Summary

The Atari 800 was an 8-bit personal computer that could be plugged into any television. Its memory comprised 10k ROM and 8k RAM. Additional storage was available using a cassette tape recorder. Games cartridges were sold separately. Games were loaded into the computer's memory each time before running. Up to four joysticks could be supported.

The Atari computer system was a series of components which function together with a television set as a single system. Other components included a program recorder (cassette tape deck) and programs in cartridges.

Atari was one of the earliest personal computers available in Australia. The Atari was to have only 4k of memory, which is how its number designation was determined - 400. Atari 400/800 was teamed with its own peripheral, the Atari 410 cassette recorder. The Atari 800 did not have a composite monitor port and could only be connected to a standard TV via its RF modulator cord. The Atari 410 came in two versions, the 410 and 410A. This object is the former version. It has a built in power supply and a serial I/O cable. The Atari 410/410A had a unique feature exclusively used by Atari - it could play two separate tracks on a tape. This was useful for interactive programs where a user would run a program and hear audio music/speech while the other track would load the next part of the program.

Physical Description

Dark beige plastic console with black pastic keyboard and yellow and brown operation keys on the right hand side. Air grill on top and plug connectors along the front and right hand side of the console. Black plastic power cord at rear. Behind the standard QWERTY keyboard are two sockets for the insertion of cassettes to expand memory.

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