Trying to remember my first computer...

18 March 2002, 22:34

I need help remembering the first personal computer I used in my life. It was mid 80s and I remember using a machine similar to Atari and C64 in some ways. It had a cassette drive and used audio tapes like C64. I don't remember if the cassette "player" was a part of the machine or was a seperate part like C64 Datasette but it probably was a seperate unit. It is possible that the machine was already a bit old when I first used it so it might have been released before mid 80s.

The graphics were poor compared to C64 and the games looked pretty much like Atari 2600 games. This is hard to tell but I probably played pitfall or some similar game with that, and there was a shoot em up in which you controlled a flying bat inside the cave and it looked like River Raid. There is a game I remember very well. It was a platformer, you control a worker in a factory and try to get on the top level of the building by jumping on moving platforms and lifts. The machine also had a "Self Test" screen with a few options to test the hardware somehow. I remember this screen very well and I can draw it. This self test software was executed when there was something wrong, I remember it appeared when a cassette failed to load, so it was probably residing in the hardware.

I think it can be Atari800 but it's keyboard was white unline A800's black keyboard, or maybe there were other atari machines with white keyboards as well. I always linked this machine with the "Atari" brand in my mind but I may be completely wrong.

Does anyone have any idea?

Ian · 18 March 2002, 22:43

Maybe it was this, the Atari 400

the 600 XL

or this the 800 XL

or maybe it's this thing

the colecovision ADAM

18 March 2002, 23:01

I asked the opinion of my aunt and showed her the images you posted and she says Atari800xl looks very familiar, she's a painter so I trust in her visual memory

As I said, I was already thinking about A800xl and wasn't very sure. I'm convinced now

. I don't know why I remember the keyboard as white but it had the exactly same cassette drive that A800xl had and I remember the cartridge input. Thanks a lot for the assistance Ian now I'd like to see that self test screen again after all those years

18 March 2002, 23:04

By the way, did you know that 800xl was designed by Jay Miner, the creator of Amiga? This guy was amazing, too bad he's no longer with us. May he rest in peace

18 March 2002, 23:43

Wow, this machine was cooler than I remember it. There are day/night changes in the game Aquatron :eek

Ian · 19 March 2002, 00:52

You using the real thing or emu?

If your using an emu, which one?? Most I have tried are/where crap.

19 March 2002, 00:58

I'm using Atari800 win. Just downloaded it but it looks ok to me.

If I had the real thing it could be quite easier to find out the name of the machine don't you think?

I was an "Atari user" and I did not know about it to this day

.

Akira · 20 March 2002, 02:35

Could be a 1200XL too

20 March 2002, 09:31

Hmm possible. did 1200xl used a cassette drive or whatever?

Akira · 22 March 2002, 07:21

Yes, like the 800XL...

it could be a russion speccy clone maybe... i dunno :P

18 March 2002, 22:34	#1
oldpx Posts: n/a	Trying to remember my first computer... I need help remembering the first personal computer I used in my life. It was mid 80s and I remember using a machine similar to Atari and C64 in some ways. It had a cassette drive and used audio tapes like C64. I don't remember if the cassette "player" was a part of the machine or was a seperate part like C64 Datasette but it probably was a seperate unit. It is possible that the machine was already a bit old when I first used it so it might have been released before mid 80s. The graphics were poor compared to C64 and the games looked pretty much like Atari 2600 games. This is hard to tell but I probably played pitfall or some similar game with that, and there was a shoot em up in which you controlled a flying bat inside the cave and it looked like River Raid. There is a game I remember very well. It was a platformer, you control a worker in a factory and try to get on the top level of the building by jumping on moving platforms and lifts. The machine also had a "Self Test" screen with a few options to test the hardware somehow. I remember this screen very well and I can draw it. This self test software was executed when there was something wrong, I remember it appeared when a cassette failed to load, so it was probably residing in the hardware. I think it can be Atari800 but it's keyboard was white unline A800's black keyboard, or maybe there were other atari machines with white keyboards as well. I always linked this machine with the "Atari" brand in my mind but I may be completely wrong. Does anyone have any idea?

18 March 2002, 22:43	#2
Ian HIGH FIVE!! Join Date: May 2001 Location: Derby Age: 35 Posts: 1,745	Maybe it was this, the Atari 400 the 600 XL or this the 800 XL or maybe it's this thing the colecovision ADAM Last edited by Ian; 18 March 2002 at 22:49.

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18 March 2002, 23:01	#3
oldpx Posts: n/a	I asked the opinion of my aunt and showed her the images you posted and she says Atari800xl looks very familiar, she's a painter so I trust in her visual memory As I said, I was already thinking about A800xl and wasn't very sure. I'm convinced now . I don't know why I remember the keyboard as white but it had the exactly same cassette drive that A800xl had and I remember the cartridge input. Thanks a lot for the assistance Ian now I'd like to see that self test screen again after all those years

18 March 2002, 23:04	#4
oldpx Posts: n/a	By the way, did you know that 800xl was designed by Jay Miner, the creator of Amiga? This guy was amazing, too bad he's no longer with us. May he rest in peace

18 March 2002, 23:43	#5
oldpx Posts: n/a	Wow, this machine was cooler than I remember it. There are day/night changes in the game Aquatron :eek

19 March 2002, 00:52	#6
Ian HIGH FIVE!! Join Date: May 2001 Location: Derby Age: 35 Posts: 1,745	You using the real thing or emu? If your using an emu, which one?? Most I have tried are/where crap.

19 March 2002, 00:58	#7
oldpx Posts: n/a	I'm using Atari800 win. Just downloaded it but it looks ok to me. If I had the real thing it could be quite easier to find out the name of the machine don't you think? I was an "Atari user" and I did not know about it to this day .

20 March 2002, 02:35	#8
Akira Registered User Join Date: May 2001 Location: # Posts: 12,593	Could be a 1200XL too

20 March 2002, 09:31	#9
oldpx Posts: n/a	Hmm possible. did 1200xl used a cassette drive or whatever?

22 March 2002, 07:21	#10
Akira Registered User Join Date: May 2001 Location: # Posts: 12,593	Yes, like the 800XL... it could be a russion speccy clone maybe... i dunno :P

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