I'm facing a very hard decision...

[Voch]

While I've had a 5200 for a few months now, I'm jumping into the Atari 8-bit computer stuff (waiting for my just-purchased 65XE to arrive before I actually invest in a SIO2PC cable) and can't wait to play the .ATR files I have archived.

 

I was a Commodore junkie in my day and may break out that machine and get a XE1541 cable, too, if all goes well with the Atari.

 

I traded my Atari 800 (yes, the 4-port machine, given to me by a friend) for some Atari 2600 loot when I started collecting a few years ago and now regret the decision. I figured "hey...I'll just emulate that" but now that I've collected a few consoles I want to add some computers (especially after discovering SIO2PC and 64HDD).

 

Voch

[tyranthraxus]

I'll add to the general advice. Keep the computer get a 5200 later. As

cool as the 5200 is its more of an item I would reccomend to dedicated

console collectors. Unless you just dislike computer gaming you will

be much more satisfied with the computer in the long run. Recently

Sunmark made a 8-bit multicart that contained all the 5200 games that

were converted to the computer.

[davidnewman]

I gotta weigh in on this... I bought a 5200 [2 actually: 2-port and a 4-port]. Then, like a friggin' idiot, I sold my trusty 800XL when I thought my collection was getting a little outta hand.

 

Well, needless to say, I had a boatload of XL carts, and they stayed put with me. Why? Because I never shoulda sold the 800XL!!! So, I hop on eBay a little bit later, and pick up a nice XEGS. I liked the 800XL better because of the top-load cart slot, but the XEGS gets the job done, and reminds me of my old 130XE [also sold previously].

 

Do I ever play either of my 52's? Nope. Do I have brand new working controllers? Yup. Do I have the Masterplay joystick adapter? Yup. Do I have Sean's new on-screen menu version of the 5200 multicart? Yup.

 

What the hell is wrong with me?

 

Guess I'm a dyed-in-the-wool A8 guy -- it was my first home computer. What can I say?

[Shannon]

Getting an SIO2PC cable makes it very easy to load software from a PC

 

 

Is there Windows based software to use with this or only DOS? I've been meaning to pick one up but I'm pretty DOS dumb.

 

The ape software is windows based.

[SS]

Getting an SIO2PC cable makes it very easy to load software from a PC

 

 

Is there Windows based software to use with this or only DOS? I've been meaning to pick one up but I'm pretty DOS dumb.

 

The ape software is windows based.

 

 

So what is the major difference between the freeware and registered versions of APE? $104.99 seems pretty stiff

[Shannon]

$104 is only if you get the cable as well. You can buy an sio2pc cable here for $30 bucks.

 

Registered just allows high speed i/o, but that is no good to you unless the high speed i/o is enabled in the OS (spartados or using the built in menu loader). Also the built in menu loader have a 5 second delay when you select a binary to load.

 

The only other limitation I ran into is with saving config files. For example if you load 3 disks as drive 1, 2 and 3 you can save that config so you will not have to set them up again. You can just load the config.

 

There is also a 30 second load delay when you first load winape. I solved this by having it autostart when my system boots. So when I want to use my atari I do not have to wait (unless I just turned on the computer).

 

I myself have been able to live with the limitations, but someone more impatient may not.

[ApolloBoy]

I've made my decision...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The 800XL stays!