Questions tagged [atari-400]
for questions relating to the Atari 400 8-bit computer
7
questions
2
votes
2
answers
364
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How can I create floppy disks for use with Atari 400/800? [closed]
I recently lost my collection of bootleg Atari 400 games, stored on 5.25 floppy disks. What is the best way to recreate those disks? I currently have
an Atari 400 console
an Atari 1050 disk drive ...
43
votes
5
answers
11k
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How did Atari lose money on home computers?
The answer recently posted to Did Atari make more money from arcade games or consoles? quotes a New York Times article from 1982 https://www.nytimes.com/1982/12/19/business/the-game-turns-serious-at-...
- 48.8k
19
votes
4
answers
2k
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Why did the Atari 5200 forsake compatibility with 400/800 game cartridges?
The Atari 400/800 home computers were well-established and quite successful in the games market by the time the Atari 5200 console was released in 1982. The 5200 shared the chips and architecture of ...
- 56.5k
6
votes
2
answers
533
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Membrane keyboard robustness
Some early computers used a membrane keyboard (ZX80, ZX81, Atari 400), or semi-membrane with minimal keys (ZX Spectrum). This is because it was cheaper than a mechanical keyboard. Intuitively I would ...
- 48.8k
9
votes
2
answers
1k
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What were the selling points of the Atari 800 over the 400?
Apparently when the two Atari 8-bit machines were released, the 400 outsold the 800 2 to 1, which is unsurprising considering they were priced at approximately $500 and $1000 respectively.
Indeed, ...
- 48.8k
18
votes
1
answer
918
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Was the Atari 400/800 internal speaker of any use besides key click?
Sounds from the Atari 8-bit computer line came through the RF video cable into your television much like video game systems from the time. The original Atari 400/800 also had a built in speaker, ...
- 14.2k
7
votes
1
answer
493
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Atari 400 Faulty Keyboard - Some columns work, most do not
I've been cleaning up an Atari 400 that had a bad RF cable, and cleaned the machine thoroughly so it's looking great. It's working well apart from the keyboard, where most of the keys aren't working: ...
- 1,994