Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!ucbvax!SEMASSU.BITNET!ACSCHW
From: ACSCHW@SEMASSU.BITNET (A Private Little War)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.8bit
Subject: Old Hardware and Software ... etc ...
Message-ID: <8903061640.AA17219@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU>
Date: 6 Mar 89 15:51:00 GMT
Sender: daemon@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU
Organization: The Internet
Lines: 55


Hi everyone !,

I'm new to the group, so I'll introduce myself first.

My name is Curt Wilbar and I'm a junior at Southeastern Masacchusetts
University.  I'm majoring in computer science and I have had my Atari
since 1982.  I have a 400 with 48K, the A roms, GTIA, 810 drive with 'The Chip',
1050 drive with 'U.S. Doubler', 850 interface that quit working, and also have
an 800XL and use my 400 more than the XL.

I use it mostly for games now, but it never sits idle too long.

I'm looking for any old software and hardware that people would like to sell.
In hardware I'm looking for disk drives, 850 interfaces, an old 800 (not xl)
that maybe never was expanded. In software, I'm looking for a couple of titles
in particular: Threshold and Drol.  However, I am interested in anything that
you have to sell.  (I'm not rich, so Don't tell me about the 1450XLD with 5
meg and a dbl sided dbl density 3 1/2" floppy that you sneaked out of ATARI
R & D unless you want to sell it for a song)

Just let me know what you got, and if I want it and can afford it, etc, you got
a sale.

I'm also interested in tech literature, especially on the 850 interface.  I got
mine without manuals, and after I fix it (anone out there do repair ?) I would
like to make some cables and software, etc for the serial ports.

Here's a hard question: Anyone got any technical information out there on the
                        original 'The Chip' and Arhiver/Editor for the 810 ?
                        Any custom written programs out there for them, etc.
                        When I purchased mine, the documentation said that they
                        would be releasing tech notes, but when I called about
                        a year later, 'We won't be realeasing that info'.

Forgive me for all the assorted quesionts, but here is another.  Anyone ever
hook up a hard disk to there atari, if so, what hardware/software did you use ?
How about a 3 1/2" 720K or 1.44M drive ?

Last question: Have anyone had as many problems with the 800XL as I have.  I
currently have mine and a friends, and mine does not display dark colors very
well, and tends to have lots of interference in the dark colors (I'm using a
TV), and my friends 800XL has perfect color, when its in color, but a few hard
beatings on the top of the case usually brings the color back.  Now his 800XL
when you tern the power on, it acts like the escape key has been locked down.
(I think something sat ontop of the keyboard too long and did something to the
switch).  I don't know what most of you think, but these 2 800XLs are mid-early
production machines, and are made in Taiwan.  This is why I use my 400.

Also, is there public domain software on BITNET for the atari's, if so, where ?

Thanks (I know its been long),

           Curt Wilbar
           BITNET: ACSCHW@SEMASSU