{"id":297,"date":"2015-02-13T09:27:04","date_gmt":"2015-02-13T14:27:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.historyofpersonalcomputing.com\/?p=297"},"modified":"2015-03-12T18:38:27","modified_gmt":"2015-03-12T22:38:27","slug":"atari-400-and-800","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/historyofpersonalcomputing.com\/wordpress\/atari-400-and-800\/","title":{"rendered":"Atari 400 and 800"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Atari<\/a>
Atari 800, courtesy of Justin Knight<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Atari began development of the 400 & 800 in 1977, using the code names Candy (400) and Colleen (800). \u00a0Rumor has it that these names came from some “hot” secretaries there at Atari. \u00a0Candy was originally intended to be the next generation of the video game system, to replace the VCS. \u00a0Colleen was intended to be the true home computer with all the bells and whistles that would make it superior as a computer to Candy, including peripheral ports and expansion capability. \u00a0Some people may not know that there was actually a third machine being designed at the same time called ‘Elizabeth,’ which was the Colleen design but with a built- in 13 inch color monitor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Listen to our podcast episode about the Atari 400 and 800 computer here<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

In early 1979 the decision on just what Candy is going to be was finally made: Candy was not going to be a ‘game player only’ machine, but was to be a low- end computer system with a built-in keyboard. However, since it is intended to be more of an introductory computer for younger children, it includes a unique keyboard design with a spill proof membrane. Candy will also have an SIO port for peripherals.<\/p>\n

Since the game player system design had been moved to a personal computer, it was no longer a replacement for the VCS, which was to keep Atari’s consumer gaming products well ahead of the competition. With that, the first step towards the demise of Atari’s domination in the console market had been taken.<\/p>\n

Discussing the unique, small- wedged shape design of the Atari 400, and its keyboard, Doug continues: “Candy was meant to be a laptop computer. This is before LCD displays and such. What I mean is, it was designed to be able to sit in your lap, but connected to a TV. It was a game console, but could use the same cartridges as the other system and it had a keyboard I also designed the spill proof membrane keyboard.”<\/p>\n

Kevin McKinsey explains the whole background behind the look of the Atari 800: “I wanted something that would look like a futuristic typewriter. A design that was easily recognizable and approachable by ordinary people who already knew what typewriters were.”<\/p>\n

the USB and SIO ports have a lot more in common than anyone might imagine: Joe Decuir helped with some of the work on the SIO design and today Joe holds several Patents in the design of the USB port as well. Essentially, the SIO port is the Great Grandfather to today’s USB ports.<\/p>\n

System specs<\/h3>\n
\"Atari<\/a>
Atari 800 and cartridges (photo courtesy of “KLund1”)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n