Hardware Heaven
Atari 800
SYSTEM SUPPLIED BY EVAN AMOS
» MANUFACTURER: Atari » YEAR: 1979
» COST: £625 (launch), £400+ (today, boxed), £95+ (today, unboxed)
Havingsuccessfully launched a brand-new videogame console into the world with the Atari 2600, the company’s engineers were quick to get to work on a follow-up. However, incoming Atari CEO Ray Kassar felt that the technology under development would form the basis of a fantastic home computer, which could potentially challenge Apple. Two models were put into production – the low-end Atari 400 and the more expensive Atari 800. The Atari 800 had a proper keyboard and two cartridge slots, compared to the membrane keyboard and single cartridge slot on the 400, and RAM could be expanded by the user too. Both shared a similar beige look typical of the Seventies, and the cartridge slot is less prominent on the 800.