Editing Atari 8-bit computers (section)

{{Short description|1979-1991 home computer series}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2016}}
{{Infobox computer
| logo=[[File:Atari 400 logo-02.svg|frameless|upright=0.5]]&emsp;[[File:Atari 800 logo-01.svg|frameless|upright=0.5]]
| image = Atari-800-Computer-FL.jpg
| caption = The Atari 800's nameplate is on the dual-width cartridge slot cover.
| manufacturer = {{plainlist|
*[[Atari, Inc.]] (1979–1984)
*[[Atari Corporation]] (1984–1992)}}
| type = [[Home computer]]
| release date = {{Start date and age|1979|11}}<ref name=fc2019>{{cite news |url=https://www.fastcompany.com/90432140/how-atari-took-on-apple-in-the-1980s-home-pc-wars |title=How Atari took on Apple in the 1980s home PC wars |author=Benj Edwards |date=2019-12-21 |publisher=[[Fast Company]] }}</ref><ref name=atari50>{{cite news |url=https://www.pcmag.com/news/atari-turns-50-a-look-back-on-the-original-name-in-video-games |title=Atari Turns 50: A Look Back on the Original Name in Video Games |author =Jamie Lendino|date=2022-06-27 |publisher=[[PC Magazine]]}}</ref>
| discontinued = {{End date and age|1992|1|1}}
| cpu = [[MOS Technology 6502|MOS Technology 6502B]] or<br>MOS Technology 6502 SALLY{{plainlist|
*@ {{val|1.79 |u=MHz}} ([[NTSC]])
*@ {{val|1.77 |u=MHz}} ([[PAL]])}}
| graphics = {{nowrap|384 pixels per TV line}}, {{nowrap|256 colors}}, [[sprite (computer graphics)|8 × sprites]], {{nowrap|[[raster interrupt]]s}}
| sound = {{nowrap|4 × [[Electronic oscillator|oscillators]] with [[White noise machine|noise mixing]]}}<br>or 2 × [[amplitude modulation|AM]] digital
| connectivity = {{plainlist|
*{{nowrap|2 or 4 × [[Atari joystick port]]}}
*1 × {{nowrap|[[Atari SIO]]}}
*0–1 × [[Parallel Bus Interface|PBI]]
*0–1 × Composite monitor
*{{nowrap|1–2 × [[ROM cartridge]]}}}}
| os = Custom<br>{{nowrap|[[Atari DOS]] (optional)}}
| units sold = {{val|4 |u=million}}{{citation needed|date=December 2024}}
| baseprice = {{plainlist|
* Atari 400: {{US$|550|1979|round=-1}}
* Atari 800: {{US$|1000|1979|round=-1}}<ref name=prices>{{cite journal|journal=Creative Computing|date=August 1979|volume=5|issue=8|page=26|url=http://mcurrent.name/atari1979/|title=Atari introduces the 400/800 computers}}</ref>}}
| successor = [[Atari ST]]
| related = [[Atari 5200]]
}}

The '''Atari 8-bit computers''', formally launched as the '''Atari Home Computer System''',<ref>{{cite book|title=Atari 800 Home Computer System Salesperson's Guide|year=1982|publisher=Atari, Inc. |url=https://archive.org/details/Atari800HomeComputerSystemSalespersonsGuide}}</ref> are a series of [[home computer]]s introduced by [[Atari, Inc.]], in 1979 with the Atari 400 and Atari 800.<ref>[https://www.pcworld.com/article/225776/history-atari-computers.html Atari's PC Evolution] The History of Atari Computers, Benj Edwards, ''PC World'' April 21, 2011, retrieved August 20 2016.</ref> The architecture is designed around the [[8-bit]] [[MOS Technology 6502]] [[central processing unit|CPU]] and three custom [[coprocessor]]s which provide support for [[sprite (computer graphics)|sprite]]s, smooth multidirectional scrolling, four channels of audio, and other features. The graphics and sound are more advanced than most of its contemporaries, and video games are a key part of the software library. The 1980 first-person space combat simulator ''[[Star Raiders]]'' is considered the platform's [[killer application|killer app]].

The Atari 800 was positioned as a high-end model and the 400 as more affordable. The 400 has a pressure-sensitive, spillproof [[membrane keyboard]] and initially shipped with a non-upgradable {{nowrap|8 KB}} of RAM. The 800 has a conventional keyboard, a second cartridge slot, and allows easy RAM upgrades to 48K. Both use identical 6502 CPUs at {{val|1.79|u=MHz}} ({{val|1.77 |u=MHz}} for PAL versions) and coprocessors [[ANTIC]], [[POKEY]], and [[CTIA and GTIA|CTIA/GTIA]]. The plug-and-play [[peripheral]]s use the [[Atari SIO]] [[serial bus]], and one of the SIO developers eventually went on to co-patent [[USB]] (Universal Serial Bus).<ref name=atarihistory/> The core architecture of the Atari 8-bit computers was reused in the 1982 [[Atari 5200]] game console, but games for the two systems are incompatible.

The 400 and 800 were replaced by multiple computers with the same technology and different presentation. The 1200XL was released in early 1983 to supplant the 800. It was discontinued months later, but the [[industrial design]] carried over to the 600XL and 800XL released later the same year. After the company was sold and reestablished, [[Atari Corporation]] released the 65XE (sold as the 800XE in some European markets) and 130XE in 1985. The XL and XE are lighter in construction, have two [[Atari joystick port|joystick port]]s instead of four, and [[Atari BASIC]] is built-in. The 130XE has 128 KB of [[Bank switching|bank-switched]] RAM. In 1987, after the [[Nintendo Entertainment System]] reignited the console market, Atari Corporation packaged the 65XE as a game console, with an optional keyboard, as the [[Atari XEGS]]. It is compatible with 8-bit computer software and peripherals.

The 8-bit computers were sold both in computer stores and department stores such as [[Sears]] using a demo to attract customers.<ref>{{cite web|title=Atari 800 in store demo|url=http://games.greggman.com/game/atari_800_in_store_demo/|website=games.greggman.com|access-date=February 6, 2016|archive-date=March 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210307120703/https://games.greggman.com/game/atari_800_in_store_demo/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Two million Atari 8-bit computers were sold during its major production run between late 1979 and mid-1985.<ref name="reimer">{{Cite web|last=Reimer|first=Jeremy|title=Total Share: Personal Computer Market Share 1975-2010|url-status=live|access-date=2021-11-27|website=Jeremy Reimer|language=en-us|url=https://jeremyreimer.com/rockets-item.lsp?p=137|date=2012-12-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190705092524/http://jeremyreimer.com:80/rockets-item.lsp?p=137 |archive-date=July 5, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://arstechnica.com/features/2005/12/total-share/ |title=Total share: 30 years of personal computer market share figures |author=Jeremy Reiner |date=2005-12-15 |publisher=ArsTechnica }}</ref> The primary global competition came when the similarly equipped [[Commodore 64]] was introduced in August 1982. In 1992, Atari Corporation officially dropped all remaining support for the 8-bit line.<ref name="droppedsupport">{{cite magazine |last=Poehland |first=Ben |date=December 1992 |title=Editor's Desk |url=https://archive.org/details/Atari_Classics_v1n1_Dec_1992/page/n3 |access-date=April 6, 2021 |magazine=Atari Classics |volume=1 |issue=1 |publisher=Unicorn Publications |publication-place=Ann Arbor, MI |page=4}}</ref>