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Atari was closed in these ways. No schematic, no ROM listing. Others filled in gaps, but it was noticed then. I noticed. Apple and PC computers cost more.
by ddingus 5y ago
Atari was closed in these ways. No schematic, no ROM listing. Others filled in gaps, but it was noticed then.
I noticed.
Apple and PC computers cost more. At one point then, being open seemed worth more to me.
- kabdib 5y agoAtari published the listings of the ROMs for their 400/800 line of computers. They also published the BIOS for the Atari ST (which I helped write, and wrote the documentation for). No schematics, though.
- ddingus 5y agoYes, that is as I recall too. Really, I was speaking to what came with the machines. Buy an Apple, and get schematics, ROM listing, etc, and there it all is in the open. And it was ready to use. An Atari was a different experience. Was not ready to program, and technical details took a while to be published. My first "PC" was an Apple 2. My first machine was an Atari. My first IBM type PC was much closer to the Apple than it was Atari.