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Which Atari computer is best for newcomers

    I've always been a C64 guy since my teens but have dabbled in emulation for a couple Atari computers. If I wanted to dive into getting a real hardware setup going which computer would be the best for someone new? I like the classic arcade games the 400 and 800 has but don't think I'd like that odd keyboard. The ST series feels a lot like what the Amiga had going on and might be more enjoyable.

    Well, the ST is not a gaming machine in first line, but if you like the ST design, maybe have a look at the 130XE, which is the maximum 8bit machine Atari ever made.

    Not really comparable to the C128 as there is no CP/M and also no 2 videochips, but 128KB memory and the design is really good, almost like ST, but a real 8bit 6502 computer with the ability to run all the games of the prior 600/800XL series and many of the elder stuff too.


    If 64KB seem enough, there is also a 65XE version of this great machine.


    Good luck!

    Quote from davidbowenga

    which computer would be the best for someone new? I like the classic arcade games the 400 and 800 has ...

    :nixwiss: hard to say.

    the Atari 8bit line is extremly compatible among itselve. From that point of view, it almost doesn't matter.

    The question is, how deep you wanna dive into atari things? That question implements, how much money do you wanna throw out of the window spent? As well as, what do you want to be able to do with it?

    My suggestion is, buy a XL or XE machine, buy a Ultimate1MB, buy a #Fujinet.

    Why?

    - The mentioned versions are robust.

    - For exciting games (and applications), you need more RAM. (1UMB) It also offers different DOSes and a realtime clock.

    - The FujiNet is the new all in one gimmick.

    It offers so many things, you may visit the

    website to get a closer look.


    Stefan

    My attempts with the Atari 600/XL800XL ended miserably, I never really warmed to this computer, after a few months I gave the Atari to someone else, I felt the same way with the Amiga. There's no substitute for the C64 once you've grown up with the C64. Now I only use a emulator for the Atari and the Amiga, that's enough for me and also saves a lot of space (for my Commodore 64 stuff :) )

    Quote from Ezeyer

    My attempts with the Atari 600/XL800XL ended miserably, I never really warmed to this computer, after a few months I gave the Atari to someone else, I felt the same way with the Amiga. There's no substitute for the C64 once you've grown up with the C64. Now I only use a emulator for the Atari and the Amiga, that's enough for me and also saves a lot of space (for my Commodore 64 stuff :) )

    I'm afraid of that, being a c64 guy and dabbling in the others will put me in a position that nothing will ever replace it. I emulate speccy as well and they (with Atari) are nice machines for the day. I think the basics mentioned above with say an XL with enhanced drive for SD support and Fujinet would get me most I would probably want out of it. C64 stuff ends up costing a small fortune because I always seem to want something more. With the Atari I just want something to play with, enjoy the differences and play the games they had vs my c64.

    I had an 800xl many years ago and also a 130xe a few years ago. I also never did get warm to those machines and gave them away. But what I can say is that the keyboard of the 130xe was not as good as the one from the 800xl although it looks much better.

    Another good thing of the xl series is that the cartridge port is on top and on the xe series it is at the back so it's much easier to reach with an xl.

    Quote from davidbowenga

    I think the basics mentioned above with say an XL with enhanced drive for SD support and Fujinet would get me most I would probably want out of it.

    I bet, you will soon run into "out of Memory" error ^^

    but for the beginning, that'll be a good setup.

    You will be surprised. The Ataris are very close behind the C64. And the equipment is sometimes even more impressive.


    Stefan

    Schade, daß dieser Beitrag in Englisch verfaßt wurde - in einem Deutschsprachigen Forum!

    Ich möchte trotzdem meinen Senf dazugeben - ein bißchen englisch verstehe ich ja auch, auch wenn ich trotzdem beim Schreiben nei meiner Muttersprache bleibe:

    Quote

    Which Atari computer is best for newcomers

    "Welcher Atari ist der Beste für Neueinsteiger?"

    Ich finde, die Frage kann man hier nicht wirklich gut beantworten, da in der Formulierung das "8bit" fehlt! Geht es um 8bit, dann würde ich sagen: die Geräte sind nahezu technisch kompatibel, heute kann man auch einem Ur-400 und Ur-800 das ROM tauschen oder erweitern, damit durfte es eigentlich egal sein und man orientiert sich am Design-Geschmack. Man sollte aber bedenken, daß ein 8bit Prozessor halt "nur" zur direkten Adressierung von 65536 Bit ausgelegt war, was den Atari trotz Vielzahl grfoßer Speichererweiterungen doch stark einschränkt. Als Spielekonsolen-Ersatz aber ist er durchaus sehr brauchbar, da ich die heutigen "Ego-Shooter" nicht mag und "zombies abknallen" eher abstoßend finde. Meine 3 Favoriten auf dem 8bit Atari:

    1. Boulder Dash

    2. Fort Appokalypse

    3. Bruce Lee


    Wenn es um Atari Allgemein geht, würde ich dem Atari ST fürs Arbeiten und XL/XE fürs (überwiegende) Spielen heranziehen.

    Quote from -trb-
    Quote from Obelix 20960

    Schade, daß dieser Beitrag in Englisch verfaßt wurde - in einem Deutschsprachigen Forum!

    Das Forum64 ist schon länger international. Zum Glück! Du kannst einen Beitrag übrigens immer per Knopfdruck übersetzen lassen. Dafür gibt es einen Button unter jedem Beitrag.

    I greatly appreciate the translate post option here in the forum. I've decided to come here because sometimes one forum such as lemon64 and various others don't always have the information nor the activity that I feel they need. Forum64 seems to have what I'm looking for, the community here is amazing. English is my only language unfortunately and I've seen encouragement from many folks to post in English.


    As far as the Atari computers, I do feel the 800 seems to be the best game wise if we want to go gaming. I too absolutely love Boulder Dash and have played it on so many platforms it's crazy. Haven't gotten into fort apocalypse but I see it has a popular following. I'm use to playing scramble, I've been told fort is way better. Thank you for your input.

    davidbowenga

    Don't really worry about the keyboard of an 800xl or later - they're all... well... they work. ;)

    That of the 800XL might be slightly better than the XE variants, but, IMHO, those are generally not nice keyboards...

    BUT the game library is really nice and you will probably find some cool games, either atari 8bit exclusives,

    games that had their debut on the atari, or even some "new" ones.

    Guess, a 800XL or 800XE/65XE/130XE would be good to go. And keep an eye on the video chip as atari

    used faulty ones (in the XE or maybe just 130XE, not quite sure atm) that produce glitchy graphics in some games. My 130XE was AFFECTED, but there's a fix for that.


    If you expect a C64-like machine as far as the game library goes you will be disappointed, maybe, but if you like 8bit games in general, there's a lot to explore on the 800 series.

    Way more interesting than the ST, I think :D