My first computer was a 600xl as a teen, mostly for the games. I had the cassette drive and wrote a few games from a programming book. Just hours of fun on a neat little computer. We weren’t financially well off but my dad could always find a good deal at Sears. He really surprised me with this kit.
This was also my first computer in the UK. Got it for Xmas from my parents back in the 80's. I wanted a Sinclair ZX spectrum but my dad said it was to expensive and the Atari was on sale at the time with a game bundle. Think one of the games bundled was cavern commander a thrust clone. Good memories and one of my favourite xmas presents along with my BMX I got a year or two earlier. Oh, the nostalgia. The 80's was the greatest decade to be a kid.
The Atari 800XL was my/our first home computer. I did have to share it with family, unfortunately. I believe we had three of them, since we were rough on equipment and they were cheap to replace. I was... more enthusiastic than successful in repairing broken things. Good times. I've inherited the last one, but I've no place to set it up, so I'm stuck with an emulator. Still, stuff like this... good times.
Great job on the restoration. That's the sought after Alps keyboard variant 800XL. They are a little harder to find. The different 800XL keyboards vary from awesome (yours) to terrible. FYI the RF shield provides rigidity to the case. It picks up and handles better with the RF shield installed. Labeling the warmer chips (CPU+GTIA+some ANTICs) is not advised since they will get hotter with the label on it. A8's don't have overheating chip problems but since they are so old it's not advised to tempt fate. Love your enthusiasm and clearly spoken commentary! Have fun!
It was my first computer as well. I got one for Christmas and a 410 datasette. :) It took me two years to afford a floppy drive. :) Man, those were the days.
I loved this computer. I ended up selling it for cheap upon the selling of my family home but this computer still worked since I bought it in the 1980s.
Thank you for reviewing the Atari 800 XL. It was my first computer. Then the Commodere 64C. Then the IBM PC. ..then many Windows PCs...then the MAC with Catalina. God bless you bro.
800XL was my first home computer. It's what got me started. I'm an IT consultant now. Still strongly believe it was technically better than the C64.
My 3rd home Computer First was a ZX81 then Atari 400 then the 800XL. Its still running today. I also own a 65XE and use an sd2sio unit on both.
My first computer was a 600xl as a teen, mostly for the games. I had the cassette drive and wrote a few games from a programming book. Just hours of fun on a neat little computer. We weren’t financially well off but my dad could always find a good deal at Sears. He really surprised me with this kit.
Fun video. I got my Atari 800 XL in 1984 and still have it. Your video brings back great memories. Thanks :-)
My first 8-bit 1984 , and i love it still in 2023
This was also my first computer in the UK. Got it for Xmas from my parents back in the 80's. I wanted a Sinclair ZX spectrum but my dad said it was to expensive and the Atari was on sale at the time with a game bundle. Think one of the games bundled was cavern commander a thrust clone. Good memories and one of my favourite xmas presents along with my BMX I got a year or two earlier. Oh, the nostalgia. The 80's was the greatest decade to be a kid.
The Atari 800XL was my/our first home computer. I did have to share it with family, unfortunately. I believe we had three of them, since we were rough on equipment and they were cheap to replace. I was... more enthusiastic than successful in repairing broken things. Good times. I've inherited the last one, but I've no place to set it up, so I'm stuck with an emulator. Still, stuff like this... good times.
My Atari 800 had that same keyboard. It was wonderful.
Great job on the restoration. That's the sought after Alps keyboard variant 800XL. They are a little harder to find. The different 800XL keyboards vary from awesome (yours) to terrible. FYI the RF shield provides rigidity to the case. It picks up and handles better with the RF shield installed. Labeling the warmer chips (CPU+GTIA+some ANTICs) is not advised since they will get hotter with the label on it. A8's don't have overheating chip problems but since they are so old it's not advised to tempt fate. Love your enthusiasm and clearly spoken commentary! Have fun!
One of the best looking 8bit micro's
It was my first computer as well. I got one for Christmas and a 410 datasette. :) It took me two years to afford a floppy drive. :) Man, those were the days.
Loved this. The 800XL was my first computer too. So many great games on it
I wanted and Atari console my parents got me this. I loved it. Even waiting 45+ minutes to start the game via tape cassette.
The Atari 800/800XL is one of my 8-bit dreams, but this machine is pretty rare here in Brazil... :/
I still have my 800xl with a Indug GT floppy drive... a Ferrari for your Atari. This video makes me want to unbox it.
Thank you so much for doing this great vid !
Thanks for posting once more before Christmas! I thought that you'd be too busy.
It's amazing how much Atari took from the computer system for the 5200 fantastic system most god alfull controls ever made
I loved this computer. I ended up selling it for cheap upon the selling of my family home but this computer still worked since I bought it in the 1980s.
Thank you for reviewing the Atari 800 XL. It was my first computer. Then the Commodere 64C. Then the IBM PC. ..then many Windows PCs...then the MAC with Catalina. God bless you bro.