Task: Play Submarine Commander on Your Atari 8-Bit Computer Needed: Atari 8-bit computer or emulator, Submarine Commander cartridge or ROM Time: 15-30 minutes Introduction Submarine Commander was developed by programmer Dean Lock and released by Thorn EMI in 1982 for the Atari 8-bit computers. This
Read morePurchase a RetroTINK 5X Pro for Connecting an Atari 8-Bit Computer to an LED Display (10-15 mins)
Task: Purchase a RetroTINK 5X Pro for Connecting an Atari 8-Bit Computer to an LED Display Needed: Atari 8-bit computer, RetroTINK 5X Pro Time: 10-15 minutes Introduction I have previously posted about the RetroTINK 2X Pro for converting the composite video from an Atari 8-bit
Read moreBoot the CP/M Operating System Using the 1090 XL Expansion System for the Atari XL and XE 8-Bit Computers (15-30 mins)
Task: Boot the CP/M Operating System Using the 1090 XL Expansion System for the Atari XL and XE 8-Bit Computers Needed: Atari XL computer, new 1090 XL expansion board, CP/M card for the 1090 XL, 80-column card for the 1090 XL Time: 15-30 minutes Introduction
Read morePurchase a New XF351 3.5″ Floppy Drive for Your Atari 8-Bit Computer (10-15 mins)
Task: Purchase a New XF351 3.5″ Floppy Drive for Your Atari 8-Bit Computer Needed: 8-Bit Atari Computer, Web Browser Time: 10-15 minutes Introduction The Atari XF351 was a planned 3.5″ floppy disk drive for the 8-bit line of computers. The drive was never released to
Read morePlay Jungle Hunt on Your Atari 8-Bit Computer (10-15 mins)
Task: Play Jungle Hunt on Your Atari 8-Bit Computer Needed: 8-Bit Atari Computer or Emulator Time: 10-15 minutes Introduction I had three favorite coin-op arcade games that routinely played back in the 1980s. My favorite was Joust. My next favorite was Donkey Kong followed by
Read morePurchase a New Atari CX78+ Gamepad for Your 8-Bit Consoles and Computers (5-10 mins)
Task: Purchase a New Atari CX78+ Gamepad for Your 8-Bit Consoles and Computers Needed: Web Browser, 8-Bit Console, or Computer Time: 5-10 minutes Introduction Just about nothing beats the Atari CX40 joystick in my honest opinion. It is just about the perfect controller. However, there
Read morePurchase and Play the New Alien Abduction Game for the Atari 2600 (30-60 mins)
Task: Purchase and Play the New Alien Abduction Game for the Atari 2600 Needed: Web Browser, Atari 2600 Console or Emulator Time: 30-60 mins Introduction I have previously posted about the new Circus Convoy game for the Atari 2600 that was developed and produced by
Read moreUpdate the Firmware on Your Atari 2600+ (5-10 mins)
Task: Update the Firmware on Your Atari 2600+ Needed: Atari 2600+, web browser Time: 5-10 minutes Introduction I have previously posted about the modern Atari 2600+ console that plays original 2600 and 7800 cartridges through emulation. I nice feature is that it can be connected
Read moreExplore the Atari Online TNFS Server for FujiNet (15-30 mins)
Task: Explore the Atari Online TNFS Server for FujiNet Needed: FujiNet Time: 15-30 minutes Introduction I previously posted about the Public TNFS Server list for booting games and other software over the internet using a FujiNet connected to an Atari 8-bit computer. Of note is
Read moreExplore the FujiNet Public TNFS Server List (15-30 mins)
Task: Explore the FujiNet Public TNFS Server List Needed: Web browser, FujiNet Time: 15-30 minutes Introduction One of the wonderful features of the FujiNet device is the ability to boot files from a remote Trusted Network File System (TNFS) server. Over the last several years
Read morePurchase an Atari XF551 5.25″ Floppy Disk Drive (10-15 mins)
Task: Purchase an Atari XF551 5.25″ Floppy Disk Drive Needed: Web browser Time: 10-15 minutes Introduction Like the Indus GT, the Atari XF551 is a much sought after 5.25″ floppy drive for the 8-bit computers. Attractive features include double-density data storage and the ability to
Read moreBackup Cartridges to Floppy Disk using the Super Cart (15-30 mins)
Task: Backup Cartridges to Floppy Disk using the Super Cart Needed: Web browser, Super Cart, Super Cart Program Disk, Super Card Data Disk Time: 15-30 minutes Introduction I previously posted about “The Pill” that could be used to copy cartridges to floppy disk. The only
Read moreWatch CBS 8 San Diego’s Special Report on Atari Video Games from 1982 (10-15 mins)
Task: Watch CBS 8 San Diego’s Special Report on Atari Video Games from 1982 Needed: Web browser Time: 10-15 minutes Introduction This special report from CBS in San Diego does a nice job of capturing the state of Atari video games in 1982. The CBS
Read morePurchase a Rana Systems 1000 Floppy Disk Drive for your Atari 8-Bit Computer (10-15 mins)
Task: Purchase a Rana Systems 1000 Floppy Disk Drive for your Atari 8-Bit Computer Needed: Web browser Time: 10-15 minutes Introduction There were several different brands of 5.25″ floppy drives available for the Atari 8-bit computers. Each had their own unique advantages and disadvantages. For
Read moreRead the Book “Compute’s Second Book of Atari” (2-3 hours)
Task: Read the Book “Compute’s Second Book of Atari” Needed: Web browser or book Time: 2-3 hours Introduction I previously posted about “Compute’s First Book of Atari” that was a must have in the early Atari library. Compute! magazine published several of these books including
Read moreRead the Book “Compute’s First Book of Atari” (2-3 Hours)
Task: Read the Book “Compute’s First Book of Atari” Needed: Web browser or book Time: 2-3 hours Introduction The first three books I owned were “Your Atari Computer“, “Atari BASIC“, and “Compute’s First Book of Atari”. The third book is a compilation of Atari articles
Read moreArchive Atari 8-Bit Computer Disks from a Real Floppy to a Virtual Disk Using FujiNet (15-30 minutes)
Task: Archive Atari 8-Bit Computer Disks from a Real Floppy to a Virtual Disk Using FujiNet Needed: Web browser, 48K or 64K Atari computer, FujiNet, floppy disk drive, Atari DOS 2.5 or similar Time: 15-30 minutes Guest Author: Randall Kindig from Floppy Days and ANTIC
Read moreWrite Atari 8-Bit Computer ATR Files from Your PC to a Real Floppy Disk Using the RespeQT Peripheral Emulator Software and an SIO2PC Adapter (15-30 minutes)
Task: Write Atari 8-Bit Computer ATR Files from Your PC to a Real Floppy Disk Using the RespeQT Peripheral Emulator Software and an SIO2PC Adapter Needed: Web browser, 128K Atari computer, RespeQT software, SIO2PC adapter, floppy disk drive, micro-USB cable, Copymate software or similar Time:
Read moreConnect Your Atari 8-Bit Computer to a PC with the RespeQT Peripheral Emulator Software and an SIO2PC Adapter (15-30 minutes)
Task: Connect Your Atari 8-Bit Computer to a PC With the RespeQT Peripheral Emulator Software and an SIO2PC Adapter Needed: Web browser, RespeQT software, SIO2PC adapter, micro-USB cable Time: 15-30 minutes Introduction When I finished college and then graduate school in the late 1990s, I
Read morePurchase a Storage Box for Your Atari 5 1/4″ Floppy Disks (5-10 minutes)
Task: Purchase a Storage Box for Your Atari 5 1/4″ Floppy Disks Needed: Web browser Time: 5-10 minutes Introduction One of my favorite things to do with the Atari 8-bit computers is to load software from floppy disks using floppy drives such as the Atari
Read morePurchase an Atari 400 Mini for 8-Bit Computer Emulation (15-30 mins)
Task: Purchase an Atari 400 Mini for 8-Bit Computer Emulation Needed: Web browser, HDMI display Time: 15-30 minutes Introduction I have been envious of new products such as the Amiga 500 mini that provide emulated games and software in high-definition. The wait for Atari minis
Read morePurchase an A8PicoCart for Loading Cartridge ROMs on Your Atari XL and XE 8-Bit Computers (10-15 mins)
Task: Purchase an A8PicoCart for Loading Cartridge ROMs on Your Atari XL and XE 8-Bit Computers Needed: Web browser, Atari XL or XE Time: 10-15 minutes Introduction There are a wide variety of options for loading software onto your Atari 8-bit computers from SD card
Read morePower Your Atari XL and XE 8-Bit Computers with USB-C (5-10 mins)
Task: Power Your Atari XL and XE 8-Bit Computers with USB-C Needed: Web browser, Atari XL or XE Time: 5-10 minutes Introduction There are several different methods for providing power to your Atari 8-bit computers. You can use the old school power supplies from the
Read morePurchase a CX85 Numeric Keyboard Board for the 1090 XL Expansion System Replica (10-15 mins)
Task: Purchase a CX85 Numeric Keyboard Board for the 1090 XL Expansion System Replica Needed: Web browser, Atari XL or XE, CX85 numeric keyboard Time: 10-15 minutes Introduction I recently posted about the newly developed 1090 XL Expansion System replica for connecting devices to an
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