Task: Purchase or Download the Atari 8-Bit Programming Reference Book “Mapping the Atari” Needed: Web Browser Time: 5-10 mins Introduction Any serious programming on the Atari 8-bit computers requires interacting with various memory locations on the Atari. Some of these memory locations are free for
Read moreWatch Curt Vendel’s Exhibit Presentation at VCF-East (30 mins)
Task: Watch Curt Vendel’s Exhibit Presentation at VCF-East Needed: Web Browser Time: 30 mins Introduction I was able to attend the Vintage Computer Festival (VCF) East in Wall, New Jersey in 2019. This was a special VCF because it celebrated the 40th anniversary of Atari
Read moreUpdate the Firmware of Your Ultimate 1MB Upgrade for Atari 8-Bit Computers (5-10 mins)
Task: Update the Firmware of Your Ultimate 1MB Upgrade for Atari 8-Bit Computers Needed: Ultimate 1MB, Web Browser, SIO2PC or SIDE Cartridge Time: 5-10 mins Introduction The Ultimate 1MB upgrade for Atari 8-bit computers is one of the most useful modern mods you can do.
Read moreUpgrade an Atari 400 to 48K of RAM (1-2 hours)
Task: Upgrade an Atari 400 to 48K of RAM Needed: 48K/52K RAM Card for Atari 400, soldering iron Time: 1-2 hours Introduction As I have previously posted, the Atari 400 is a stylish computer but limited by RF video, a membrane keyboard, and only 16K
Read moreRead the Book “The Creative Atari” (30-60 mins)
Task: Read the Book “The Creative Atari” Needed: Web browser Time: 30-60 mins Introduction As I have previously posted, Creative Computing magazine was published from 1974 until 1985 and covered all of the major computing platforms including Atari. They had a number of great articles
Read moreRead Creative Computing Magazine (30-60 mins)
Task: Read Creative Computing Magazine Needed: Web browser Time: 30-60 mins Introduction Creative Computing magazine was published from 1974 until 1985 and covered all of the major computing platforms including Atari. We didn’t subscribe to this one, but I do recall reading several issues we
Read moreUpgrade an Atari 400 to Composite Video with the Super Color CPU Card (1-2 hours)
Task: Upgrade an Atari 400 to Composite Video with the Super Color CPU Card Needed: Super Color CPU Card and cables, soldering iron, Dremel or drill Time: 1-2 hours Introduction The Atari 400 was my first computer. It is an aesthetically pleasing computer but limited
Read moreListen to the Atari 2600 Game by Game Podcast (1-2 hours)
Task: Listen to the Atari 2600 Game by Game Podcast Needed: Web browser Time: 1-2 hours Introduction If you are like me you can’t get enough Atari. Podcasts are one way to satisfy the Atari itch. I have previously posted about the Antic, Floppy Days,
Read morePurchase a 3D Printed Case for your SIO2PC (10-15 mins)
Task: Purchase a 3D Printed Case for your SIO2PC Needed: Web browser Time: 10-15 minutes Introduction I have previously posted about the SIO2PC which is a very handy device for connecting your Atari or floppy drive to your PC for writing and reading files. This
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 Demoscene Demos (15-30 mins)
Task: Explore Demoscene Demos Needed: Altirra Time: 15-30 mins Introduction The demoscene is notorious for pushing the limits of 8-bit computer hardware. Fortunately, there are a number of demos from this community for the Atari computers. I find these mesmerizing and inspiring. How do they
Read morePurchase and Assemble a SpartaDOS X Cartridge (15-30 mins)
Task: Purchase and Assemble a SpartaDOS X Cartridge Needed: SpartaDOS X cartridge circuit board, battery, and cartridge shell Time: 15-30 mins Introduction I have previously posted about SpartaDOS and its modern successor SpartaDOS X (SDX). This is an incredibly powerful and flexible DOS for interacting
Read morePurchase an Evercade Retro Handheld Console (10-15 mins)
Task: Purchase an Evercade Retro Handheld Console Needed: Web browser Time: 10-15 mins Introduction Playing Atari games on modern handheld devices has a lot of appeal. I have been particularly excited about the cartridge-based Evercade handheld device which was released in 2020. I got one
Read morePlay Caverns of Mars on an Atari 8-Bit Computer (10-15 mins)
Task: Play Caverns of Mars on an Atari 8-Bit Computer Needed: Altirra or Caverns of Mars cartridge or disk Time: 10-15 mins Introduction Caverns of Mars is one of my favorite games because of its simple yet effective graphics and relatively simple and fun gameplay. The
Read moreLearn to Implement Page Flipping in BASIC on Atari 8-Bit Computers (30-60 mins)
Task: Learn to Implement Page Flipping in BASIC on Atari 8-Bit Computers Needed: Altirra emulator Time: 30-60 mins Introduction We previously covered moving data on and off the screen as part of coarse horizontal and vertical scrolling by changing the memory address of the screen
Read moreLearn to Implement Horizontal Scrolling in BASIC on Atari 8-Bit Computers (30-60 mins)
Task: Learn to Implement Horizontal Scrolling in BASIC on Atari 8-Bit Computers Needed: Web browser Time: 30-60 mins Introduction Scrolling games like Defender, Caverns of Mars, and Eastern Front are tons of fun and I always wondered how the cool scrolling effects were programmed. This
Read moreRead “How Atari took on Apple in the 1980s home PC wars” by Benj Edwards (5-10 mins)
Task: Read “How Atari took on Apple in the 1980s home PC wars” by Benj Edwards Needed: Web browser Time: 5-10 mins Introduction There have been a number of popular press pieces on various aspects of the Atari story. There is a great piece by
Read moreLearn about Vertical Blank Interrupts in BASIC for Atari 8-Bit Computers (30-60 mins)
Task: Learn about Vertical Blank Interrupts in BASIC for Atari 8-Bit Computers Needed: Altirra emulator Time: 30-60 mins Introduction One of the frustrating aspects of programming in BASIC on Atari 8-bit computers is its speed. This particularly true for moving players through memory as part
Read moreLearn to Implement Vertical Scrolling in BASIC on Atari 8-Bit Computers (30-60 mins)
Task: Learn to Implement Vertical Scrolling in BASIC on Atari 8-Bit Computers Needed: Turbo BASIC XL Time: 30-60 mins Introduction I never learned how to program scrolling playfields in BASIC back in the day, but have decided to take the plunge. Over the last few
Read moreTry Programming in FastBasic on an Atari 8-Bit Computer (15-30 mins)
Task: Try Programming in FastBasic on an Atari 8-Bit Computer Needed: Altirra emulator Time: 15-30 mins Introduction I have previously posted about the diversity of different BASIC programming languages for the Atari 8-bit computers. Among these is FastBasic which is a modern BASIC for the
Read moreProgram in 80 Columns of Text on Your Atari 8-Bit Computer with the ACE-80 Cartridge (5-10 mins)
Task: Program in 80 Columns of Text on Your Atari 8-Bit Computer with the ACE-80 Cartridge Needed: ACE-80 or ACE-80XL cartridge Time: 5-10 mins Introduction The Atari 8-bit computers all display a maximum of 40 columns of text which can be limiting for some applications
Read moreRun the CP/M Operating System on Your Atari 8-Bit Computer using FujiNet and RunCPM (15-30 minutes)
Task: Run the CP/M Operating System on Your Atari 8-Bit Computer using FujiNet and RunCPM Needed: Web browser, FujiNet, DT-80 cartridge Time: 15-30 mins Introduction CP/M was one of the early operating systems available for computers with 8080 and Z-80 processors. It was developed by
Read moreFlash the Firmware of a FujiNet for the Atari 8-Bit Computers (5-10 mins)
Task: Flash the Firmware of a FujiNet for the Atari 8-Bit Computers Needed: Web browser, FujiNet, microUSB cable Time: 5-10 mins Introduction I have previously posted about the revolutionary FujiNet SIO peripheral emulator and network device for Atari 8-bit computers. This is still a work
Read moreUpgrade an Atari 600XL to 64K of RAM (1-2 hours)
Task: Upgrade an Atari 600XL to 64K of RAM Needed: 64K RAM board from Lotharek, soldering iron, wire Time: 1-2 hours Introduction Many Atari 8-bit computer fans love the 600XL given its small footprint. It is perfect if you don’t have a lot of desk
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