Revive Machinesa team of enthusiasts in Poland is working on reviving the Atari 800XLthe mythical computer that was launched in 1983 and that became one of the most popular computers of those years.
The RM 800XL, as Revive Machines calls it, is not a restoration of existing equipment. Rather, they manufacture the computer from scratch but with modern internal components, but maintaining its classic design. In addition, they retain all the original ports but adding HDMI, USB-A and USB-C output.
The goal is to be able to connect original Atari 800XL cartridges and have them work, but also be able to download ROMs from the internet and have them run without problem on the computer through an 8-bit emulator.
The RM 800XL is a modernized Atari 800XL
The internal components of the RM800XL include modern FPGA and RISC processor. It has the cartridge port on the top of the computer, exactly like the Atari 800XL, two classic 9-pin ports, two USB-A ports to connect game controllers. One SIO port for 100% original compatible peripherals, one PBI parallel port for original external devices, one original monitor port. Also HDMI port to connect it to a TV or modern monitors, an extra USB-A for external memory, and a USB-C port for power supply.
At the moment the price and the date on which the sales or reservations of this new version of the Atari 800XL begin are unknown. It is also not clear in which countries it will be available, but we assume that the first deliveries will be made in Europe before going to other international markets.
Why was the Atari 800XL so important and popular?
Released in 1983 as the successor to the Atari 800, the Atari 800XL became one of the best-selling personal computers of the time. Undoubtedly the most successful of the company during the first half of the 80s. It had a totally different design from what could be seen at the time, leaving aside the beige plastic, with very modern shapes and colors.
It was also very easy to be used as a video game console. Top entry for cartridges and ports to connect two joysticks, which were already popular thanks to the Atari 2600.
He Atari 800XL incorporated Atari BasicXL —improved version of Atari Basic released in 1981—to be able to program. Being an interpreter and not a compiler, anyone could analyze and modify the source code of any software, application or video game.
Thanks to the latter, the computer was a true introduction to programming for thousands of people, including me. The possibility of analyzing the source code of any video game that we played for hours and understanding how it worked was absolutely exciting.
Although the Atari 800XL was well positioned in terms of features and price, it had two major problems on a commercial level. During its release, the company was transitioning device manufacturing from the United States to Asia. This created dozens of logistical problems that put them at a disadvantage during the year-end holidays of 1983. What would originally be a super popular Christmas gift, became a headache for many parents, since it was impossible to obtain. It was not possible to manufacture as many as many expected. Instead, the Commodore 64 was available in all stores.
Atari also got into a price war with Commodore and Tandy that he just couldn’t hold. By January 1984 the company announced that it would raise the price of Atari 800XL and Atari 600XL,50 dollars—equivalent to today’s $150—above the Commodore 64 and Commodore VIC-20, respectively.
At the end of 1984, Atari sold about 700,000 computersversus the 2 million Commodores. During the same year, Jack Tramielfounder of, coincidentally, Commodore, stepped down as CEO and Warner sold Atari to him in exchange for $100 million in company stock.
After the acquisition, Tramiel dismantled the Atari XL project and focused on the next generation of 16-bits, the Atari ST. To achieve this, he hired dozens of Commodore engineers.