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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