Task: Watch Episodes of the Bits and Bytes TV Show Needed: Web browser Time: 1-2 hours Introduction I grew up in the U.S. and never had the opportunity to see the wonderful Canadian instructional TV series called Bits and Bytes that taught people how to
Read moreEdit ATR Disk Images (10-15 mins)
Task: Edit ATR Disk Images Needed: Altirra emulator Time: 10-15 mins Introduction I have previously posted about backing up floppy disks to ATR files on your PC using the Atarimax ProSystem software. This process can also be reversed allowing you to write ATR files from your
Read moreTest the RAM of an Atari 400 or 800 (10-15 mins)
Task: Test the RAM of an Atari 400 or 800 Needed: Atarimax MaxFlash or similar Time: 10-15 mins Introduction I remember being really interested in the diagnostic tests that were included in my friend’s new Atari 1200XL. These allowed you to test the RAM and other
Read moreExplore the Serious Computerist Web Page (15-30 mins)
Task: Explore the Serious Computerist Web Page Needed: Web browser Time: 15-30 mins Introduction I recently came across The Serious Computerist web page that is full of useful documents on Atari 8-bit computers. It is well worth exploring to see what is there. The page is
Read morePlay Atari 2600 Christmas Music (10-15 mins)
Task: Play Atari 2600 Christmas Music Needed: Atari 2600 or Stella emulator, A Very 2600 Christmas binary file Time: 10-15 mins Introduction The Atari 2600 had a 6502 series processor like the Atari 8-bit computer line but lacked additional hardware to make it a powerful game
Read moreCelebrate Christmas with Seasonal Demos (10-15 mins)
Task: Celebrate Christmas with Seasonal Demos Needed: Demo software Time: 10-15 mins Introduction If you celebrate Christmas then you are in luck. There are several nice seasonal demos that you can download and run in Altirra. Even better, load these up on your favorite Atari
Read moreBackup Cartridges to Floppy Disk Using “The Pill” (15-30 minutes)
Task: Backup Cartridges to Floppy Disk Using “The Pill” Needed: Floppy disks, disk drive, The Pill, The Pill software Time: 15-30 mins Introduction Software pirating was rampant back in the early 1980s and there were plenty of software and hardware tools that made this easy.
Read moreBackup Floppy Disks to ATR Images on Your PC (15-30 mins)
Task: Backup Floppy Disks to ATR Images on Your PC Needed: Floppy disks, disk drive, Atarimax ProSystem software, SIO2PC Time: 15-30 mins Introduction I have at least 200 floppy disks and, amazingly, about 95% of them are still good. However, these don’t last forever and
Read morePlay Atari 2600 Games in Your Web Browser (10-15 mins)
Task: Play Atari 2600 Games in Your Browser Needed: Web browser and Atari 2600 ROMs Time: 10-15 mins Introduction Emulation has been a lifesaver for bringing Atari goodness to the masses without the need for original hardware. The Stella emulator for the Atari 2600 is
Read moreReplace the Ribbon and Paper in an Atari 820 Printer (10-15 minutes)
Task: Replace the Ribbon and Paper in an Atari 820 Printer Needed: Atari 820 printer with replacement ribbon and paper roll Time: 10-15 mins Introduction I never had an Atari 820 printer back in the day but have always wanted one because it beautifully matches
Read morePlay Spacewar! on a PDP-1 Emulator (10-15 mins)
Task: Play Spacewar! on a PDP-1 Emulator Needed: Web browser Time: 10-15 mins Introduction When Nolan Bushnell started Atari he had inspiration from two major sources. First, he had worked at an amusement park in the 1960s where he was exposed to early coin-operated games
Read moreUpload Atari Files to the Internet Archive (15-30 mins)
Task: Upload Atari Files to the Internet Archive Needed: Web browser Time: 15-30 mins Introduction The internet has expanded our Atari hobby in near limitless ways. Not only can we connect our Atari home computers to the internet but we can access tons of software,
Read moreListen to the Retro Computing Roundtable Podcast (1-2 hours)
Task: Listen to the Retro Computing Roundtable (RCR) Podcast Needed: Web browser or podcast app Time: 1-2 hours Introduction The Retro Computing Roundtable (RCR) podcast launched in 2010 with hosts David Greelish, Earl Evans, and Carrington Vanston. It is still going strong today with more
Read moreLearn About Display List Interrupts in BASIC (1-2 hours)
Task: Learn About Display List Interrupts in BASIC Needed: BASIC Time: 1-2 hours Introduction Atari was far ahead of its competitors when it was released with superior graphics. This was largely due to the ANTIC chip that served as a graphics processor with its own
Read moreWatch Atari 8-Bit Computer TV Commercials (15-30 mins)
Task: Watch Atari 8-Bit Computer TV Commercials Needed: Web Browser Time: 15-30 minutes Introduction I honestly don’t recall seeing Atari computer commercials on TV as a kid. I must have seen a few over the years. These are really fun to watch now and there are
Read moreRead the Book “De Re Atari” (3-6 hours)
Task: Read the Book “De Re Atari” Needed: De Re Atari Time: 3-6 hours Introduction When the Atari 400 and 800 computers were released in 1979 they were a closed system. That is, only Atari personnel knew the details of the hardware that were necessary
Read moreWatch “The Fate of Atari” Documentary (2 hours)
Task: Watch “The Fate of Atari” Documentary Needed: Web browser Time: 2 hours Introduction The history of Atari is a fascinating story of innovation, business success, and business failure. There must be case studies on Atari that have been used over the years to teach
Read moreInstall the Stella Atari 2600 Emulator (10-15 mins)
Task: Install the Stella Atari 2600 Emulator Needed: Stella Time: 10-15 minutes Introduction The Atari Video Computer System (VCS) or 2600 was released in 1977 and took the world by storm. It is hard to believe that Atari sold the 2600 in its different forms
Read moreConnect Your Atari Joystick to a PC (10-15 mins)
Task: Connect Your Atari Joystick to a PC Needed: Atari Joystick and a USB adapter Time: 10-15 minutes Introduction The Atari 400 and 800 were by far the best gaming computers when they hit the market. This was largely due to the awesome ANTIC graphics chip
Read moreCelebrate Halloween with Atari BASIC (10-15 mins)
Task: Celebrate Halloween with Atari BASIC Needed: BASIC Time: 10-15 minutes Introduction When Halloween was approaching I went on to the web to see if there were some fun BASIC programs designed specifically for the haunted day. Unfortunately, I didn’t find any. There are a
Read moreTry BASIC Programs from a Micro Adventure Book (1-2 hours)
Task: Try BASIC Programs from a Micro Adventure Book Needed: BASIC, Micro Adventure Book #2 Time: 1-2 hours Introduction When I was a kid I loved the ‘choose your own adventure books‘. It was really fun to participate in how the story took shape. I didn’t
Read moreCreate a Custom Display List in BASIC (30-60 mins)
Task: Create a Custom Display List in BASIC Needed: BASIC Time: 30-60 mins Introduction When the Atari 400 and 800 were released in 1979 they were far ahead of their competitors in terms of computer graphics and sound. The advanced graphics were the result of
Read moreSave an ATR File from Altirra to Your PC (10-15 mins)
Task: Save an ATR File from Altirra to Your PC Needed: Altirra emulator Time: 10-15 mins Introduction When I first started using the Altirra 8-bit emulator I decided I wanted make ATR floppy disk images that I could then save to my hard disk for
Read morePurchase an Atarimax Maxflash Cartridge (30-60 min)
Task: Purchase an Atarimax Maxflash Cartridge Needed: Atarimax Maxflash Catridge, USB Cartridge Programmer, A to A USB Cable, and Maxflash Studio Software Time: 30-60 mins Introduction I love the ease of use of cartridges compared to cassette or disk. Fortunately, there are some easy modern
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