Yep. My very first word processor for my very first computer. It was an 800. After doing term papers on an electric typewriter, it was a pleasure to not have to worry about hitting the "return" key at the end of every line, or to have to pull out the white-out for every brain-fart.
See, that's why we get along so well, Allen! 😀 Atari 800 was my first computer love, too. I do regret selling my entire Atari 2600 collection to help pay for it (pesky parents trying to teach me a lesson about the value of things), but I got so much enjoyment out of that computer that the net sum was worth it.
I have a question Gen X...do you ever cover the 3rd generation? I ask because the Nes and Master System is Gen X all the way. That's what I started playing back in 1986. So wait...does that cart have a processor in it? If so what are its specifications?
Thank you for askin. Can't cover everything at once, and there's way more new stuff going on in the arcade & Atari world right now than the Genesis world. As for NES, I missed it entirely. Being born in '69 I was on to personal computers by the time it rolled out. That being said, given unlimited production time I'd cover everything pre-Xbox, but I'm just one dude. If I'm lucky enough to be able to continue this venture, I'm sure I'll get to plenty more platforms.
Woooow! My parents used this back in the day.. I own a 600XL because of them and two Atari 1010's so this will be compatible! Gonna share it with my mom right away to trigger some of those memories. What a find! Thanks Jon!
I loved my Atari computer and used Atari Writer all the time back then. I had a 1020 plotter then got an adapter to connect a Panasonic dot matrix printer a year later.
I remember AtariWriter and my Atari 1027 printer. I eventually graduated to Paperclip by Batteries Included once I got a disk drive. More Importantly the song playing in the background - it was VERY familiar, but couldn't place it. I mean I have thousands of chiptunes floating around my pea brain. Well, I was at work and it popped into my head. It is from the Atari 8 bit Space Ship demo. This demo is amazing considering it can run on hardware that was around while Jimmy Carter was President. I've included it below. ua-cam.com/video/kLdmviclAx4/v-deo.html
Sounds familiar! I had a Star 2420 as well as an Atari 1027 LQ printer for my homework. By the way, I did salvage that data from the cassettes, in case you mind find that interesting: ua-cam.com/video/kJ0GZQ17bSk/v-deo.html
@@GenXGrownUp did you ever manage to see any of those documents the public needs to see this egg roll recipe! You should try to recover and then make it for yourself.
@@BBC600 You're in luck. I did. There is a link in the description of this video and a pop-up card during it to a follow-up I did. ua-cam.com/video/kJ0GZQ17bSk/v-deo.html
AtariWriter was also my first Word Processor, although I got the floppy disk version from circa 1984. My Mom bought me the Atari 800XL, and shortly after, I had enough money saved up to buy a 1050 and the software to use for school. Having the Atari at home made life easier, considering that the lab for our Computer Programming class used 800’s, so I could easily get the assignments done ahead of time at home, hehe… And of course I still have them to this day!
Back in the day, I hooked up my Atari 8 bit to an electric typewriter to print making it look like my work was typewritten. THat was helpful because some professors said they would not accept anything from a word processor. I think that policy was because some dot matrix output was soo poor at the time. I used Letter Wizard. I still kept the disks for the software as well as of my documents. During my last move however, I did not keep my 8 bit computer. It would be nice I think to have all my software and documents (or at least some) put on my modern computer.) Several years into college, I saw the mac computers at the school newspaper sing Quark Xpress. There was never going back to my Atari. I bought one at the start of grad school. My second Mac had DOS, and was a very expensive dud. I stopped using Apple until getting my first iphone which was late in the game. It was an iphone 5s ,but after it had been out for a while. Around 2016 I purchased 5k iMac. Love it. PS For a very few pieces of 8 bit software, I kept the box (i.e my original Archon, and 7 Cities of Gold.) I also kept two manuals including SIlent Service and Crusade in Europe. Best to all.
I'd never heard of Letter Wizard, but a quick glance at Google shows it looks very similar to AtariWriter. How did you connect to an electric typewriter? I wouldn't have even known where to start!
@@GenXGrownUp It was a little harder on the Atari. My recollection was I had to purchase a special adaptor called an "Ape Face." Someone had to tell me that, but once I had it, it worked like a charm and really looked like type-written work which in some way it was. lol Keep making videos about the topic!
I also have AtariWriter in the original box. I thought that the slot on the left might have been for a disk, but realized from your video that is where the reference card goes (thanks). I have just today got an XMM801 functioning and might be brave (foolish?) enough to try my 1027 and see if I can get the print head replaced/rebuilt. There are printer codes you had to enter for bold, italic, etc. but interestingly you just hit the fuji (atari symbol) before and after text you wanted to underline. Thanks for the fun video
The 1027 was almost perfect, except for whatever reason, the apostrophe was backwards and looked more like a floating accent. My high school English teacher was not pleased, but she finally allowed me to turn in papers printed on it anyhow. Did you catch my follow-up where I get all that data off the tapes? ua-cam.com/video/kJ0GZQ17bSk/v-deo.html
@@GenXGrownUp thanks as I hadn't. EDIT: just did, thanks again. My 1027 has the print head intact but has white crystals over about 30-40% of the base beneath the letters. Trying to decide if I want to try it (with video) and/or get pictures of the print head as it is first
OK, right? Aside from the egg roll recipe, that's the thing I most hope to salvage from those old cassettes. I just wanna know! Thanks for watching, Ronnie! 😀
@@GenXGrownUp yes. after APX (software by Mail) my AtariWriter package I bought in December included some disks and documentation for non Atari printers
@@supermasterPIK Tried it and works great, but it´s hard to save on Tape....you have to pinpoint the number of TAPE counter and load, but didn´t work. I guess is better save/load on my SD adapter.
AtariWriter is really cool. I'm too young to have grown up with the Atari computers, but I have one nowadays since I love Atari so much. I haven't had a good chance to make use of AtariWriter yet, but I plan to. Say, what game is the background music in this video from? It sounds so familiar but I can't quite place it.
The first version would be pretty lacking to use today (most notably, no spell check), but it was a blockbuster in its day and still viable all these years later. Thanks for watching. Good ear. That's not a game, but definitely something you would recognize from the Atari universe. It's from the spaceship demo. 😉 ua-cam.com/video/kLdmviclAx4/v-deo.html
It's interesting to see that young people are interested in vintage computers as well. For us older people there's a lot of nostalgia involved, but what's the appeal to young folk?
Very nice find! My first computer was the Atari 800XL back in the early 80s. I do remember using Atari Writer too. My first printer was a cheap thermal printer that was compatible with my Atari. I think I paid $200 for it. I had a bunch of rolls for thermal paper in a box.
Yep. My very first word processor for my very first computer. It was an 800. After doing term papers on an electric typewriter, it was a pleasure to not have to worry about hitting the "return" key at the end of every line, or to have to pull out the white-out for every brain-fart.
See, that's why we get along so well, Allen! 😀 Atari 800 was my first computer love, too. I do regret selling my entire Atari 2600 collection to help pay for it (pesky parents trying to teach me a lesson about the value of things), but I got so much enjoyment out of that computer that the net sum was worth it.
@@GenXGrownUp After experiencing Star Raiders, Archon, and Hitchhiker's Guide, the 2600 fell to the wayside for me.
@@Fungib1e Yeah, me too, but I had a few Atari Age exclusives that I'd love to still own, including Crazy Climber!
I have a question Gen X...do you ever cover the 3rd generation? I ask because the Nes and Master System is Gen X all the way. That's what I started playing back in 1986.
So wait...does that cart have a processor in it? If so what are its specifications?
Thank you for askin. Can't cover everything at once, and there's way more new stuff going on in the arcade & Atari world right now than the Genesis world. As for NES, I missed it entirely. Being born in '69 I was on to personal computers by the time it rolled out. That being said, given unlimited production time I'd cover everything pre-Xbox, but I'm just one dude. If I'm lucky enough to be able to continue this venture, I'm sure I'll get to plenty more platforms.
I can honestly say this, FIRST!!
🥳
THIS. This is why we do it. This is why we’re here. I really dig this piece!! And the artifacts inside!
Thanks, man. I knew you'd get it. 😁
Woooow! My parents used this back in the day.. I own a 600XL because of them and two Atari 1010's so this will be compatible! Gonna share it with my mom right away to trigger some of those memories. What a find! Thanks Jon!
Hell, yeah! This guy gets it! 😀
I loved my Atari computer and used Atari Writer all the time back then. I had a 1020 plotter then got an adapter to connect a Panasonic dot matrix printer a year later.
I remember AtariWriter and my Atari 1027 printer. I eventually graduated to Paperclip by Batteries Included once I got a disk drive.
More Importantly the song playing in the background - it was VERY familiar, but couldn't place it. I mean I have thousands of chiptunes floating around my pea brain.
Well, I was at work and it popped into my head. It is from the Atari 8 bit Space Ship demo. This demo is amazing considering it can run on hardware that was around while Jimmy Carter was President. I've included it below.
ua-cam.com/video/kLdmviclAx4/v-deo.html
Yep. You nailed it. I wanted an Atari tune for this video, and that seemed appropriate.
Just love it, this software help me printing my homework, with my Atari 65 XE, a Daisy Wheel Printer, and XC12 cassete data recorder.😍
Sounds familiar! I had a Star 2420 as well as an Atari 1027 LQ printer for my homework. By the way, I did salvage that data from the cassettes, in case you mind find that interesting: ua-cam.com/video/kJ0GZQ17bSk/v-deo.html
The Atari 8 bit series and Apple II series were true machines made the Commodore products look like toys.
Atari/Commodore was a real Coke/Pepsi sort of battlefield where I grew up. Every buddy I had was a militant supporter of their platform of choice!
You have no idea how many times thru the years when Microsoft Word gives me trouble do I say "Atariwriter was so much better and easier".
Love it! Thanks for watching.
You do realize that we now all want that egg roll recipe :)
Heh. So do I! 😀
I was expecting to see a plate of egg rolls at the end if the video. :-) And what happened in Willowdale?!
I'm gonna try to find out by salvaging those documents!
@@GenXGrownUp did you ever manage to see any of those documents the public needs to see this egg roll recipe! You should try to recover and then make it for yourself.
@@BBC600 You're in luck. I did. There is a link in the description of this video and a pop-up card during it to a follow-up I did. ua-cam.com/video/kJ0GZQ17bSk/v-deo.html
i'm surprised you didn't just throw out the instructions and card.
you usually do that. ha ha
later
-1
Right? I had to fight the instinct! But when the instructions are part of the treasure, I must resist the urge. 😀
AtariWriter was also my first Word Processor, although I got the floppy disk version from circa 1984. My Mom bought me the Atari 800XL, and shortly after, I had enough money saved up to buy a 1050 and the software to use for school.
Having the Atari at home made life easier, considering that the lab for our Computer Programming class used 800’s, so I could easily get the assignments done ahead of time at home, hehe… And of course I still have them to this day!
Back in the day, I hooked up my Atari 8 bit to an electric typewriter to print making it look like my work was typewritten. THat was helpful because some professors said they would not accept anything from a word processor. I think that policy was because some dot matrix output was soo poor at the time. I used Letter Wizard. I still kept the disks for the software as well as of my documents. During my last move however, I did not keep my 8 bit computer. It would be nice I think to have all my software and documents (or at least some) put on my modern computer.) Several years into college, I saw the mac computers at the school newspaper sing Quark Xpress. There was never going back to my Atari. I bought one at the start of grad school. My second Mac had DOS, and was a very expensive dud. I stopped using Apple until getting my first iphone which was late in the game. It was an iphone 5s ,but after it had been out for a while. Around 2016 I purchased 5k iMac. Love it. PS For a very few pieces of 8 bit software, I kept the box (i.e my original Archon, and 7 Cities of Gold.) I also kept two manuals including SIlent Service and Crusade in Europe. Best to all.
I'd never heard of Letter Wizard, but a quick glance at Google shows it looks very similar to AtariWriter. How did you connect to an electric typewriter? I wouldn't have even known where to start!
@@GenXGrownUp It was a little harder on the Atari. My recollection was I had to purchase a special adaptor called an "Ape Face." Someone had to tell me that, but once I had it, it worked like a charm and really looked like type-written work which in some way it was. lol Keep making videos about the topic!
I also have AtariWriter in the original box. I thought that the slot on the left might have been for a disk, but realized from your video that is where the reference card goes (thanks). I have just today got an XMM801 functioning and might be brave (foolish?) enough to try my 1027 and see if I can get the print head replaced/rebuilt. There are printer codes you had to enter for bold, italic, etc. but interestingly you just hit the fuji (atari symbol) before and after text you wanted to underline. Thanks for the fun video
The 1027 was almost perfect, except for whatever reason, the apostrophe was backwards and looked more like a floating accent. My high school English teacher was not pleased, but she finally allowed me to turn in papers printed on it anyhow. Did you catch my follow-up where I get all that data off the tapes? ua-cam.com/video/kJ0GZQ17bSk/v-deo.html
@@GenXGrownUp thanks as I hadn't. EDIT: just did, thanks again. My 1027 has the print head intact but has white crystals over about 30-40% of the base beneath the letters. Trying to decide if I want to try it (with video) and/or get pictures of the print head as it is first
The fact they thought to back up a chain letter may be the best thing I’ve seen recently.
OK, right? Aside from the egg roll recipe, that's the thing I most hope to salvage from those old cassettes. I just wanna know!
Thanks for watching, Ronnie! 😀
This cartridge got me through junior high, high school, 4 years of college and 2 years of grad school course work.
Ha! Wonderful! What was your printer of choice? I just had a Star 2420 Dot Matrix and later the Letter-Quality 1027 from Atari.
@@GenXGrownUp later you could print on common printers
@@supermasterPIK Is that right? Maybe after my time with the Atari 8-bit. That's great!
@@GenXGrownUp yes. after APX (software by Mail) my AtariWriter package I bought in December included some disks and documentation for non Atari printers
@@supermasterPIK Tried it and works great, but it´s hard to save on Tape....you have to pinpoint the number of TAPE counter and load, but didn´t work. I guess is better save/load on my SD adapter.
atari put there software and hardware so nice! made me want everything from them...great days my man....great find!
AtariWriter is really cool. I'm too young to have grown up with the Atari computers, but I have one nowadays since I love Atari so much. I haven't had a good chance to make use of AtariWriter yet, but I plan to.
Say, what game is the background music in this video from? It sounds so familiar but I can't quite place it.
The first version would be pretty lacking to use today (most notably, no spell check), but it was a blockbuster in its day and still viable all these years later. Thanks for watching.
Good ear. That's not a game, but definitely something you would recognize from the Atari universe. It's from the spaceship demo. 😉 ua-cam.com/video/kLdmviclAx4/v-deo.html
@@GenXGrownUp 👍 Cheers.
It's interesting to see that young people are interested in vintage computers as well. For us older people there's a lot of nostalgia involved, but what's the appeal to young folk?
8-Bits, a few K of RAM, and AtariWriter can do Amazing things.
Got mine today. Only problem is for Spanish lamguage, no accents or exclamation signs
Yeah, that was out of scope for this early application.
@@GenXGrownUp Help ! I use alterra and can´t save or create a virtual drive ...
Mine had also driver for non Atari Printers
I´m about to buy one !! New in box !!!!
Awesome! You'll have all the warranty cards and stuff, too!
Whoa!!!!!! Man, you gotta find out what’s on those tapes!
Work is in progress!
@@GenXGrownUp 👍
Will test one today. Even with non-atari printer software!
Nice.
Thanks!
Good find!
Thanks, Ethan.
Find a 800 XL or 600 XL (same but no monitor out and less memory) is expensive today.
I have several Atari computers in storage, so no need to hunt on eBay. 😀
Very nice find! My first computer was the Atari 800XL back in the early 80s. I do remember using Atari Writer too. My first printer was a cheap thermal printer that was compatible with my Atari. I think I paid $200 for it. I had a bunch of rolls for thermal paper in a box.
Ah, thermal printers. Those were the days! 😉 Thanks so much for watching!