Atari 800 in store demo

[reyguel]

i used to think this was the coolest computer music back then. i even learned it on the piano! lol

[ACNC1]

I remember seeing this for the first time in store back in the 80´s. Needless to say its changed my life forever

[nicolunacba]

The music is addictive

[greatgnomex]

Virtual keyboard in 1:32 !!!!

[LanIost]

@greatgnomex:

Yup, this is on the AtarlXLBox emulator for the original XBOX.

[greatgnomex]

Opsss!!!! Alt Tab in 1:30 

[Gary190tube]

The flying pencil is actually quite impressive for its time.

[AKJACKAL99709]

This was my first computer. I taught myself BASIC and made my own games when I was 8 years old on this system. I'll never forget that cassette tape drive! I also remember the Spanish lessons. A lot of folks wrote this off as a glorified game system, but I never once bought a game for it. Thanks for uploading this!

[vntr2006]

Shame this was so expensive to buy in the UK. An amazing machine.

[justin76pa]

Have you seen the Coleco ADAM demo? That was on a ColecoVision cartridge.

[justin76pa]

This is a terrific demo! Was this on data cassette, disk or cartridge?

[Leaklips]

It looks like it was programmed with Q-Basic for sure

[SOKOLEK]

This is awesome!!! Where can I buy this super computer??? How much does it cost???

[stezkamilan]

i wonder if there was a single person using the home computers like atari or amiga for anything except gaming. maybe later ataris for music and amigas for overlaying graphics on video. these are probably the only areas where they caught on (not counting the games ofc)

[nighthawk5556]

1:28 . . . . . ummmm what?

[atari1128]

rent: 318.25

car: 209.00

dentist: 120.00

vegas:550.00

aids from hooker: priceless

[poshko41]

I'd love to see a demo as awesome as this come out today.

[Strikerx20]

lol Atari Word is the future of word processing

[nicolunacba]

Vegas 550 lol!

[KyaputenHarokku]

The background tune is actually quite catchy...

[dsboiman101]

Omg, word processing!

[Guacatechs]

what is the options screen on minute 1:30? is this and emulator?

[NotQuarex]

I bet the reason you thought computers were going to change the world is because YOU WERE RIGHT! WOOOOooo

Related: I can only imagine how frustrating it would have been for anyone who actually stored a lot of personal and financial information on an Atari 800XL, then wanted to easily access them in, say, 2009.

[bigpoopie69]

@NotQuarex

Yeah but who actually kept their personal and financial info on an Atari 8-bit system? Everybody I knew back then who owned an Atari just played games on it.

[vntr2006]

This was a fine machine and ahead of its time. Due to manufacturing costs it was too expensive though certainly in the UK.

[aureliosjc]

Better than windows.

[douro20]

The 2600 could also display 128 colors by rotating the color pallete.

[KlonoaKawaiiDesu]

this is a pretty cool demo. i would be better though if someone could post a video of this same demo, only being run on a REAL Atari 800. though i'm not sure if that 's even possible. (other than hooking the Atari 800 on a VCR and TV, running the program, and recording a video of what it's doing)

[browncoatnola]

but can it run crysis?

[datacipher]

Nope. But windows can't run ANYTHING with 48k, and the Atari will be a lot more reliable!

[VideyoJunkei]

The music is too high pitched here-emulator?!

[richardroma]

That's a sexy demo. Never saw it before. Thanks for u/l'g gman!

[tomdeg53]

I worked in a video/computer shop in the 80's & we had this running ALL day.

Funny how they throw Star Raiders in there with all the applications, yet the system ended up being basically a game machine.

[neopeius]

We bought a 1200 XL in '83, then an 800 in '85 as a back-up. It was largely a game machine, but until '86, we used it for our word processing . It was my modem machine until '88. My dad used it to track his ridiculous number of video tapes in a database. So it was pretty multi-purpose.

[silverbakuk]

Sexy little tune :)

[daro2096]

What can you expect from your Atari Personal Home Computer?

Waiting 20 minutes or more for a cassette game to load and have an error message.

[motherthing]

Excellent writeup, but the audio is NOT right, it's too tinny. Sounds like it was made with an emulator; they've never had POKEY quite right. If it was a real Atari, then there was some sort of level problem.

[motherthing]

I went through it all the way. I will now say 100% it is an emulator. The POKEY sound just does not work right on them.

[Herbarius]

You can see it's an emulator at 1:30... I think on the XBox.

[horsie111]

The graphical effects were quite effective but the music was just too... unmusical.

[jethropu]

I think I remember seeing this in Radio Shack in the 80's...

[csplace]

Oh wow, I remember this well. I have it somewhere on a disk!

[zackypoo25]

now we have hps,dells,compaqs,sonys,lenovo­,apple macs,acer,and so on

then we had the atari's,sinclair,and commodores

[Akira625]

Ah yes, I remember seeing this demo in a Sears store in the early 80's.

[cyskotube]

awesome music

[joecassara]

Guys, continuing the Religious Wars of Commodore vs. Atari vs. Sinclair into 2008 is really pathetic. Get over it already. 

Snake, there were many computers far better than the C64 when it came out -- just not in its price class.

[y2khairon]

Wow! I remember watching this at the electronic store that Shadow Stevens promoted. I had this song on the Atari 800 too. I think it was called Disco Dirge. I miss Atari 800 basic

[snake2006]

What there was NO computer when the Commodore 64 came out that rivaled it in power graphics and sound.

Not even the Apple 2 which shipped with 48k.

Commodore 64 was superior to all other computers for a while, atleast to the mid 80's.

Amiga came later than C64, it was still in development stages back in 1983 when Atari gave them funding, before Commodore bought Amiga to beat Traimel.

[datacipher]

Um...the Apple 2 predates the C64 by FIVE YEARS. LOL. The apple 2 has the worst inherent sound and graphics, though clever programmers made the most of it. The apple 2 had FOUR hi-res colors (not including black and white), and NO SOUND chip. The Atari 8 bits, ALSO predate the C64 but they could actually match it in capability in real-world application. There were strengths and weaknesses to both.

[Lumotaku]

apple 11 was for elitist pricks much like oh i don't know macintosh!

[datacipher]

This person doesn't have any clue what he's talking about. Actually the apple 2 was built on the old home-brew hacker movement. In those early days, it was the apple 2' open, expandable hardware platform that made it a legend. That and the fact that there were no viable alternatives in the beginning! Wozniak and Jobs caused an immense stir among the community back then, back in the days of the real innovators and basement hackers. A very fun time!

[wiredtvcraze]

I agree, my favorite Apple was the Apple IIe. My computer lab in college had nothing but Apple IIe's back during the 80s. I typed in my first computer program from a TRS-80 BASIC game programming book,,,,I remember that the TRS-80s , nick named "Trash-80s" because of their overheating problems. But first computer job was back in the 80s at college entering data for some professors into a TRS-80. The overheating problem was so bad that they had placed a fan in front of it to keep it cool

[Lumotaku]

Actually the apple 2 was exspensive and the real innovator in the early computer movement was Chuck peddle. The pet and trash 80 were way cheaper than the apple 2 it remained exspensive the whole time evan as the other 8 bits left it i nthe dust.

[snake2006]

Yep, your right.

I screwed up.

Ah well, they were still competitors.

And Commodore 64 still rules all 8 bit computers.

[snake2006]

The Commodore 64 is older than the Atari 800.

So my assesment was right and THEY WERE COMPETITORS.

[Darran1969]

the Atari 800 was introduced at the end on 1979, the c64 in August 82 so the Atari is at least 3 years older buddy.

[olynxmano]

The Hardware of the Atari was to be released in 1977. But marketing issues let Atari chose to release it in 1978.

Think about it: The Amiga 1000 and the C64 are from the same time. Amiga only got relesed later

The real cause for the C64's victory was its cheapness, supported by the SID.

Well, when the A800 was offering 128(256) colours and 4 channel sound, there was no real competitor in 1979.

But when the C64 arrived in 1982, other computers were there, far superior, but more expensive.

[stuffisgd]

rent: $318.35 ?????

[JVM410]

stock quotes, very cute! lol

[snake2006]

Commodore 64 kicked this machines ass 3 ways from Sunday.

C64 FOREVER

BOO ATARI

[Stopmotionist]

The C64 had 16 colors and 3 8-bit sound channels. The Ataris had 128 colors and 4 8-bit sound channels, two 8-bit sound channels and a 16-bit sound channel, or two 16-bit sound channels. They had the same processor, the MOS Technologies 6502. The C64's only advantage was that it could do faster, more detailed graphics. And it was designed 4 years after the Ataris.

That said, I am a fan of both machines.

COMMODORE FOREVER.

ATARI FOREVER.

8-BIT FOREVER.

[SOKOLEK]

@Stopmotionist

C64 could display more colors than ATARI and had same size of pallette.

[Stopmotionist]

@SOKOLEK

Uh, the C64's 16-color palette is hardly the same size as the 800's 128-color palette. And both computers could display 16 colors at a time (although the Atari had more limitations).

[guyvf]

you realize the C64 is 4 years newer than the Atari 800? comparing them is like comparing the Intellivision to the NES, or the NES to the PC-Engine.

[Herbarius]

Indeed the C64 and Atari 800 are quite comparable! Not a lot of difference in performance, however the Atari could have slightly better graphics, because it utilized more colors, while the C64 had better sound/music with its SID chip.

However these tiny advantages have to be put to use by good programming.

[DiabloDave363]

and to thin, that was so new

[Samuelgames]

Nice Market Trick, impressive

[wiiman8888]

pretty impressive for the time

[0BusterLuke]

The sound is dreadful. If the Atari 800 had had a better sound processor, it could have drilled Commodore into the ground

[thorstenguenther]

This is one of the *first* demos for the Atari ever. No wonder graphics and sound are sub-par by today's standards for this machine. Just check for the "Drunk Chessboard" demo on Youtube running on the same hardware.

[0BusterLuke]

I said the sound is dreadful, not graphics, and I'm not comparing this to todays hardware. The sound is on par with a Vic20. My point was - if the sound hardware had been better then maybe Atari could have competed with the C64 more succesfully

[thorstenguenther]

Atari's management, not the POKEY (that is indeed somewhat weaker than the SID, although by far not as bad as this early demo suggests) was the main problem. Flops like the 5200 system - based on the same hardware, but incompatible - the much too high price of the 800XL (here in Germany, it was DM 899.- for the 800XL vs. DM 699.- for the C=64!) or Atari's decision not to publish "killer apps" like "Rescue On Fractalus" had much more negative influence, IMHO.

[NightSprinter]

And you forgot to factor in the even lower costs of the other two micros over there: the ZX Spectrum and Amstrad/Schneider CPC series.

[ApolloBoy]

Dreadful? You should check out some of the tunes put out by the demoscene. Really cool stuff.

[Stopmotionist]

IT DID.

The POKEY chip could combine its four 8-bit channels into two 16-bit channels or one 16- and two 8-bit channels, and it sounded like a proper synthesizer.

You should listen to almost anything by Grayscale(it's a Polish demo-group) - their stuff kicks the SID's butt.

[Snipersteel]

I can see what you mean when you said you thought that computers could change the world from this demo. Computes DID change the world something fierce, and I honestly can't imagine doing my work anywhere else now. Though the single biggest change was, obviously, the internet. Heck, if this was 1979, I'd be on my way to buy one of these things by now...

[utubeworms]

Atari changed my life. My first computer was an Atari 800XL. I have never felt so giddy in my life. I have never felt like that again. I would literally be in a state of irritation because there was not enough time in the day for me to devote to learning all I could about the machine. I wasn't able to learn it fast enough and this had me disheveled. And then I got my 300 baud modem. Don't get me started on that wonderful little device...

[stereoloov]

I know this feeling...

[MichaelPSU1]

utubeworms,

I was the same way. My family purchased one in 1981 and I was pretty much chained to it by my own choice. It made me feel like I had some power that very few others had. I knew that system inside and out. I would write programs and beg my parents to watch what I had learned. I have been meaning to get another one for nostalgia, and this might be the catalyst that makes that happen.

[phreakincool]

@utubeworms Mine was the Atari 800. 30 mins to load 32K games from cassette tape. Fun times! I had the blue 300 baud modem that plugged into one of the joystick ports. Running up huge phone bills connecting to pirate bbses, until I found out about phone phreaking. Anyone remember the Indus GT or Rana 1000 floppy drives? Plugging in code from ANALOG or Antic Magazine?

Best projects:

Converting Epson thermal printer into black and white page scanner

Voice synthesizer using the SPO256 chip

[UglySean]

@phreakincool Atari 800. Show off. I started with an Atari 400. FLAT KEYBOARD! A real b¡tch to type in BASIC programs with. And of course if it locks up.... {g} I started with a cassette as well. Dad used to say "why would you want a floppy disk?" - then, "why would you need a hard drive?" Worst of all, "why on earth would you ever want a modem?" Um, insight for things to come? I used to love this demo in the store. Always wanted one of my own.

[zymaymyn]

I had this demo long ago and in the part where I typed my name, I didn't put my name, pressed return, and called me "Gary".

[driggins]

Man, I like that guys vegas budget. lol

[huntercentury]

Man, this brings back so many fond memories of my Atari 800XL. I miss that little computer.

[Plastic100]

best song ever

[cbmeeks]

Ok, I love Atari but that was lame.

[ZEROEVILDARKCOOL]

WOW. POOR ATARI

[ElPastri]

DAMN !!

[diplomata2500]

Pentiun 4??

[kirk1968]

That is AWESOME. My first computer in 1983 was an Atari 800XL and I still have it! Still works, too. But I remember seeing this demo in a computer store and wishing for one...finally my parents caved and my life was changed because of it. Gotta love BASIC back then, as well as 300-baud CompuServe access...

[lygophile]

with all the graphical prowess of today.... i long back for those days.

[kraftneu]

I wish Atari would start making computers again, look out Microsoft Vista, : )

[spooniep]

damn, now i can't get that tune out of my head. memories....

[Glukkonitis]

Aah, the days when species were trademarked. Bliss.

[frickenjose]

my dad still has 2 of them and a couple disc drives. we have some 200+ games that were numerous discs. i was playing atari while everyone else had nintendo and segas . some of my fav games were Bruce Lee and Pharaoh's Revenge. Classic. I also remember chatting on the "INTERNET" with my cousins back in '86. oh the memories.

[Twomaze]

My XE65 (800) is still under my bed. If you have one get the Pac-Man-Clone twomaze wich is realy good.

[GermanZ5]

personal advanced computer lololololmao

[krantzbucks]

I loved my Atari 800. If the disk drive hadn't crapped out on me, I would probably still have it.

[meshlife88]

When are they coming out with Doom 3 for the Atari 800?  I can't wait!

[Houminid]

if you want to know your console history, come over to my channel to see the True Videogame Story of companies like Atari and all of your favorites!

[TheLastBoss78]

The new alternative to Vista!

[KCJazzKeys]

I still have my Atari 800XL, the damn thing still works after all these years.  Pretty tough lil machine. I loved playing Star Raiders!!! Memories, ahhhh

[krantzbucks]

Star Raiders was one of the greatest computer games of all time!

[Engage777]

Wait a minute. You mean this computer was able to perform RECORD KEEPING?

[tjustman]

You snicker at this but this was seriously hot stuff back then. I can't believe it but I was there and drooling over this thing.

[yessongs1]

My Atari 800 is a big paperweight.

[AliasUndercover]

INFORMATION RETRIEVAL

[thebonefish]

Playstation 3 can't touch this.

[EconAtheist]

Man, I practically jizzed my shorts when I first saw this thing... good times.

[JonesyBoogieman]

Pretty interesting! I was only in elementary in the 80's, but I remember when computer technology started becoming more common in the household in the early 90's - 5 minutes to load and display a text based webpage, LoL

[CmdrBlop]

Man, the home entertainment demo was explosively action-packed.

[Rhypes99]

sounds like chemical brothers music lol

[darkstonecastle]

Nice music.

[snealfleeba]

I had email back on this thing back in '82.

[kakuraku0820]

wow... is the "oh pretty woman" by albert king for the background music???

[Kajayacht]

they should've used the real keyboard

[WOLF192]

I HAVE A ATARI 400

[Turboboyturbinado]

Is it the first one?

[tonijn1969]

i have when i was 15 or 16 a 600 XL 16K

[Kajayacht]

also sorry for double post but

i had the game star lancer

that game was a pain in the ass

the manual actually said that it should be played with two people one using the joystick to move the ship the other to man the keyboard which was all the sensors and weapons and shields and whatnot

THAT game was next to impossible by yourself

[Kajayacht]

lol

someone accidentally pressed the emu menu button at 1:30

[HypnoToad72]

I owned the actual cartridge, once... somehow, all the demos made by pirates for the Commodore Amiga had infinitely more talent put into them...

*sigh* and 'Electronic mail' too. The difference was, no viruses...

I wish rent was the same price, though... :D

[thisdistance]

Scary

[hakadalmann]

i didn't exist when this was created

[pupkinpie2]

sweet

[simon3102000]

oh dear!

[AndyRobbo72]

Fantastic! Atari WAS the 1980's! This brings back many a happy memory playing on this computer for hours on end!

[t0kt0k]

Aw man I need to get one of these.

[Nyclassic2006]

Nice, Thanks. I wonder how much it sold for upon release? If anyone knows just off the top of their head.

[YTVoIP]

This is Computing at its Core.... Thanks dude...

[larzini]

I remember this video from the old software stores, there was one in Carteret, NJ. Can't recall the name though.

[TheSkillionaire]

I loved programming the Atari 800, it's where I got my start. I actually miss those days.

[eepord]

niice

[mlm8d]

yes!

[khisanth75]

Excellent, thanks for posting this.

[dontsend]

Thank you gmanjapan for the flashback :)

[devnull73]

Nice demo - pity the commodore 64 pwned the apple 2 really :)