself. Great engineering, terrible logistics and marketing people. Those innovators must have been really frustrated with their leadership. 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gollumer Posted May 13, 2021 Share Posted May 13, 2021 According to the man himself, he did use them (and learned BASIC!) https://twitter.com/alanalda/status/1049328121261019138?s=20 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gilsaluki Posted May 13, 2021 Share Posted May 13, 2021 3 minutes ago, gollumer said: According to the man himself, he did use them (and learned BASIC!) https://twitter.com/alanalda/status/1049328121261019138?s=20 That's Great! I have no reason to doubt him. I am certain he has a curious mind. Go A.A.! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+x=usr(1536) Posted May 13, 2021 Share Posted May 13, 2021 9 hours ago, gilsaluki said: I had heard about it, seen that commercial. Too bad it was never marketed and deployed. Power wires used as transmission lines for phones...Now we do it all the time. Atari, way ahead of itself. Great engineering, terrible logistics and marketing people. Those innovators must have been really frustrated with their leadership. Never heard of that phone before, but can see one reason why it may not have made it to market: using the home's power wiring not only lets every power outlet in your house act as an extension, but also the outlets in potentially every other house on the same segment of the local power grid. If you've ever used X10 for home automation, you may have experienced interference and / or control of your X10 devices by someone else's X10 installation if they used the same house code as you did. And, if you were the recipient of said interference, you may or may not have used a firecracker module and a few shell scripts to make sure that they found a less-hostile house code Same problem here. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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