JGRAHAM2 Posted February 15, 2021 Share Posted February 15, 2021 What do you think? Install in my B-Key 400 or keep as it is? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TGB1718 Posted February 15, 2021 Share Posted February 15, 2021 Depends what you want, keep it .virgin' as it is if you don't mind not being able to run loads of games etc. Or make it a really useful machine and lots more fun to be had. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mimo Posted February 15, 2021 Share Posted February 15, 2021 Keep as is imo. I removed a third party keyboard from mine and installed a nos original keyboard. It looks and feels like a 400 now. I only play games on it though 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rybags Posted February 15, 2021 Share Posted February 15, 2021 Wrong photo? I had a B-key from new. Sure, more usable than the membrane default but in the modern day for a collectable I'd say original all the way. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JGRAHAM2 Posted February 15, 2021 Author Share Posted February 15, 2021 3 hours ago, mimo said: Keep as is imo. I removed a third party keyboard from mine and installed a nos original keyboard. It looks and feels like a 400 now. I only play games on it though I’ve got 3 others with the old keyboard and a set of extra boards, so I’m good there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JGRAHAM2 Posted February 15, 2021 Author Share Posted February 15, 2021 3 hours ago, Rybags said: Wrong photo? I had a B-key from new. Sure, more usable than the membrane default but in the modern day for a collectable I'd say original all the way. I’m talking about the Mosaic 48k upgrade. I think someone bought it back in the day and after reading the instructions, they decided not to try it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+slx Posted February 15, 2021 Share Posted February 15, 2021 Only reason not to install it would be to wait for the "400 Incognito" 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mimo Posted February 15, 2021 Share Posted February 15, 2021 3 hours ago, JGRAHAM2 said: I’ve got 3 others with the old keyboard and a set of extra boards, so I’m good there. Sorry, totally misread your question Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillC Posted February 15, 2021 Share Posted February 15, 2021 8 hours ago, JGRAHAM2 said: What do you think? Install in my B-Key 400 or keep as it is? IMO you should install the RAM upgrade, it will then be able to run any software the 800 can except for the rare right slot cartridges, it can also be reversed by installing a different 16KB card if desired. You should also consider an audio/video upgrade since the 400 only came with RF output. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+bob1200xl Posted February 15, 2021 Share Posted February 15, 2021 Dig up an Atari 48K upgrade - the Mosaic looks complex compared to the 48K factory kit. Bob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillC Posted February 15, 2021 Share Posted February 15, 2021 5 minutes ago, bob1200xl said: Dig up an Atari 48K upgrade - the Mosaic looks complex compared to the 48K factory kit. Bob Or the 48/52KB RAM card by @tf_hh, who also sells a replacement CPU card with integrated UAV. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allan Posted February 16, 2021 Share Posted February 16, 2021 @JGRAHAM2 Could you possible scan the Mosaic manual? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JGRAHAM2 Posted February 16, 2021 Author Share Posted February 16, 2021 36 minutes ago, Allan said: @JGRAHAM2 Could you possible scan the Mosaic manual? Yes, I’ll upload here sometime this week. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JGRAHAM2 Posted February 16, 2021 Author Share Posted February 16, 2021 4 hours ago, bob1200xl said: Dig up an Atari 48K upgrade - the Mosaic looks complex compared to the 48K factory kit. Bob It requires some cutting traces, removing capacitors, soldering 6 points, replacing RAM, plugging in a board in place of an ic and connecting to the motherboard with a press on connector. I did it and it partially works. I get a black screen. On reset I get BASIC, but PRINT FRE(0) gives the wrong free memory 39,000+ instead of 37,000+ and it freezes. List produces zeros. Star Raiders works, but other carts do not. I think I have some bad RAM. I’ll try other chips and recheck my wiring tomorrow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keatah Posted February 16, 2021 Share Posted February 16, 2021 The Atari 400 is a computer I would not want to upgrade. Doesn't feel quite right. If pressed on the issue, maybe, just maybe, an upgrade to 48K for practicality. But anything else is a no-no. It's fine the way it is. Same with the Atari 800, no mods. But the 600/800XL, 1200XL/1400XL/1450XLD, 65/130XE, bring it on! The more you stuff in the case, the better. These consoles feel like they were made for mods. Why? Well the 400/800 have a lot of physical layout limitations or barriers that need working around. The other 8-bit systems feel stamped together bottom-to-top, and that makes it easy to do mods. Lots of space to work with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StickJock Posted February 16, 2021 Share Posted February 16, 2021 Counterpoint: The 800 was designed for upgrades with the "personality board" in a user-accessible slot, as well as the RAM. The CPU board is also in a slot, though not directly accessible to the user. Early advertisements even called out this expandability as a great feature to ensure that the system never went out of date. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SS Posted February 16, 2021 Share Posted February 16, 2021 Unless you are a hardcore "original hardware" collector, I honestly don't know why someone *wouldn't* want to upgrade their 400 to 48K. Especially if it already has a B-key keyboard mod installed. (Although, I am a big fan of how the original design 400 membrane keyboard looks so I might be inclined to install the RAM card on one of your other 400s instead. ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+gnusto Posted February 16, 2021 Share Posted February 16, 2021 I upgraded my original 400 to 48K when I was a kid, I don't see why I (or you) wouldn't do the same now. Unless all you want to do is play cartridge based games, it's a severe limitation to stick with the 16k. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+orpheuswaking Posted February 16, 2021 Share Posted February 16, 2021 If it's got a Bkey then upgrade it. You've already changed the machine (albeit reversibly). 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JGRAHAM2 Posted February 16, 2021 Author Share Posted February 16, 2021 1 hour ago, orpheuswaking said: If it's got a Bkey then upgrade it. You've already changed the machine (albeit reversibly). B-Key was one of the things I really wanted in the early 80s. I never really got serious about programming until I got my 800XL. I bought this with the keyboard for nostalgic reasons. I actually bought my original machine because I thought the keyboard was futuristic looking and cool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Potemkyn Posted February 16, 2021 Share Posted February 16, 2021 Do the upgrade! See how she preforms! Poe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+orpheuswaking Posted February 16, 2021 Share Posted February 16, 2021 1 hour ago, JGRAHAM2 said: B-Key was one of the things I really wanted in the early 80s. I never really got serious about programming until I got my 800XL. I bought this with the keyboard for nostalgic reasons. I actually bought my original machine because I thought the keyboard was futuristic looking and cool. You know, I have a spare Atari official 48k upgrade that isn't installed in a machine yet. IF you want to keep the machine as ATARI as possible you could always trade your mosaic for it. Just a suggestion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JGRAHAM2 Posted February 16, 2021 Author Share Posted February 16, 2021 38 minutes ago, orpheuswaking said: You know, I have a spare Atari official 48k upgrade that isn't installed in a machine yet. IF you want to keep the machine as ATARI as possible you could always trade your mosaic for it. Just a suggestion. I appreciate the offer, but I have installed the Mosaic and right now, it isn’t working right. I’ll be troubleshooting it tonight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+orpheuswaking Posted February 16, 2021 Share Posted February 16, 2021 52 minutes ago, JGRAHAM2 said: I appreciate the offer, but I have installed the Mosaic and right now, it isn’t working right. I’ll be troubleshooting it tonight. Good luck! Hope it doesn't take much to get working. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JGRAHAM2 Posted February 16, 2021 Author Share Posted February 16, 2021 1 hour ago, orpheuswaking said: Good luck! Hope it doesn't take much to get working. One thing I notice is one of the solder points goes to a diode on this board. It is a resister on my other 16K board. (C523) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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