Task: Watch the “Stella at 20” Atari 2600 Retrospective Needed: Web Browser Time: 1-3 hours (or more) Introduction The Atari 2600 was launched in 1977 and enjoyed many years of success. For its 20th anniversary in 1997, a group of former Atari employees got together
Read moreExplore the 8-Bit and More YouTube Channel (30-60 mins)
Task: Explore the 8-Bit and More YouTube Channel Needed: Web Browser Time: 30-60 mins Introduction I love watching YouTube videos when I am learning a new Atari 8-bit programming trick or hardware mod. There are so many awesome YouTube channels out there for the Atari.
Read moreExplore FlashJazzCat’s YouTube Channel for Videos about Atari 8-Bit Computer Hardware and Modifications (1-2 hours)
Task: Explore FlashJazzCat’s YouTube Channel for Videos about Atari 8-Bit Computer Hardware and Modifications Needed: Web Browser Time: 1-2 hours (or more!) Introduction One of the most prolific Atari 8-bit computer YouTubers is Jonathan Halliday (aka FlashJazzCat or FJC) who has produced dozens of videos
Read morePlay MP3 and WAV Files on Your Atari 8-Bit Computer Using FujiConvert (10-15 mins)
Task: Play MP3 and WAV Files on Your Atari 8-Bit Computer Using FujiConvert Needed: Web Browser Time: 10-15 mins Introduction I recently ran across the FujiConvert web tool that converts modern sound files (e.g. MP3 and WAV) to executables which can be booted on an
Read moreExplore the Atari 400/800 Home Computer System Technical Reference Notes (1-2 hours)
Task: Explore the Atari 8-Bit Home Computer System Technical Reference Notes Needed: Web Browser Time: 1-2 hours Introduction When the Atari 400 and 800 home computers were released in 1979 they were a closed system. Atari imagined a monopoly on games and software for the
Read moreExplore Atari 8-Bit ATR Disk Images Using a Web Browser (10-15 mins)
Task: Explore Atari 8-Bit ATR Disk Images Using a Web Browser Needed: Web Browser Time: 10-15 minutes Introduction Original Atari 8-bit computer floppy disks can be imaged and saved to a modern PC for archiving, editing, running on an emulator, or used to write new
Read moreExplore the The Modern Atari 8-Bit Computer YouTube Channel (30-60 mins)
Task: Explore the The Modern Atari 8-Bit Computer YouTube Channel Needed: Web Browser Time: 30-60 mins for watching several videos Introduction I have learned a lot about Atari 8-bit computers and video game consoles by watching YouTube videos. One of my favorite channels is the
Read moreWatch Peter Dell’s Programming the Atari XL/XE YouTube Videos (2-3 hours)
Task: Watch Peter Dell’s Programming the Atari XL/XE YouTube Videos Needed: Web Browser Time: 2-3 hours Introduction Programming is one of my favorite things to do with an Atari 8-bit computer. I have previously posted some of my own tutorials and some resources for learning
Read moreExplore ANALOG Computing Magazine (30-60 mins)
Task: Explore ANALOG Computing Magazine Needed: Web browser Time: 30-60 minutes Introduction I have previously posted about the popular Antic Magazine covering the Atari 8-bit computers. Equally important was the ANALOG Computing magazine which covered Atari computers from 1981 until 1989 with a total of
Read moreExplore the Atari History Timeline (10-15 mins)
Task: Explore the Atari History Timeline Needed: Web browser Time: 10-15 mins Introduction The history of Atari is fascinating. I always learn something new and important every time I dig into it. Michael Current maintains a web page with a timeline of events in the
Read moreExplore Error Codes for Atari 8-Bit Computers (10-15 mins)
Task: Explore Atari Error Codes Needed: Web browser Time: 10-15 mins Introduction If you have spent any time programming for the Atari 8-bit computers then you have experienced error codes generated from typos or bad code. There is a nice page on the Atari Wiki
Read moreDisplay a Digital Photo on an Atari 2600 (10-15 mins)
Task: Display a Digital Photo on an Atari 2600 Needed: Web browser Time: 10-15 mins Introduction I am always amazed at the modern software tools people have created to expand the capabilities of the Atari 8-bit computers and consoles. I recently posted about the coding
Read moreExplore the 8-Bit Workshop Web Page (10-15 mins)
Task: Explore the 8-Bit Workshop Web Page Needed: Web browser Time: 10-15 mins Introduction This is a must browse web page with some amazing resources for those interested in programming and game development for the Atari 8-bit consoles including the 2600, 5200, and 7800. Other
Read moreExplore Atari Advertisements in Retail Christmas Catalogs (10-15 mins)
Task: Explore Atari Advertisements in Retail Christmas Catalogs Needed: Web browser Time: 10-15 mins Introduction If you grew up in the United State in the early 1980s the Christmas catalogs from Sears, J.C. Penney, and other department stores were the bomb. We all spent days
Read moreExplore Atari Computer Sales Brochures and Catalogs (10-15 mins)
Task: Explore Atari Computer Sales Brochures and Catalogs Needed: Web browser Time: 10-15 minutes Introduction One of my favorite things to is to explore sales brochures and catalogs for the Atari 8-bit line of computers. Fortunately, my packrat father saved a number of these so
Read moreExplore Homesoft’s Collection of Games for the Atari 8-Bit Computers (10-15 mins)
Task: Explore Homesoft’s Collection of Games for the Atari 8-Bit Computers Needed: Web browser Time: 10-15 minutes Introduction The Internet Archive and Atari Mania are awesome source of Atari software and games. These are certainly good places to start if you are looking for something.
Read moreExplore Atari Software and Games on Atari Mania (10-15 mins)
Task: Explore Atari Software and Games on Atari Mania Needed: Web browser Time: 10-15 minutes Introduction It can be challenging to find comprehensive and safe sources of Atari software and games online. The Internet Archive is certainly one of my favorites. Another go-to source is
Read moreExplore the Page 6 Public Domain Software Library for Atari 8-Bit Computers (10-15 mins)
Task: Explore the Page 6 Public Domain Software Library for Atari 8-Bit Computers Needed: Web browser Time: 10-15 minutes Introduction Page 6 was an Atari 8-bit computer magazine started by members of a Birmingham, England Atari users group. The story of how this magazine got
Read moreExplore Atari Tweets (10-15 mins)
Task: Explore Atari Tweets Needed: web browser Time: 10-15 mins Introduction I am very active on twitter and love to post Atari-related items from time to time. Twitter is a great way to get information and interact with a slice of the Atari community. I
Read moreExplore the Atari 8-bit Software Preservation Initiative (15-30 mins)
Task: Explore the Atari 8-bit Software Preservation Initiative Needed: A web browser Time: 15-30 mins Introduction One of the great aspects of the Atari hobby is that there is tons of archived software online and freely available for download for use on an emulator or
Read moreJoin the Atari 8-Bit Computers Facebook Page (5-10 mins)
Task: Join the Atari 8-Bit Computers Facebook Page Needed: A web browser or Facebook app Time: 5-10 mins Introduction If you use Facebook then you must join the Atari 8-Bit Computers Facebook page. This is a public group with a ton of activity including daily
Read moreExplore Atari XL BASIC Listings (15-30 mins)
Task: Explore Atari XL BASIC Listings Needed: A web browser Time: 15-30 mins Introduction I recall several friends remembering when they got their first Atari 8-bit computer. They brought it home, took it out of the box, and quickly discovered they had no software to
Read moreExplore Atari-Related Posts on Hackaday (15-30 mins)
Task: Explore Atari-Related Posts on Hackaday Needed: A web browser Time: 15-30 minutes Introduction Hackaday is a website that posts daily hardware and software hacks and projects. I was pleased to learn that they did a post about this Atari Projects resource. Their post, “Classic
Read moreExplore AtariWiki (15-30 mins)
Task: Explore AtariWiki Needed: Web browser Time: 15-30 minutes Introduction One of the best web resources for Atari 8-bit computers and programming is AtariWiki. The following description is taken from their manifesto: “The AtariWiki is a collection of Information about the Atari 8-Bit computer line
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