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The predecessor to this, the Atari 800, is the computer I wanted when I was 12. A TI-99/4A is the computer I got. It was still a wonderful gift that set me up f

The predecessor to this, the Atari 800, is the computer I wanted when I was 12. A TI-99/4A is the computer I got. It was still a wonderful gift that set me up for the rest of my life.

retrocryptid 4y ago
My uncle worked for TI, so we were pretty deep in the 99/4 world. But later in the 80s I saved my pennies and bought a 600XL and later an 800XL. On paper they were pretty similar, but there was definitely a different "feel" between the 99/4 and Atari 8-bits. Atari went to great lengths to remind people their 8-bit line were more than just game consoles, but at the same time I think they had the most flexible graphics systems and the best games.
- criddell 4y ago
  I had big player-missile graphics envy. Every once in a while I find myself on eBay thinking about buying the system of my childhood dreams. That would be a TI-99/4A, the speech synthesizer, the peripheral expansion system (with floppy drive), the memory expansion cart, and a dot matrix printer. I don’t pull the trigger though because I know it would give me a weekend of fun and then it would sit gathering dust.
cesaref 4y ago
Yes indeed! I remember a store near me having B-17 bomber on the original 800, with it's synthesised voices and that was a glimpse into the future. I'll gloss over the ethics of a game about bombing cities, sold to children, but it was a more innocent age I guess. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B-17_Bomber_(video_game) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B-17_Bomber_(video_game)
- plicerin 4y ago
  B-17 bomber was an Intellivision exclusive
  - cesaref 4y ago
    Well I never knew this. I guess the shop had an Atari 800 on the table and the game playing on the monitor and I put them together!
garbagecoder 4y ago
That's funny! I wanted an Apple ][ but my dad got me the 800xl. Looking back, it makes sense. The Atari was about $100 and the ][ was like $1000 and I was a little kid. I wouldn't buy my kids a $1000 computer now and that's 2023 dollars! But I am so glad I got the Atari. I learned BASIC, assembly, and Pascal on it. I would type in games from the back of the magazine. And here I am decades later!
- grumpyprole 4y ago
  Yes the AppleII priced itself out of the 8-bit home computer market. I never saw one in the UK in the 80's. One could get the same tech (6502) with an equally good BASIC and OS for less than half (e.g. Acorn BBC Micro was my choice).
- ddingus 4y ago
  I wanted an Apple ][ as well, but also got an Atari 800xl. It did make sense for cost reasons, same as you. A bit later on, I did end up with an Apple and have both today in working condition. I am glad I got the Atari first. There was a lot in the box, so to speak, and I learned a ton. Later, when doing more advanced projects, I found the Apple and it's expansion cards could make a very capable workstation.

The predecessor to this, the Atari 800, is the computer I wanted when I was 12. A TI-99/4A is the computer I got. It was still a wonderful gift that set me up for the rest of my life.

retrocryptid 4y ago

My uncle worked for TI, so we were pretty deep in the 99/4 world. But later in the 80s I saved my pennies and bought a 600XL and later an 800XL. On paper they were pretty similar, but there was definitely a different "feel" between the 99/4 and Atari 8-bits. Atari went to great lengths to remind people their 8-bit line were more than just game consoles, but at the same time I think they had the most flexible graphics systems and the best games.

criddell 4y ago
I had big player-missile graphics envy. Every once in a while I find myself on eBay thinking about buying the system of my childhood dreams. That would be a TI-99/4A, the speech synthesizer, the peripheral expansion system (with floppy drive), the memory expansion cart, and a dot matrix printer. I don’t pull the trigger though because I know it would give me a weekend of fun and then it would sit gathering dust.

cesaref 4y ago

Yes indeed! I remember a store near me having B-17 bomber on the original 800, with it's synthesised voices and that was a glimpse into the future. I'll gloss over the ethics of a game about bombing cities, sold to children, but it was a more innocent age I guess. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B-17_Bomber_(video_game) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B-17_Bomber_(video_game)

plicerin 4y ago
B-17 bomber was an Intellivision exclusive
- cesaref 4y ago
  Well I never knew this. I guess the shop had an Atari 800 on the table and the game playing on the monitor and I put them together!

garbagecoder 4y ago

That's funny! I wanted an Apple ][ but my dad got me the 800xl. Looking back, it makes sense. The Atari was about $100 and the ][ was like $1000 and I was a little kid. I wouldn't buy my kids a $1000 computer now and that's 2023 dollars! But I am so glad I got the Atari. I learned BASIC, assembly, and Pascal on it. I would type in games from the back of the magazine. And here I am decades later!

grumpyprole 4y ago
Yes the AppleII priced itself out of the 8-bit home computer market. I never saw one in the UK in the 80's. One could get the same tech (6502) with an equally good BASIC and OS for less than half (e.g. Acorn BBC Micro was my choice).
ddingus 4y ago
I wanted an Apple ][ as well, but also got an Atari 800xl. It did make sense for cost reasons, same as you. A bit later on, I did end up with an Apple and have both today in working condition. I am glad I got the Atari first. There was a lot in the box, so to speak, and I learned a ton. Later, when doing more advanced projects, I found the Apple and it's expansion cards could make a very capable workstation.