Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!clyde.concordia.ca!uunet!zephyr.ens.tek.com!tekigm2!wrd
From: wrd@tekigm2.MEN.TEK.COM (Bill Dippert)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.8bit
Subject: Re: Games For The 1200XL
Message-ID: <7872@tekigm2.MEN.TEK.COM>
Date: 16 Jan 90 23:44:03 GMT
References: <1254@ariel.unm.edu> <115200062@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu> <90011.170813SPLITE@MTUS5.BITNET> <5954@umd5.umd.edu>
Reply-To: wrd@tekigm2.MEN.TEK.COM (Bill Dippert)
Organization: Tektronix, Inc., Vancouver,  WA.
Lines: 31

In article <5954@umd5.umd.edu> hans@umd5.umd.edu (Hans Breitenlohner) writes:
>Well, this query sure has produced a lot of differing speculation.
>
>As far as I know, the 1200XL OS is very similar to the one in the 800XL,
>which is in turn indistinguishable (from the program) from a 65XE.
>
>So, I would like to know:  Does anybody know FOR SURE of cartridges which
>work on an 800XL / 65XE but do not work on a 1200XL?
>
>Just curious,
>
>Hans

Having owned (and still own) a 1200XL (modified to 256k), a stock 1200XL, an
800XL (modified to 256k) and a 130XE, I have not found any difference in what
the four will run.  The only differences between the 1200XL and the other XLs
are:  the 1200XL requires a BASIC cart (BASIC not build in) and it does have
the "function keys" and corresponding LED's.  The OS seems to be the XL OS.  It
is not the same as the 400/800 OS and requires the translator disk for any
program that the other XL would require it for.  Interestingly, though, when
you modify the 1200XL to 256k with the Newell board, the LED's show memory bank
useage and not what they were originally intended for.  I would describe
exactly what they do, but I am at work and it is at home and my memory is not
too good.  However, I have not used too many carts in it, other than
Atariwriter and the two types of BASIC carts.  I mainly use programs on disk
(using a 1050 DD).  The disk programs have always worked, including all sorts
of different games.  A few required the translater, but they also required it
on the 800XL or 130XE.

Has anyone actually found something that will not run on a 1200XL but will run
on any other XL or XE?