Atari 800 vs. 800XL question

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2 total messages Started by Meyer Steinberg Wed, 12 Dec 1984 20:19

#460

Author: Meyer Steinberg
Date: Wed, 12 Dec 1984 20:19

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Does anyone know if software written on 800 will run on 800XL?
Are disks from 810 compatable with the new drive (1050 ?).
Can I take stuff from 800 and continue on XL?

			Thanx,
				Meyer Steinberg

Re: Atari 800 vs. 800XL question (& Monitors)

#461

Author: r.b. kummer
Date: Fri, 14 Dec 1984 00:18

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===
     MOST programs written for the Atari 400/800 will run fine
on the 800XL.  About 10-20% of the third party software,
however, will not run without first loading a "translator"
program which effectively converts the "new improved" XL
operating system back to the old standard 800 OS.  An "XL
TRANSLATOR" disk is available for a nominal charge from ATARI.
There are also some commercial products, such as the "XL FIX"
from Computer Software Services, which are a little nicer
(don't have to be reloaded to boot another disk, etc.).
Depending on who's telling the story, this irritating little
"feature" (quirk?, bug?) comes about because 1) ATARI changed
some locations in the new OS which were supposed to have been
"sacred", or 2) some third party software companies took short-
cuts and used locations which were not "guaranteed".  This
problem only occurs on some older programs; I do not know of
any programs released in the past year or so which do not run
on the XL.
     But the good news is, the new 1050 disk drive is totally
compatible with the 810 drive.
     There was another question about monitors for the 800.
That's easy.  The best monitor for the 800 is the COMMODORE
(1701 or 1702). Period.  The reason it's so good is that it
has separate chroma and luminance inputs in addition to the
standard composite video.  This gives an extremely sharp and
crisp picture, and even looks fine in 80 col. mode.  If you 
use the composite input, the picture quality is only mediocre,
so I would recommend the COMMODORE monitor ONLY for a standard
800 -- the 800XL does not have a chroma output.

				R. Brad Kummer  akguc!rbk
				AT&T Bell Laboratories - Atlanta

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