Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!floyd!harpo!decvax!ucbvax!ucbcad!tektronix!hplabs!sri-unix!Knisely%his-phoenix-multics.arpa@BRL.ARPA From: Knisely%his-phoenix-multics.arpa@BRL.ARPA Newsgroups: net.micro Subject: Atari computer info Message-ID: <123@sri-arpa.UUCP> Date: Sun, 25-Mar-84 00:14:00 EST Article-I.D.: sri-arpa.123 Posted: Sun Mar 25 00:14:00 1984 Date-Received: Thu, 22-Mar-84 02:26:43 EST Lines: 21 TO: Mark Henry, AT&T Bell Labs. Tried to send mail several ways and failed, so I'll post this here. Atari adamantly denies that it will drop out or be forced out of the home computer market. I think there will still be problems, but my guess is that they're a survivor now. The new Atari 600XL and 800 XL would both be suitable for elementary school use. At $199 list the 600XL can use cartridge or cassette based software, has excellent color graphics, built in basic and a good selection of soft- ware. The 800XL is basically a 600 with 64k memory and a monitor output added. It can use disk drives however, and most of the best software comes in disk form. There is an excellent implemenation of LOGO (by LCSI and virtually identical to Apple Logo) on cartridge, a PILOT cartridge and a wide selection of educational software from a variety of sources including the Minn Computing Consortium (MECC). Reliability of the hardware seems above average, and service should be available from any Atari Service Center in almost any city. The only problem might be finding someone to put a package together -- try a local dealer or consultant who specialises in the Ed market, all the stores dropped Atari and the other low cost home machines in the price wars of last year. Good Luck. Dick Knisely Knisely.DSP1%pco at CISL