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Re: Don Davis' question on Atari vs c64 [message #76110] Wed, 29 May 2013 20:10
leigh is currently offline  leigh
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Date: Fri, 30-Nov-84 09:48:13 EST
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Posted: Fri Nov 30 09:48:13 1984
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RE: Don Davis' question of Atari vs C64

Hi Don,

I publish a monthly newsletter about home computers (for people new to
computers) and will try to give some "unbiased" comments about Atari
and Commodore.  I am an Atari owner, however.

As I general statement, I consider the Atari a superior machine.  It is
easier to operate, more reliable, and easier to program (BASIC assumed), 
and now that Jack Tramiel has left Commodore and purchased Atari (he is
the guy who caused the price wars a year or so ago that put TI out of the
home computer market and cost the old Atari about half billion), the
Atari is lower in cost.

Now for some specifics:

1.  Easier to operate.  Important for new users.  Atari DOS has a nice menu
that allows you to do typical DOS things like format, copy files, duplicate
disks, directory, etc.  In the C64 you have to to this from BASIC via BASIC
commands.  C64 owners can buy a Simons Basic that gives you DOS commands.

Likewise, if your son programs in BASIC, he will find the Atari easier.  The
Atari has nice BASIC commands to do graphics and sound.  In the C64, you
have to POKE memory, although buying Simons Basic gives you such commands.

Doing file transfers via Atari Basic is very easy, and you can even do
random sector addressing or forget the DOS file structure and build your
own disk structure.

2.  Reliability.  Atari has always had high reliability.  Up until recently,
the C64 had reliability problems, but my friends tell me it isn't too
bad now.  However, the 1541 disk does have a heat problem, especially older
modles, and people recommend a fan.  It also has a problem keeping heads
aligned.  I've had my Atari 1050 disk for a year, have done two software
database projects on it for my Boston University classes, and have had no
problems with the disk.  Same goes for the 800 itself and the 850 interface.

3.  Disk Drives.  As you know, the 1541 is very slow.  The 1050 is much
faster, taking only a couple of minutes to do a full disk copy.  The 1050
doesn't hold as much data however, I think about 120K.

4.  Graphics.  Atari has redefinable character sets, about 12 or so graphics
modes, player-missile graphics (like an improved sprite), and as mentioned
above nice BASIC commands.  I've been told the C64 can also redefine character
sets but my sons in high school couldn't figure out how to do it.  The C64
sprites are nice.  I don't know how many graphics modes the C64 has.  My son
couldn't get the C64 to plot a line between two points and had to write a
subroutine to do it; the Atari has a PLOT command in BASIC.  Atari can have
256 colors (16 colors and 16 shades).  I've forgotten the capability of the
C64 but if I remember my son's comments, it is less.

5.  Sound.  The C64 has better sound because it like a synthesizer, i.e.
you can control attack, duration, decay.  It has four voices, one of which
is for noise and three for music.  Atari has four equal voices; the BASIC
SOUND command has four parameters. One selects the voice, one the frequency,
one the amplitude, and one the characteristic such as sine wave or various
types of noise.  Both machines have good sound but the C64 is closer to an
actual synthesizer and therefore a bit better.

6.  Available software.  Because the C64 has been the lowest cost machine
until recently, it has more 3rd party software out for it.  However, the
Atari has a lot of stuff available.  Most 3rd party companies that produce
home software produce it for Atari, C64, and Apple.  I suggest you first
select the software that is most important to you and your son and then
worry about the hardware.  Also, take a game like F15 (simulation of the
fighter) and run it on both Atari and C64 and then form your own opinions.
I am using a spreadsheet and file manager called Syncalc and Synfile+
(by Synapse) with my Atari and I really like them.  Very powerful!
Beautiful human interface via menus and easy to learn and use!  Look into
software you want as well as what your son will want because you will
find that your home computer will serve the whole family.

Read last months Consumer Reports review of the Atari 800XL and Atariwriter
word processor; it commented on one of the wordprocessors available for
the C64.

7.  Programming Languages

The one disadvantage of Atari BASIC is no string arrays.  To emulate them,
you have to define a long string and then partitation it into segments; not
bad once you get used to it.  Atari owners can buy Microsoft Basic to get
around this problem.

There is a new language out for the Atari called ACTION! that is like
Pascal and C that is becomming popular; it is a cartridge.  I think C64
Basic is very similar to Microsoft except it doesn't support graphics and
sound, forcing you to POKE.  Most of my C64 friends have Simons Basic.

8.  Games.  You will find excellent games for both machines, and in many
cases you will find the same games on both systems.  Overall, I think the
Atari is the superior game machine.  Take a look at Archeon, Pole Position,
Blue Max for starters.  Try the same game on both machines and make your
own decision.

9.  Cost.  In your MAIL you asked if the Commodore was worth the $80
difference.  You should also include the price difference for the disk
drives, so the total difference is more like $150 between the two systems.

Good luck in your decision.  If you go for Atari, send me some MAIL and I'll
send you a copy of a new game called Gauntlet.  Your son (and you) will 
really like it!

Allen
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