ColecoFan1981 Posted March 15, 2022 Share Posted March 15, 2022 Of all the prototype computers Atari tried to get released, which of the following would you have wanted to use had they been officially released? List: 800XLD = 800XL with 5-1/4" disk drive, expanded casing 1400XL = slated replacement for 1200XL with PBI and voice synthesizer 1450XLD = same as 1400XL but with two 5-1/4" disk drives, expanded casing 1600XL = same as 1400XL but also has Intel 80186 CPU for greater DOS compatibility 1650XLD = same as 1450XLD but also has Intel 80186 CPU for greater DOS compatibility 65XEP = 65XE with portable monitor included 65XEM = 65XE with "Amy" sound chip for musicians ~Ben Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stormtrooper of Death Posted March 15, 2022 Share Posted March 15, 2022 the 65XEM music Atari. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oracle_jedi Posted March 15, 2022 Share Posted March 15, 2022 The one with the Amiga chipset. I think it was tentatively named the 1850XLD. Good grief. Between the 8bit 1450XLD, the sort of PC compatible 1650XLD and the 68k based 1850XLD the product branding would have been a disaster. A Falcon040 would have been nice too. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColecoFan1981 Posted March 15, 2022 Author Share Posted March 15, 2022 (edited) Forgot to say the 1400XL, 1450XLD, 1600XL and 1650XLD would all also have had a 300-baud modem, also built into the machine, but this would soon be out of date. The subsequent SX212 standalone modem went to 1000-baud. Yes, the 1850XLD in 16/32 flavor (how the ST series was named) would've been nice, but as you say the features of each of these prototypes would have made for a confusing computer market. ~Ben Edited March 15, 2022 by ColecoFan1981 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xxl Posted March 15, 2022 Share Posted March 15, 2022 2 hours ago, ColecoFan1981 said: 65XEP = 65XE with portable monitor included and floppy drive buid in 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mclaneinc Posted March 15, 2022 Share Posted March 15, 2022 Wanted the 1450XLD back then, but I'd probably settle for the 800XLD these days. But just looking at that list as well as the 1850, is it a small wonder that Atari died...So much material yet zero direction.. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peri Noid Posted March 15, 2022 Share Posted March 15, 2022 65XEP Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+mytek Posted March 15, 2022 Share Posted March 15, 2022 9 hours ago, ColecoFan1981 said: 65XEP = 65XE with portable monitor included Maybe we should call this a 'Portable Version of the 65XE' instead, which incorporated a miniature CRT monitor and floppy drive After all that's what it really was. Very much like the SX-64, but missing a handle (how would you carry this one around?). I actually built something like this myself based on a 600XL back in the very early 90's, where I gutted the case for the motherboard, and left the keyboard in. Then very much like the XEGS, I moved the 4051 MUX chips for the keyboard scanning onto a perfboard and placed this in the now reassigned keyboard only case with a Dsub-9 for connection to the motherboard. My system had dual 5.25 floppies, a 5" color CRT, a 12V Gel cell, 12V to 5V switching PSU, and the motherboard all in a separate metal case. As part of the keyboard circuit, I had incorporated a local crystal scan oscillator and counter which was synced to Pokey via one wire, thus enabling me to have +5V, GND, the main keyboard matrix, Start, Select, Option and Reset all with only 9 pins (the XEGS should have done this). Although this had a battery built-in, it wouldn't last long off of that, So it was normally tethered to a car via the cigarette lighter jack. I used to go camping with a buddy of mine and his young daughter at the time, so this became the evening entertainment system. We played a lot of Preppie! which was her favorite I wish I still had pictures of this and the schematics for the keyboard scan board. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cwilbar Posted March 15, 2022 Share Posted March 15, 2022 1450XLD 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mimo Posted March 15, 2022 Share Posted March 15, 2022 1450xld and a Panther please Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+CharlieChaplin Posted March 15, 2022 Share Posted March 15, 2022 Computer: the 1400XL with cartridge-slot on top (but with XL design, please): Just the case: the 1600XL concept 1 case (enough space for dozens of upgrades, card-slots, etc.) not mentioned: - the Super-XEGS 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
351coug Posted March 16, 2022 Share Posted March 16, 2022 I vote for the 16 or 1850 's , Issue with most of what they were proposing would have been quickly surpassed tech and or crazy priced. Seems atari had a few years there with insane excess cash to throw around and eng groups doing all sorts of crazy stuff. why they didn't follow apples lead and do superset upgrades to the chipsets , still support most previous software , but have faster cpu more sound and vid ability. Or the IIGS route. so good Jobs killed it so the mac could catch up. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_The Doctor__ Posted February 13, 2023 Share Posted February 13, 2023 1600XL with 1090XLD expansion pack, Amy card. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rdefabri Posted February 14, 2023 Share Posted February 14, 2023 65XEM. I’ve always been into sound and sound synthesis - then and now. AMY was based on the Hal Alles work at Bell Lans, and my father was a Bell Labs guy, so I had a lot of interest with what Atari was doing there. Bummer it never happened. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zzip Posted February 14, 2023 Share Posted February 14, 2023 65XEM for me Though the 1450XLD has always intrigued me And if the 1850XLD would of course be interesting but I doubt it was ever much of a prototype since Atari never got the Amiga chips. On 3/15/2022 at 2:46 AM, oracle_jedi said: Good grief. Between the 8bit 1450XLD, the sort of PC compatible 1650XLD and the 68k based 1850XLD the product branding would have been a disaster. Yeah I'd hope marketing would straighten out the names if they ever got off the drawing board! The 1600XL/1650XLD would still be XL compatible, but doesn't sound like the 1850 would be, so a new naming scheme would be needed. On 3/15/2022 at 2:46 AM, oracle_jedi said: A Falcon040 would have been nice too. Wasn't there a version of the Falcon in development that wasn't going to be in the 1040-style case? Using a Mega-type case or something instead? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Allan Posted February 15, 2023 Share Posted February 15, 2023 Do software titles count? How about 1. Futuremakers - This is Ground Control 2. Futuremakers - Through the Star Bridge 3. Captain Hook's Revenge 4. Infinity Office software Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rybags Posted February 15, 2023 Share Posted February 15, 2023 XEM but with 128K or more RAM. Super XEGS would have been great if it was a 65816 with better graphics/sound + downward compatibility. The other one I'd have liked is a better Falcon in the case that eventually was sold to become the PS2 case. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Larry Posted February 15, 2023 Share Posted February 15, 2023 Yet another wish for a 1450XLD. I even called Atari after seeing the magazine article to see if there was a waiting list or other info for prospective purchasers! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+kheller2 Posted February 15, 2023 Share Posted February 15, 2023 Early 1984 Tong version 1450XLD. Although, the late 83 version was more akin to a hacked 1050 board that might be easier to modify. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+DarkLord Posted February 15, 2023 Share Posted February 15, 2023 23 hours ago, zzip said: Wasn't there a version of the Falcon in development that wasn't going to be in the 1040-style case? Using a Mega-type case or something instead? Yep, the Falcon 040/Microbox 030 was going to be in a nice case with CD access and more. It looked really good. I *dream* about this having actually having made it out the door before Atari dropped computer support. Did you hear about the Sony angle to it? Check out this story: Here's a couple of pictures: 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zzip Posted February 15, 2023 Share Posted February 15, 2023 1 hour ago, DarkLord said: Yep, the Falcon 040/Microbox 030 was going to be in a nice case with CD access and more. It looked really good. I *dream* about this having actually having made it out the door before Atari dropped computer support. Did you hear about the Sony angle to it? Check out this story: Yes that does look cool, but I don't like the CD on top since I'd want to place the monitor there. And the keyboard looks generic- no hint of Atari styling. Some of the photos appear to have USB ports? Was that so? Atari got out of the business around the time USB was being created so it would seem like a Falcon would be too early for that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+DarkLord Posted February 17, 2023 Share Posted February 17, 2023 Honestly, I don't know. There's a couple of message threads about this over in the ST area. There might be some answers there... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+slx Posted February 17, 2023 Share Posted February 17, 2023 I always wanted a 1450XLD but these days with digital storage its main attraction of a faster high-capacity floppy drive has become a bit pointless, so I'd only take it for the looks and the level space to place a monitor. (I'm not a musical person.) I do wonder how the 80186 hybrid units might have fared. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillC Posted February 17, 2023 Share Posted February 17, 2023 On 2/15/2023 at 10:06 AM, zzip said: but I don't like the CD on top since I'd want to place the monitor there. According to the pictures the CD is on the front, and the area on the top that looks like it's the CD is listed as "Monitor Plinth" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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