• Atari 8-Bit Computers: Frequently Asked Questions (25/30)

    From Michael Current@21:1/5 to Marc G. Frank on Tue Nov 26 21:54:38 2019
    [continued from previous message]

    August: Atari (Consumer) programmer Larry Kaplan departed the company (to work with Atari (Consumer) programmers Alan Miller, David Crane, and Bob Whitehead on a business plan for a new company. Kaplan would join the others at Activision in December 1979.)

    August: Atari (Consumer) chip design engineer Doug Neubauer departed the company (to Hewlett-Packard). (Compute! #3 Mar/Apr 80 p75)

    August?: On pages 654-655 of the Wish Book for the 1979 Holiday Season Sears featured the Atari 400 personal computer system ($549) and accessories.

    Summer/Fall: The Atari plant at 1173 Borregas Ave., Sunnyvale CA, previously Atari's pinball manufacturing plant, was repurposed for 400/800 computer line manufacturing. The project was headed by Atari (Consumer) VP Engineering (personal computers) Steve Bristow. Brad C. Saville would be manufacturing manager (personal computers).

    September 4: The New York Times reported on p. D7, "Atari Inc., the maker of home video games, will introduce two new personal computer systems in the
    fall. The inaugural ad campaign, created by Doyle Dane Bernbach, will break
    in October in 12 national publications. TV commercials will also be aired in Los Angeles in November and December."

    September: Atari (Consumer) senior programmers / game designers Alan Miller
    and David Crane, and then Bob Whitehead, departed the company. (Activision, Inc. would be established by Miller/Crane/Whitehead together with former GRT Corp. VP Music Tapes division Jim Levy on 10/1/79.)

    September 19: The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) adopted a new set of "Technical Standards for Computing Equipment" (FCC 79-555, 79 FCC 2d. 28). The new Class A (commercial) and Class B (residential) digital device standards were both less stringent than the earlier Type I standard which, among home computers released and announced to date, only the Atari 400/800
    had succeeded in complying with. Atari, among others, would formally protest the new standards.

    September 24: Shepardson Microsystems, Inc. (staff engineer Paul Laughton for SMI) completed the File Management System (FMS) for the Atari personal computers.

    October?: The Atari Electronic Toys & Games division would be folded into the Atari (Consumer) division. Dennis Koble, previously Atari (Electronic Toys & Games) programmer, would become Atari (Consumer) software manager (new position, reporting to director of software development George Simcock).
    Brian Johnston, previously Atari (Electronic Toys & Games) game developer, would become Atari (Consumer) systems software manager (personal computers).

    October: "Atari's production lines were stalled for about a week in October
    due to yield problems at one of its chip suppliers, Synertek. The low yields at the semiconductor manufacturer resulted in significantly reduced delivery
    of the MPU to Atari, resulting in about a 3-week delay in getting the
    computers into the marketplace." Electronic News, December 10, 1979, p. 83.

    November 9: Dale Yocum, previously of Telesensory, had joined Atari (Consumer) to establish and manage a 400/800 programmers group as Applications Software Manager (personal computers). Yocum had been hired by software manager Dennis Koble.

    November: Conrad C. Jutson, previously Texas Instruments marketing manager for personal computers, was hired by Atari (Consumer) as a consultant. (Compute!s 1st Book p2)

    November: Atari shipped the 400 personal computer system (NTSC; 8KiB RAM) and, shortly thereafter, the 800 personal computer system (NTSC; 8KiB RAM), each boxed with the BASIC Computing Language cartridge (Atari BASIC by SMI) and the Atari BASIC (Wiley Self-Teaching Guide) book; the 800 additionally shipped
    with the 410 program recorder and the Educational System Master Cartridge (Dorsett Educational Systems), which each also shipped separately.
    "The first "real" consumer units were shipped in Nov. of '79 and were 400s
    to Sears followed very shortly by 800s." --Jerry Jessop

    November 26: On procedural grounds, the U.S. FCC had denied Atari's motion for a stay of the waiver given to Texas Instruments to sell an independent RF modulator for home computers & video games, saying Atari hadn't presented any new evidence. (TVDigest 11/26/79) (Atari would try again.)

    November/December?: Programmer Lane Winner, previously of Versatec, joined Atari (Consumer) as an applications programmer (personal computers). Winner would report to application programmers group manager Dale Yocum.

    November/December?: For the 400/800 Atari shipped: Basketball, Video Easel (previously: Life), Super Breakout, and the Talk and Teach Courseware cassettes: U.S. History, U.S. Government, Supervisory Skills, World History (Western), Basic Sociology, Counseling Procedures, Principles of Accounting, Physics, Great Classics, Business Communications, Basic Psychology, Effective Writing, Principles of Economics, Spelling, Basic Electricity, Basic Algebra

    December: Steve Bristow, previously Atari (Consumer) VP Engineering (personal computers), became Atari (Consumer) VP Engineering, assuming Consumer Game engineering from John Ellis who departed the company. Engineer Niles Strohl would be promoted to director of Consumer engineering, replacing Wade Tuma who departed the company. (Ellis and Tuma would together establish Compower Corp. on 5/19/80).

    December: "Atari is funneling large quantities of its 400 and 800 personal computers and software to Sears, Roebuck, while retail computer stores have been faced with late hardware deliveries and received very little, if any, software. Sears is offering the Atari 400, priced at $549, through its
    catalog [1979 Wish Book pages 654-655], and is spot-marketing the machine in its retail stores throughout California and the Chicago area. In addition,
    the firm is selling the Atari 800, priced at $999.99, in its California
    stores, but not through the catalog, a Sears spokesman said." Electronic
    News, December 10, 1979, p. 83.

    1980
    January 5-8: At the Winter CES in Las Vegas, for the 400/800
    ($549.99/$999.99), Atari introduced the 825 printer, 830 modem, and 850 interface, introduced 3-D Tic-Tac-Toe, Star Raiders, and Calculator, and again promised Music Composer, Assembler Editor (previously: Assembler Debug), and Personal Finance (previously: Home Finance; never shipped). Atari announced a license agreement to market 8 investment-application programs designed by Control Data Corp. from CDC's Cyberware library, including: bond yield, bond price and interest, bond switch, stock rate of return, stock dividend
    analysis, stock charting, mortgage analysis, portfolio analysis. (WSJ Jan8p37; TVDigest 1/14/80p13)

    January?: Atari shipped: Computer Chess, 3-D Tic-Tac-Toe, Star Raiders

    January: Conrad C. Jutson, formerly Texas Instruments marketing manager for personal computers, and consultant to Atari since November 1979, joined Atari (Consumer) as VP Sales & Marketing, Personal Computers, replacing Robert Hovee who departed the company. (TVDigest 1/21/80p14)

    January: Chris Crawford, previously an Atari (Consumer) game designer, transferred to the personal computer application programmers group (reporting to group manager Dale Yocum).

    January 21: Atari and Control Data announced an agreement whereby Atari computer systems could be repaired through the nationwide network of Control Data repair centers. Approximately 20 centers throughout the country were open; more were scheduled. (Dr. Dobb's Journal)

    Winter: Atari shipped the 810 disk drive with Master Diskette (DOS I developed by SMI), and shipped the 820 printer. ($449.95).

    Winter: William (Bill) Kaiser, previously of Xerox, joined Atari (Consumer) in finance.

    February 11: The Sears spring-summer catalog featured the Atari 400 at $549, and the Atari 800 at $999. (TVDigest 2/11/80p10)

    March?: Atari shipped Music Composer.

    March: Science Research Associates (SRA) and Atari announced that SRA would develop educational computer courseware in reading, language arts,
    mathematics, science, and social studies, intended for Atari personal
    computers used in the home; Atari would have the right to market this
    software. Additionally, SRA would have primary responsibility for the sale of Atari personal computers and services to the educational community (public and private, pre-school through university level).

    April 9: Atari's petition to the U.S. FCC to rescind the waiver of Class I TV rules granted to Texas Instruments was rejected by the commission. (TVDigest 4/7/80 p11; 4/14/80 p12)

    April?: Tandy Trower, previously of WICAT, joined Atari (Consumer) as an evaluator of 3rd party software titles (personal computers). He was hired by Atari (Consumer) Manager of Software Planning (personal computers) Peter Rosenthal.

    April 23: George Simcock remained Atari (Consumer) director of software development.

    Spring: For the 400/800 Atari had shipped: An Invitation to Programming 1
    (PDI; previously: Guide to BASIC Programming), Biorhythm, Hangman, Kingdom, Blackjack (6/1/80 price list)

    May 19-22: Atari featured the 400/800 personal computer systems at the 1980 National Computer Conference at the Anaheim Convention Center, Anaheim CA.
    Also at the show, Personal Software introduced the Atari 800 version (and the Commodore PET/CBM version) of VisiCalc by Software Arts. (The original Apple version had shipped Oct. 1979.)

    June 1: Atari increased suggested retail prices for the 400/800. The 400 personal computer system (still 8KiB RAM) was now $630 (previously: $549.99); the 800 personal computer system, now with 16KiB RAM (previously: 8KiB RAM), was now $1,080 (previously: $999.99/8KiB RAM). (TVDigest 6/2/80 p11 and price list)

    June 15-18: At the Summer CES in Chicago, for the 400/800 ($630/$1,080) Atari introduced: 815 dual disk drive with DOS 2.0D ($1499.95; never shipped), 822 printer ($449.95), and Light Pen (CX70; $74.95), and again promised the 825 printer ($999.95), 830 modem ($199.95), and 850 interface ($219.95). (CC Sep80p30; 6/1/80 price list) 400/800 software Atari announced or again promised (6/1/80 price list): Mortgage & Loan Analysis (Control Data), Bond Analysis (Control Data), Stock Analysis (Control Data), Stock Charting
    (Control Data), An Invitation to Programming 2: Writing Programs One and Two (PDI), An Invitation to Programming 3: Introduction to Sound and Graphics (PDI), Astrology (never shipped), Conversational French (EMI / Longman), Conversational German (EMI / Longman), Conversational Spanish (EMI / Longman), Mailing List, Touch Typing, Calculator, Graph It, Statistics I, Energy Czar, States & Capitals, European Countries & Capitals, TeleLink I (previously: Terminal Emulator), Space Invaders (title by Taito), Assembler Editor. Atari also previewed The Atari Accountant series (by BPI; would consist of: General Accounting System; Accounts Receivable System; Inventory Control System; each package in the series would require the 815 dual disk drive; series never shipped).

    Also, Atari had modified the 800 personal computer system package. The 800 would now ship with one CX853 16KiB RAM module installed (previously: one
    CX852 8KiB RAM module); the 410 program recorder and Educational System Master Cartridge were removed from the package; the BASIC Reference Manual was added to the package.

    Spring/Summer: Dennis Koble, previously Atari (Consumer) software manager, was promoted to director of software development, assuming the role of George Simcock who departed the company (retired).

    Months?: Jeff Burton joined Atari International as International Market Manager, and Nancy Garrison, previously of Revlon, joined Atari International as international marketing manager for computer software.

    Summer?: Atari (Consumer) game designer Carol Shaw departed the company.

    August 19: Shepardson Microsystems, Inc. (staff engineer Paul Laughton for
    SMI) completed the File Management System (FMS) for Atari DOS II.

    Summer/Fall: For the 400/800 Atari shipped: 822 printer, 825 printer, 830 modem, 850 interface, CX70 Light Pen, Assembler Editor (SMI), TeleLink I (original "small box" release with 1 hour of access to CompuServe), Space Invaders (original cassette release), States & Capitals, European Countries & Capitals, Mortgage & Loan Analysis, Energy Czar

    September: Roger H. Badertscher joined Atari to be president of the new Personal Computer Division, which would be spun off from the Consumer
    Division. Badertscher was previously VP and general manager of the microprocessor division of Signetics, an electronics semiconductor manufacturer, and he had developed the business plan for the new division. (InfoWorld 7/26/82p29 for date) Bruce W. Irvine, previously of Control Data, would join Atari (Personal Computer) as VP software. John R. Powers, III, previously of The Authorship Resource, Inc. (ARI; co-founded by Powers and Joe Miller; developers of software for the CyberVision home computer), would join Atari (Personal Computer) as director of software development. Engineer Larry Plummer, previously General Manager, Computer Products at Heath Company, would join Atari (Personal Computer) as director of engineering. Engineer Carl Goy would join Plummer in moving from Heath to Atari. Peter Rosenthal, previously Atari (Consumer) manager of software planning (personal computers), became Atari (Personal Computer) director of marketing (reporting to VP Sales & Marketing Conrad Jutson). Tandy Trower, previously Atari (Consumer) evaluator of 3rd party software titles (personal computers), was promoted to software marketing manager (replacing Rosenthal in the role). Keith E. Schaefer would join Atari (Personal Computer) as National Sales Manager (reporting to
    Jutson). Chris Bowman, previously director of media services at the Harvard University Graduate School of Education, would join Atari (Personal Computer) as national manager of educational sales, as Atari would take the sale of
    Atari personal computers and services to the educational community in-house (previously: outsourced to Science Research Associates (SRA)). Kevin
    McKinsey, previously Atari (Consumer) industrial designer, would be Atari (Personal Computer) manager of industrial design and graphics. Bill Kaiser, previously of Atari (Consumer), would be Atari (Personal Computer) director of finance.

    September: The Atari (Consumer) Software Support Group began offering
    telephone Customer Software Support for Atari 400/800 users. (AtariConnection v1n1p24)

    September 15-December 31: Atari-sponsored dealer promotion: Free 410 plus Educational System Master Cartridge and choice of one Talk & Teach series
    title with purchase of 400 computer. Or, free CX852 8KiB RAM module with purchase of 800 computer (which shipped with one CX853 16KiB RAM module installed).

    September 16-18: Wescon/80, Anaheim CA, featured speakers including Peter N. Rosenthal, Atari (Personal Computer) director of marketing.

    Fall: Brenda K. Laurel, previously Manager, Educational Product Design at The Authorship Resource, Inc. (ARI), joined Atari (Personal Computer) as a
    software product manager (initially: educational applications). Robert A. Kahn, previously an educational computer applications consultant (and prior to that, director of the Computer Education Project at the University of California, Berkeley), joined Atari (Personal Computer) as a software product manager (Atari PILOT).

    December: At Atari (Personal Computer), Applications group programmer Chris Crawford (having completed Energy Czar and SCRAM) was promoted to supervisor
    of the Software Development Support Group.

    Atari reportedly lost $10 million on sales of computer equipment of $13
    million in 1980 (InfoWorld 9/14/1981)

    Atari had sold 35,000 400/800 computers through 1980. (source?)

    1981
    January 6: Warner Amex Cable Communications, Atari, and CompuServe jointly announced the availability of the CompuServe information service to Columbus
    OH subscribers of the Warner Amex QUBE two-way interactive cable television system. An Atari 800 personal computer was lent to the subscriber as part of the service.

    January 8-11: At the Winter CES in Las Vegas Atari announced that the 400
    would now ship in two versions: original 8KiB RAM version at the new list
    price of $499.95 (previously: $630), or new 16KiB RAM version for $630. For
    the 400/800 Atari introduced: Asteroids, Missile Command, SCRAM (A Nuclear Power Plant Simulation), Atari PILOT, Conversational Spanish, Atari
    Accountant: General Accounting System (BPI; with Business Manager's Companion Guide by Arthur Young & Company; package never shipped), Atari Accountant: Accounts Receivable System (BPI; never shipped), Atari Accountant: Inventory Control System (BPI; never shipped), Atari Word Processor. Also announced: Personal Fitness Program (ultimately released via APX), Personal Financial Management System (replacement for the canceled Personal Finance). Again promised: An Invitation to Programming 2, An Invitation to Programming 3, Astrology (never shipped), Conversational French, Conversational German. (CC Mar81p54; Analog#1; 1981 Software Catalog)

    January: Atari (Personal Computer) marketing established a Users' Group
    Support Program; Earl Rice would be Marketing Manager, Users' Group Support Program.

    January/February: First issue of A.N.A.L.O.G. 400/800 Magazine, published by Lee Pappas and Mike DesChenes. 4000 copies printed.

    Winter: Atari shipped: Bond Analysis, Stock Analysis, Stock Charting, Mailing List, Touch Typing, Graph It, Statistics I (Analog#2p47)

    Winter: Atari (Personal Computer) operations moved to a new division headquarters at 1196 Borregas Ave., Sunnyvale CA (46,000 square feet; located in the Moffett Park industrial park).

    February 2: Atari had announced that Conrad Jutson, previously Atari (Personal Computer) VP Sales & Marketing, was promoted to (corporate) VP market planning (consumer and computer products). (TVDigest) Atari announced that Rigdon Currie, previously of Xerox subsidiary Diablo, had joined the company as VP marketing for the Computer Division (Compute!#11p166; TVDigest) (replacing Jutson in the role). Peter Rosenthal, previously Atari (Personal Computer) director of marketing (reporting to Jutson), would become Atari (Computer) director of business planning and development (new position).

    February: J. Fred Thorlin joined Atari (Computer) as director of software product acquisition (new position, reporting to VP software Bruce Irvine).
    One charge for Thorlin would be to direct the transformation of an internal software development tools exchange program that had been established by applications software supervisor Dale Yocum into a public-facing program
    (Atari Program Exchange).

    February: Andrew Soderberg, previously a partner at a computer retailer called Computer Connection, joined Atari (Computer) as an assistant product manager. He had been hired by, and would report to, software marketing manager Tandy Trower.

    February?: Paul Laughton, previously Shepardson Microsystems, Inc. (SMI) staff engineer, joined Atari (Computer) as a systems software programmer (hired by manager of systems software Brian Johnston).

    February 25: The source code to Atari BASIC (including Atari OS FPP), the FMS component of Atari DOS 2.0S (DOS.SYS), and the Atari Assembler Editor were purchased from Shepardson Microsystems, Inc. (SMI) by Optimized Systems Software (OSS), headed by former SMI employees Bill Wilkinson and Mike Peters.

    March: Jim Tittsler, previously Director of Software Development at International Remote Imaging Systems (and before that a Software Engineer at Heath Zenith (Heathkit)), joined Atari (Computer).

    March?: Atari VP research and development Al Alcorn departed the company. (Alcorn would establish Cumma Research, Inc. on 2/2/83.)

    March 16: Gene B. Rosen had joined Atari as VP of engineering for the Atari Computer Division. (ComputerWorld 3/16/81p74) Larry Plummer remained Atari (Computer) director of engineering, now reporting to Rosen.

    April 2-30: Atari-sponsored dealer promotion: Free $100 subscription to The Source with purchase of Atari Communicator System: choice of 400 or 800 computer with 850, 830, and TeleLink I.

    April 3-5: At the 6th West Coast Computer Faire, San Francisco Civic
    Auditorium and Brooks Hall, Atari (Computer) announced the Atari Software Acquisition Program (ASAP), which would involve the creation of ASAP regional centers where qualified developers could work with Atari equipment and receive technical assistance (the first ASAP center was expected to open in the Sunnyvale CA area in mid-May), and Atari Program Exchange (APX), a free quarterly mail-order catalog of user-written software (first/Summer Edition
    due for publication June 1). Programs accepted for the APX catalog would qualify for $100,000 in prizes to be awarded over the coming year, including a grand prize of $25,000 cash. Bruce W. Irvine was Atari (Computer) VP
    software. (see Compute! #12 5/81 p150) The event also featured Atari's
    "first annual" invitational hospitality suite for Atari computer users' group officers and their guests. About 20 persons attended, on behalf of about 30 total groups registered with Atari Users' Group Support.

    Fred Thorlin remained Atari (Computer) director of software product
    acquisition (reporting to Irvine). Dale Yocum, previously Atari (Computer) applications software supervisor, would be APX manager (reporting to Thorlin). Ken Balthaser, previously of the Atari (Consumer) Advanced Technology Group (and prior to that, programmer at The Authorship Resource, Inc. (ARI)), would become Atari (Computer) manager of applications software development
    (replacing Yocum in the role).

    April 3-5: Also at the West Coast Computer Faire, Optimized Systems Software (OSS) introduced BASIC A+, CP/A (would ship as: OS/A+), and EASMD (enhanced, disk-based versions of Atari BASIC, Atari DOS 2.0S and Atari Assembler Editor, respectively).

    April 23-24: An Atari Seminar for developers. The Atari Software Development Support Group included: Chris Crawford (graphics), Lane Winner (BASIC, cassette), Mike Ekberg (OS, DOS), Kathleen Armstrong (Kathleen Pitta), Jim Cox (graphics & utilities), Gus Makreas (assembly language), John Eckstrom
    (pascal)

    Spring: First issue of The Atari Connection, the glossy magazine published by Atari (Computer) in support of the 400/800.

    Spring: Fred Thorlin, previously Atari (Computer) director of software product acquisition (ASAP/APX), became director of product review and research (new position, remaining responsible for APX; still reporting to VP software Bruce Irvine). Paul V. Cubbage, previously of The Wollongong Group, would join
    Atari (Computer) as product review manager (reporting to Thorlin). T.J.
    Gracon (Tom Gracon) joined Atari (Computer) as director of software product acquisition (ASAP) (replacing Thorlin in the role; reporting to Irvine).

    May 1: Atari's suggested retail price for the 400 with 16KiB RAM, now to be marketed as The Basic Computer, was reduced to $399 (previously: $630). The 8KiB RAM version of the 400 would no longer be offered. (The 800 Personal Computer System (with 16KiB RAM) retail price remained $1,080.)

    May 1-August 31: Atari offered a free CX853 16K RAM Module ($99.95) with purchase of an Atari 800 personal computer; offered the 825 printer at $800 instead of $1000; and offered the 850 interface at $170 instead of $220

    May 4-7: At the National Computer Conference in Chicago, Atari announced that the 8KiB Atari 400 was being discontinued and that the price on the 16KiB version was being reduced to $399 (was $630); also, the Atari BASIC
    cartridge and Atari BASIC (Wiley Self-Teaching Guide) book would no longer be included with the now "mass market packaged" 400. Other price reductions: CX852 8KiB RAM module now $49.95 (was $124.95), CX853 16KiB RAM module now $99.95 (was $199.95), 820 printer now $299.95 (was $449.95). Atari
    also introduced: Personal Financial Management System (PFMS; $74.95), Dow
    Jones Investment Evaluator ($99.95; never shipped), Atari Microsoft BASIC ($89.95), Program-Text Editor (would ship as a standalone title via APX), Sorcim Macro Assembler (the latter two titles would ship together as: Macro Assembler and Program-Text Editor). Also introduced: Conversational Italian (EMI / Longman). Additionally, new production units of TeleLink I would include one hour of time on each of: Dow Jones Information Service, The
    Source, CompuServe (previously: CompuServe only).

    May: Jon D. Ebbs joined Atari, where we would be VP of Consumer Product Service. By January 1982, in support of both Atari Consumer and Atari
    Computer division products, the unit would establish a new national network of Atari Factory Authorized Service Centers ("Atari Service Factory Authorized Network"). The new network would replace Control Data Service Centers for Atari computer repairs.

    June 1?: Atari released the Atari Program Exchange (APX) Software Catalog Summer Edition 1981, introducing: Newspaper Route Management Program, The Computerized Card File, Text Formatter (FORMS), Lemonade, Mugwump, Avalanche, Outlaw/Howitzer, Preschool Games, Roman Checkers, Space Trek, Castle, Wizard's Gold, Sleazy Adventure, Alien Egg, Chinese Puzzle, Sultan's Palace, Anthill, Centurion, Tact Trek, Comedy Diskette, Graphics/Sound Demonstration, FIG FORTH (this version never shipped), Sound Editor, BASIC Program Compressor (MASHER), BASIC Cross-Reference Utility (XREF), BASIC Renumber Utility (RENUM), Disk Fixer (FIX), Variable Changer, Character Set Editor, Extended WSFN, Supersort. APX also introduced several hardware products: DE-9S with DE51218 Shell (controller plug), 5-pin DIN connector, 13-pin I/O plug, 13-pin I/O socket, DA-15P with DA110963-2 Shell (850 printer plug), DE-9P with DE110963-1 Shell (850 serial plug), 2716 EPROM cartridge. APX location: 155 Moffett Park Dr, Sunnyvale CA

    Month?: Mark A. Lutvak, previously product program general manager at Memorex, joined Atari (Computer) as product manager, marketing, replacing Stephen Davis who departed the company (to Corvus Systems Inc.).

    Month?: Engineer Ajay Chopra, previously of Burroughs Corporation, joined
    Atari (Computer).

    Month?: In West Germany, Steve Molyneux, previously of American Express Military Banking, joined Atari Elektronikvertriebs GmbH as computer software development manager. He was recruited by Atari International marketing
    manager for computer software Nancy Garrison.

    Month?: The Atari Software Development Support Group released De Re Atari. Atari made the book available to registered developers.

    Summer?: Dr. Ted M. Kahn, Ph.D., previously Atari educational marketing consultant, joined Atari to establish and head the Atari Institute for Educational Action Research, which began awarding major grants of Atari home computer products, cash stipends, and/or consulting services to selected individuals and non-profit institutions or organizations interested in developing new educational uses for computers in schools, community programs, or in the home. More than $250,000 would be awarded in the program's first year.

    Summer?: Barry Berghorn, previously of Memorex, joined Atari (Computer) as sales & marketing VP, replacing Rigdon Currie who departed the company. (WeeklyDigest 1981p.dxxx/530)

    Summer?: J. Peter Nelson joined Atari (Computer) as public relations manager.

    Summer: Atari sold the rights to their Talk & Teach series of educational software titles, plus the Educational System Master Cartridge, back to the developer, Dorsett Educational Systems.

    Summer: By mid-1981 Atari had sold over 50,000 400/800 computers to date. (InfoWorld 9/14/1981)

    Summer: Atari shipped: Atari 810 Master Diskette II (DOS II version 2.0S developed by SMI/Atari), Conversational Spanish, Conversational French, Conversational German, An Invitation to Programming 2, An Invitation to Programming 3, SCRAM (A Nuclear Power Plant Simulation), Missile Command, Asteroids, Atari Word Processor, plus TeleLink I new "large box" version with one hour of time on each of: Dow Jones Information Service, The Source, CompuServe

    August 1: In the UK, Atari consumer products distributor Ingersoll Electronics shipped the Atari 400/800 computers (new UK versions for PAL I; 345 pounds / 645 pounds incl. VAT; both with 16KiB RAM).

    August: James Alan Cook (Jamie Cook) joined Atari as VP and Counsel of Atari's Computer division.

    August 26: Date of the internal Atari document "Z800 Product Specification, Revision 1" reflecting early work that would lead to the release of the
    1200XL computer.
    See: http://www.atarimuseum.com/computers/8BITS/1200xl/1200xl.html

    September 1?: Atari released the Atari Program Exchange (APX) Software Catalog Fall Edition 1981, introducing: Data Management System, Financial Asset Management System, Decision Maker, Banner Generator, Personal Fitness Program (previously announced for Atari's main 400/800 product line), Blackjack Tutor, Mapware, Video Math Flashcards, Dice Poker, 747 Landing Simulator, Eastern Front (1941), CodeCracker, Domination, Terry, Bumper Pool, Reversi, Minotaur, Lookahead, Babel, Wizard's Revenge, Chameleon CRT Terminal Emulator, Diskette Librarian, Disk Fixer (FIX) Rev. 2, BASIC Utility for Renumbering Programs (BURP), BASIC Utility Diskette, Screen Dump Utility, Load 'n Go, BLIS, Developer's Diskette. APX also announced their full software product line for sale via download from CompuServe MicroNET. One hardware product was modified: DE-9S with DE110963-1 Shell (controller plug).

    September 1: New production Atari 810 disk drives would contain an External Data Separator Board. (810 FSM p.1-9)

    September 1-October 31: Atari offered a free Atari Word Processor with the purchase of an Atari 800, 810 disk drive and two additional 16K RAM Memory Modules.

    September 3-7: Atari computer distributor Adveico launched the Atari 400/800 (new PAL versions for PAL B/G; L. 985.000 / L. 1.990.000) in Italy at SIM- Hi.Fi in Milan. (MCmicrocomputer #1 back page; #2 p19-20 for prices)

    September 10-12: Atari distributor Ingersoll Electronics introduced the Atari 400/800 at The 4th Personal Computer World Show at the Cunard Hotel, Hammersmith, London.

    September 18-23: At SMAU in Milan, Atari computer distributor Adveico
    continued the launch of the Atari 400/800 in Italy. (MCmicrocomputer #1 back page)

    October: Dr. Alan Kay, previously a Xerox Fellow at the Xerox Palo Alto Research Center (PARC), joined Atari in the new position of VP/Chief Scientist (InfoWorld 5/21/84 for date) (replacement for the departed Al Alcorn). Kay would establish and head a new Atari Corporate Research division. The
    existing Warner Communications L.A. Lab R&D unit (QUBE cable television system development) located at 3701 Oak Street, Burbank, CA ("Fantasy Trailer" on the Warner Bros. Ranch), would be shifted to the new Atari Corporate Research Division. Engineer Steven J. Davis would remain director of the Atari L.A. Lab, now as Atari director of advanced research (reporting to Kay). Steve Mayer, previously senior engineer at Atari's Cyan Engineering, would become corporate VP research and development (reporting to Kay).

    October: Brenda Laurel, previously Atari (Computer) software product manager, would be promoted to manager, software strategy and marketing, replacing Tandy Trower who departed the company (to Microsoft).

    October 15-18: The Northeast Computer Show (NCS) at the Hynes Auditorium, Boston MA was attended by 50,000. For the 400/800 Atari featured Missile Command, Asteroids, the Atari Word Processor, Personal Financial Management System, States & Capitals, Conversational Italian, Conversational French, Conversational Spanish. Atari (Computer) director of business planning and development Peter Rosenthal was a featured panelist at the show, alongside Microsoft president William H. Gates, Commodore president H.E. James Finke,

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  • From Michael Current@21:1/5 to Marc G. Frank on Thu Mar 19 10:20:42 2020
    [continued from previous message]

    December 6: "Last week Atari...disclosed that it was on the verge of introducing its first home computers." (NYT p.D4)

    December 14: Warner Communications introduced the Atari 400 ($500) and Atari 800 ($1000) personal computers at a New York news conference. The computers would each ship with 8K RAM, and support "optional Atari-designed floppy disc
    & printer units. Atari plans over 25 cartridges, including games, home financial management, mini-courses, etc. User can record own programs on
    audio cassettes with BASIC & FORTRAN cartridges." According to Atari, the 400/800 were expected to ship August 1, 1979; they had been in development for 18 months; they were designed to pass FCC tests for use with home TV, unlike computers from other companies. Atari said it was studying connecting the 400/800 with the Warner Amex QUBE two-way interactive cable television system in Columbus OH. (TVDigest 12/4/78 p11; 12/18/78 p11)

    December: SMI delivered working versions of BASIC and a disk FMS to Atari.

    1979
    January 6-9: At the Winter CES in Las Vegas, Atari featured the new Atari-400 Personal Computer and the Atari-800 Personal Computer. The 400 would come
    with 8KiB of RAM and was expected to retail for approximately $500. The 800 would ship with 8KiB of RAM, expandable to 48KiB, and would sell for approximately $1,000. Peripherals announced/previewed: custom tape cassette recorder (410), high speed floppy disc (810), 40-column printer (820).
    Software applications promised: "personal financial management, income tax preparation, household and office record keeping, computer aided instruction
    in over 20 subject areas including math, English, history, literature, economics, psychology, auto mechanics, and many others." Games promised: Basketball, Chess (would ship as: Computer Chess), Life (would ship as: Video Easel), Kingdom, Lemonade Stand (would ship from APX as: Lemonade), Fur Trader (never shipped), Stock Market (never shipped). Programming language promised: BASIC. Availability dates were not announced. Atari (Consumer) Microelectronics group programmer Larry Kaplan and chip engineering technician Steve Smith led the live demonstrations of the 400/800 at the show. Don Kingsborough was Atari (Consumer) Director of Sales & Marketing. Emanuel Gerard represented the Office of the President, WCI. Coverage of the introduction of the Atari 400/800 from Creative Computing magazine: https://mcurrent.name/atari1979/(see also The Intelligent Machines Journal Issue 2, 79 Jan 17; Merch 1/79)

    January: Atari ran an advertisement for the 400/800 on pp. 54-55 of Merchandising, vol. 4, no. 1, January 1979.

    January: Stephen N. Davis would join Atari (Consumer) as Product Marketing Manager (personal computers), replacing John Vurich who departed the company.

    Winter?: Atari committed to shipping the 400/800 with the BASIC developed for Atari by SMI, abandoned efforts to port Microsoft BASIC to the 400/800, and Atari (Consumer) senior software engineer (personal computers) David Gjerdrum departed the company.

    February: Synertek/Atari engineer Jay Miner departed the companies (Atari
    Inc.: Business is Fun, p. 386) (to Custom MOS, Inc., which would change its name to ZyMOS in November 1980).

    February: Atari (Consumer) hired Ted M. Kahn, previously member of the
    Learning Research Group at Xerox PARC, as a personal computers educational marketing strategy consultant (essentially replacing consultant Liza Loop in the role).

    March 26: Atari had asked the U.S. FCC to extend the comments deadline on
    Texas Instruments' petition for a waiver of Class I rules on RF modulators, in what was seen as an attempt to delay market introduction of the TI home computer. (TVDigest 3/26/79)

    Winter/Spring: Atari (Consumer) director of research (including the Microelectronics group, comprised of software development and LSI chip design) Bob Brown departed the company, along with engineer Craig Nelson (together to Hitachi Micro Systems, Inc. (HMSI); on 6/11/81 they would depart HMSI to co- found Acorn, later known as Arcadia, and then known as Starpath Corporation). Director of software development George Simcock, who previously reported to Brown, would now report to VP engineering John Ellis. Carl J. Nielsen would join Atari (Consumer) as director of LSI chip design, replacing Richard Simone (who had reported to Brown) who departed the company (to Maruman Integrated Circuits) and the departed Jay Miner (who had also reported to Brown).

    April 9: In joining others including Apple, Interact, Mattel, and Radio Shack, Atari formally opposed Texas Instruments' RF devices waiver request from the
    US FCC by submitting a 60-page report accompanied by technical data showing that TI standards could cause massive interference in urban areas, and
    claiming that "TI simply presented the Commission with its self-serving appraisal of what it considered 'reasonable standards' for home computer manufacturers, and asked for authority to produce & market a computer line satisfying its own standards." (TVDigest 4/9/79 p11)

    April: Atari chip engineering technician Steve Smith departed the company (to Custom MOS, Inc.).

    April 16-June 30: Direct-mail "refund" promotion to all known (US) Atari VCS owners. Each of "hundreds of thousands" of owners would receive a blank check good for $2 on purchase of any of 28 VCS game programs. In addition,
    consumers were asked to answer 3 questions about Atari's new personal computers. Winners drawn from correct responses would receive Atari 400 & 800 computers and $100 computer merchandise certificates. (TVDigest 3/12/79p12; Merch 4/79)

    Spring: Anton Bruehl, previously a VP of one of the Burlington Industries' international divisions, would join Atari to head the renamed Atari International Consumer division.

    May 11-13: At the 4th West Coast Computer Faire, held in San Francisco's Civic Auditorium & Brooks Hall, in a booth as elaborate as those seen at Consumer Electronics Shows, Atari demonstrated its new 400 and 800 series computers. This was Atari's first public display of their new computer product lines. (Intelligent Machines Journal 79 Jun 11 p8) In addition to business & household management software, educational applications promised: Algebra (would ship as: Basic Algebra), Economics (would ship as: Principles of Economics), Auto Mechanics (never shipped), Sociology (would ship as: Basic Sociology), U.S. History, Zoology (never shipped), Counseling Procedures, Vocabulary Builder (never shipped), Basic Psychology, Spelling, Spanish (never shipped), Accounting (would ship as: Principles of Accounting), Carpentry (never shipped), Great Classics, Statistics (never shipped), Basic
    Electricity, World History. Entertainment applications promised: Chess (would ship as: Computer Chess), Backgammon (never shipped), business simulations, Stock Market Simulation (never shipped), space adventure, strategy games, Four-Player Basketball (would ship as: Basketball), Superbug Driving Game (never shipped), Game of Life (would ship as: Video Easel), Super Breakout. Also promised: Atari BASIC

    May 21: In response to Texas Instruments' technical reply to the U.S. FCC regarding its Class I waiver request, which said its interference standards exceeded Computer & Business Equipment Manufacturers Association (CBEMA) standards, Atari had filed a follow-up noting that CBEMA standards were for commercial computers up to 30 meters from a TV, enclosing photos of broken-up TV pictures reportedly caused by a home computer with TI standards. (TVDigest 5/21/79 p13)

    June 3-6: At the Summer CES in Chicago Atari promised that the 400/800 base units would ship fall 1979, and featured a firmed 400/800 product line including suggested retail prices. 400 system with BASIC cartridge and Atari BASIC (Wiley Self-Teaching Guide): $549.99; 800 system with BASIC cartridge, Education System Master Cartridge, Atari BASIC (Wiley Self-Teaching Guide),
    410 Program Recorder, and Guide to BASIC Programming cassette: $999.99; 810 Disc Drive: $749.99; 820 Printer: $599.99; 410 Program Recorder: $89.99; 8K
    RAM Memory Module: $124.99; 16K RAM Memory Module: $249.99; Driving Controller Pair: $19.95; Paddle Controller Pair: $19.95; Joystick Controller Pair:
    $19.95; ROM cartridges: Education System Master Cartridge (would ship as: Educational System Master Cartridge), Basketball, Life (would ship as: Video Easel), Super Breakout, Super Bug (never shipped), Atari BASIC, Assembler
    Debug (would ship as: Assembler Editor), Music Composer, Computer Chess, Home Finance (earlier: Checkbook; later: Personal Finance; never shipped); Educational System cassette programs: U.S. History, U.S. Government, Supervisory Skills, World History (Western), Basic Sociology, Counseling Procedures, Principles of Accounting, Physics, Great Classics (English), Business Communications, Basic Psychology, Effective Writing, Auto Mechanics (never shipped), Principles of Economics, Spelling, Basic Electricity, Basic Algebra; BASIC game and program cassettes: Guide to BASIC Programming (would ship as: An Invitation to Programming 1: Fundamentals of BASIC Programming), BASIC Game Programs (never shipped); diskettes: Blank Diskettes (would ship
    as: 5 Diskettes), Disk File Manager (would ship as: Master Diskette). Don Kingsborough remained director of sales and marketing for Atari (Consumer).

    June 15: Atari announced U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Type I approval for the Atari 400 and Atari 800 personal computer systems, along with the Atari Program Recorder (410).

    June: Atari microcomputer systems engineer Joe Decuir departed the company. (Fun p387)

    June: Completion date for the Atari 400/800 Operating System Rev.A.

    Month?: Bill Carris joined Atari (Consumer) as manager of technical services (personal computers).

    July 2: Atari personal computers were in the Penny fall-winter catalog at $550 & $995. (TVDigest 7/2/79)

    July: Robert A. Hovee, previously of Questor, joined Atari (Consumer) as personal computers sales & marketing VP, in part replacing Donald Kingsborough who departed the company (to refocus on his firm, D.K. Marketing; Kingsborough would establish S.K.U., Inc. on 5/11/81)

    August: Atari (Consumer) programmer Larry Kaplan departed the company (to work with Atari (Consumer) programmers Alan Miller, David Crane, and Bob Whitehead on a business plan for a new company. Kaplan would join the others at Activision in December 1979.)

    August: Atari (Consumer) chip design engineer Doug Neubauer departed the company (to Hewlett-Packard). (Compute! #3 Mar/Apr 80 p75)

    August?: On pages 654-655 of the Wish Book for the 1979 Holiday Season Sears featured the Atari 400 personal computer system ($549) and accessories.

    Summer/Fall: The Atari plant at 1173 Borregas Ave., Sunnyvale CA, previously Atari's pinball manufacturing plant, was repurposed for 400/800 computer line manufacturing. The project was headed by Atari (Consumer) VP Engineering (personal computers) Steve Bristow. Brad C. Saville would be manufacturing manager (personal computers).

    September 4: The New York Times reported on p. D7, "Atari Inc., the maker of home video games, will introduce two new personal computer systems in the
    fall. The inaugural ad campaign, created by Doyle Dane Bernbach, will break
    in October in 12 national publications. TV commercials will also be aired in Los Angeles in November and December."

    September: Atari (Consumer) senior programmers / game designers Alan Miller
    and David Crane, and then Bob Whitehead, departed the company. (Activision, Inc. would be established by Miller/Crane/Whitehead together with former GRT Corp. VP Music Tapes division Jim Levy on 10/1/79.)

    September 19: The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) adopted a new set of "Technical Standards for Computing Equipment" (FCC 79-555, 79 FCC 2d. 28). The new Class A (commercial) and Class B (residential) digital device standards were both less stringent than the earlier Type I standard which, among home computers released and announced to date, only the Atari 400/800
    had succeeded in complying with. Atari, among others, would formally protest the new standards.

    September 24: Shepardson Microsystems, Inc. (staff engineer Paul Laughton for SMI) completed the File Management System (FMS) for the Atari personal computers.

    October?: The Atari Electronic Toys & Games division would be folded into the Atari (Consumer) division. Dennis Koble, previously Atari (Electronic Toys & Games) programmer, would become Atari (Consumer) software manager (new position, reporting to director of software development George Simcock).
    Brian Johnston, previously Atari (Electronic Toys & Games) game developer, would become Atari (Consumer) systems software manager (personal computers).

    October: "Atari's production lines were stalled for about a week in October
    due to yield problems at one of its chip suppliers, Synertek. The low yields at the semiconductor manufacturer resulted in significantly reduced delivery
    of the MPU to Atari, resulting in about a 3-week delay in getting the
    computers into the marketplace." Electronic News, December 10, 1979, p. 83.

    November 9: Dale Yocum, previously of Telesensory, had joined Atari (Consumer) to establish and manage a 400/800 programmers group as Applications Software Manager (personal computers). Yocum had been hired by software manager Dennis Koble.

    November: Conrad C. Jutson, previously Texas Instruments marketing manager for personal computers, was hired by Atari (Consumer) as a consultant. (Compute!s 1st Book p2)

    November: Atari shipped the 400 personal computer system (NTSC; 8KiB RAM) and, shortly thereafter, the 800 personal computer system (NTSC; 8KiB RAM), each boxed with the BASIC Computing Language cartridge (Atari BASIC by SMI) and the Atari BASIC (Wiley Self-Teaching Guide) book; the 800 additionally shipped
    with the 410 program recorder and the Educational System Master Cartridge (Dorsett Educational Systems), which each also shipped separately.
    "The first "real" consumer units were shipped in Nov. of '79 and were 400s
    to Sears followed very shortly by 800s." --Jerry Jessop

    November 26: On procedural grounds, the U.S. FCC had denied Atari's motion for a stay of the waiver given to Texas Instruments to sell an independent RF modulator for home computers & video games, saying Atari hadn't presented any new evidence. (TVDigest 11/26/79) (Atari would try again.)

    November/December?: Programmer Lane Winner, previously of Versatec, joined Atari (Consumer) as an applications programmer (personal computers). Winner would report to application programmers group manager Dale Yocum.

    November/December?: For the 400/800 Atari shipped: Basketball, Video Easel (previously: Life), Super Breakout, and the Talk and Teach Courseware cassettes: U.S. History, U.S. Government, Supervisory Skills, World History (Western), Basic Sociology, Counseling Procedures, Principles of Accounting, Physics, Great Classics, Business Communications, Basic Psychology, Effective Writing, Principles of Economics, Spelling, Basic Electricity, Basic Algebra

    December: Steve Bristow, previously Atari (Consumer) VP Engineering (personal computers), became Atari (Consumer) VP Engineering, assuming Consumer Game engineering from John Ellis who departed the company. Engineer Niles Strohl would be promoted to director of Consumer engineering, replacing Wade Tuma who departed the company. (Ellis and Tuma would together establish Compower Corp. on 5/19/80).

    December: "Atari is funneling large quantities of its 400 and 800 personal computers and software to Sears, Roebuck, while retail computer stores have been faced with late hardware deliveries and received very little, if any, software. Sears is offering the Atari 400, priced at $549, through its
    catalog [1979 Wish Book pages 654-655], and is spot-marketing the machine in its retail stores throughout California and the Chicago area. In addition,
    the firm is selling the Atari 800, priced at $999.99, in its California
    stores, but not through the catalog, a Sears spokesman said." Electronic
    News, December 10, 1979, p. 83.

    1980
    January 5-8: At the Winter CES in Las Vegas, for the 400/800
    ($549.99/$999.99), Atari introduced the 825 printer, 830 modem, and 850 interface, introduced 3-D Tic-Tac-Toe, Star Raiders, and Calculator, and again promised Music Composer, Assembler Editor (previously: Assembler Debug), and Personal Finance (previously: Home Finance; never shipped). Atari announced a license agreement to market 8 investment-application programs designed by Control Data Corp. from CDC's Cyberware library, including: bond yield, bond price and interest, bond switch, stock rate of return, stock dividend
    analysis, stock charting, mortgage analysis, portfolio analysis. (WSJ Jan8p37; TVDigest 1/14/80p13)

    January?: Atari shipped: Computer Chess, 3-D Tic-Tac-Toe, Star Raiders

    January: Conrad C. Jutson, formerly Texas Instruments marketing manager for personal computers, and consultant to Atari since November 1979, joined Atari (Consumer) as VP Sales & Marketing, Personal Computers, replacing Robert Hovee who departed the company. (TVDigest 1/21/80p14)

    January: Chris Crawford, previously an Atari (Consumer) game designer, transferred to the personal computer application programmers group (reporting to group manager Dale Yocum).

    January 21: Atari and Control Data announced an agreement whereby Atari computer systems could be repaired through the nationwide network of Control Data repair centers. Approximately 20 centers throughout the country were open; more were scheduled. (Dr. Dobb's Journal)

    Winter: Atari shipped the 810 disk drive with Master Diskette (DOS I developed by SMI), and shipped the 820 printer. ($449.95).

    Winter: William (Bill) Kaiser, previously of Xerox, joined Atari (Consumer) in finance.

    February 11: The Sears spring-summer catalog featured the Atari 400 at $549, and the Atari 800 at $999. (TVDigest 2/11/80p10)

    March?: Atari shipped Music Composer.

    March: Science Research Associates (SRA) and Atari announced that SRA would develop educational computer courseware in reading, language arts,
    mathematics, science, and social studies, intended for Atari personal
    computers used in the home; Atari would have the right to market this
    software. Additionally, SRA would have primary responsibility for the sale of Atari personal computers and services to the educational community (public and private, pre-school through university level).

    April 9: Atari's petition to the U.S. FCC to rescind the waiver of Class I TV rules granted to Texas Instruments was rejected by the commission. (TVDigest 4/7/80 p11; 4/14/80 p12)

    April?: Tandy Trower, previously of WICAT, joined Atari (Consumer) as an evaluator of 3rd party software titles (personal computers). He was hired by Atari (Consumer) Manager of Software Planning (personal computers) Peter Rosenthal.

    April 23: George Simcock remained Atari (Consumer) director of software development.

    Spring: For the 400/800 Atari had shipped: An Invitation to Programming 1
    (PDI; previously: Guide to BASIC Programming), Biorhythm, Hangman, Kingdom, Blackjack (6/1/80 price list)

    May 19-22: Atari featured the 400/800 personal computer systems at the 1980 National Computer Conference at the Anaheim Convention Center, Anaheim CA.
    Also at the show, Personal Software introduced the Atari 800 version (and the Commodore PET/CBM version) of VisiCalc by Software Arts. (The original Apple version had shipped Oct. 1979.)

    June 1: Atari increased suggested retail prices for the 400/800. The 400 personal computer system (still 8KiB RAM) was now $630 (previously: $549.99); the 800 personal computer system, now with 16KiB RAM (previously: 8KiB RAM), was now $1,080 (previously: $999.99/8KiB RAM). (TVDigest 6/2/80 p11 and price list)

    June 15-18: At the Summer CES in Chicago, for the 400/800 ($630/$1,080) Atari introduced: 815 dual disk drive with DOS 2.0D ($1499.95; never shipped), 822 printer ($449.95), and Light Pen (CX70; $74.95), and again promised the 825 printer ($999.95), 830 modem ($199.95), and 850 interface ($219.95). (CC Sep80p30; 6/1/80 price list) 400/800 software Atari announced or again promised (6/1/80 price list): Mortgage & Loan Analysis (Control Data), Bond Analysis (Control Data), Stock Analysis (Control Data), Stock Charting
    (Control Data), An Invitation to Programming 2: Writing Programs One and Two (PDI), An Invitation to Programming 3: Introduction to Sound and Graphics (PDI), Astrology (never shipped), Conversational French (EMI / Longman), Conversational German (EMI / Longman), Conversational Spanish (EMI / Longman), Mailing List, Touch Typing, Calculator, Graph It, Statistics I, Energy Czar, States & Capitals, European Countries & Capitals, TeleLink I (previously: Terminal Emulator), Space Invaders (title by Taito), Assembler Editor. Atari also previewed The Atari Accountant series (by BPI; would consist of: General Accounting System; Accounts Receivable System; Inventory Control System; each package in the series would require the 815 dual disk drive; series never shipped).

    Also, Atari had modified the 800 personal computer system package. The 800 would now ship with one CX853 16KiB RAM module installed (previously: one
    CX852 8KiB RAM module); the 410 program recorder and Educational System Master Cartridge were removed from the package; the BASIC Reference Manual was added to the package.

    Spring/Summer: Dennis Koble, previously Atari (Consumer) software manager, was promoted to director of software development, assuming the role of George Simcock who departed the company (retired).

    Months?: Jeff Burton joined Atari International as International Market Manager, and Nancy Garrison, previously of Revlon, joined Atari International as international marketing manager for computer software.

    Summer?: Atari (Consumer) game designer Carol Shaw departed the company.

    August 19: Shepardson Microsystems, Inc. (staff engineer Paul Laughton for
    SMI) completed the File Management System (FMS) for Atari DOS II.

    Summer/Fall: For the 400/800 Atari shipped: 822 printer, 825 printer, 830 modem, 850 interface, CX70 Light Pen, Assembler Editor (SMI), TeleLink I (original "small box" release with 1 hour of access to CompuServe), Space Invaders (original cassette release), States & Capitals, European Countries & Capitals, Mortgage & Loan Analysis, Energy Czar

    September: Roger H. Badertscher joined Atari to be president of the new Personal Computer Division, which would be spun off from the Consumer
    Division. Badertscher was previously VP and general manager of the microprocessor division of Signetics, an electronics semiconductor manufacturer, and he had developed the business plan for the new division. (InfoWorld 7/26/82p29 for date) Bruce W. Irvine, previously of Control Data, would join Atari (Personal Computer) as VP software. John R. Powers, III, previously of The Authorship Resource, Inc. (ARI; co-founded by Powers and Joe Miller; developers of software for the CyberVision home computer), would join Atari (Personal Computer) as director of software development. Engineer Larry Plummer, previously General Manager, Computer Products at Heath Company, would join Atari (Personal Computer) as director of engineering. Engineer Carl Goy would join Plummer in moving from Heath to Atari. Peter Rosenthal, previously Atari (Consumer) manager of software planning (personal computers), became Atari (Personal Computer) director of marketing (reporting to VP Sales & Marketing Conrad Jutson). Tandy Trower, previously Atari (Consumer) evaluator of 3rd party software titles (personal computers), was promoted to software marketing manager (replacing Rosenthal in the role). Keith E. Schaefer would join Atari (Personal Computer) as National Sales Manager (reporting to
    Jutson). Chris Bowman, previously director of media services at the Harvard University Graduate School of Education, would join Atari (Personal Computer) as national manager of educational sales, as Atari would take the sale of
    Atari personal computers and services to the educational community in-house (previously: outsourced to Science Research Associates (SRA)). Kevin
    McKinsey, previously Atari (Consumer) industrial designer, would be Atari (Personal Computer) manager of industrial design and graphics. Bill Kaiser, previously of Atari (Consumer), would be Atari (Personal Computer) director of finance. Brad Saville, previously Atari (Consumer) manufacturing manager (personal computers), would be Atari (Personal Computer) director of operations.

    September: The Atari (Consumer) Software Support Group began offering
    telephone Customer Software Support for Atari 400/800 users. (AtariConnection v1n1p24)

    September 15-December 31: Atari-sponsored dealer promotion: Free 410 plus Educational System Master Cartridge and choice of one Talk & Teach series
    title with purchase of 400 computer. Or, free CX852 8KiB RAM module with purchase of 800 computer (which shipped with one CX853 16KiB RAM module installed).

    September 16-18: Wescon/80, Anaheim CA, featured speakers including Peter N. Rosenthal, Atari (Personal Computer) director of marketing.

    Fall: Brenda K. Laurel, previously Manager, Educational Product Design at The Authorship Resource, Inc. (ARI), joined Atari (Personal Computer) as a
    software product manager (initially: educational applications). Robert A. Kahn, previously an educational computer applications consultant (and prior to that, director of the Computer Education Project at the University of California, Berkeley), joined Atari (Personal Computer) as a software product manager (Atari PILOT).

    December: At Atari (Personal Computer), Applications group programmer Chris Crawford (having completed Energy Czar and SCRAM) was promoted to supervisor
    of the Software Development Support Group.

    Atari reportedly lost $10 million on sales of computer equipment of $13
    million in 1980 (InfoWorld 9/14/1981)

    Atari had sold 35,000 400/800 computers through 1980. (source?)

    1981
    January 6: Warner Amex Cable Communications, Atari, and CompuServe jointly announced the availability of the CompuServe information service to Columbus
    OH subscribers of the Warner Amex QUBE two-way interactive cable television system. An Atari 800 personal computer was lent to the subscriber as part of the service.

    January 8-11: At the Winter CES in Las Vegas Atari announced that the 400
    would now ship in two versions: original 8KiB RAM version at the new list
    price of $499.95 (previously: $630), or new 16KiB RAM version for $630. For
    the 400/800 Atari introduced: Asteroids, Missile Command, SCRAM (A Nuclear Power Plant Simulation), Atari PILOT, Conversational Spanish, Atari
    Accountant: General Accounting System (BPI; with Business Manager's Companion Guide by Arthur Young & Company; package never shipped), Atari Accountant: Accounts Receivable System (BPI; never shipped), Atari Accountant: Inventory Control System (BPI; never shipped), Atari Word Processor. Also announced: Personal Fitness Program (ultimately released via APX), Personal Financial Management System (replacement for the canceled Personal Finance). Again promised: An Invitation to Programming 2, An Invitation to Programming 3, Astrology (never shipped), Conversational French, Conversational German. (CC Mar81p54; Analog#1; 1981 Software Catalog)

    January: Atari (Personal Computer) marketing established a Users' Group
    Support Program; Earl Rice would be Marketing Manager, Users' Group Support Program.

    January/February: First issue of A.N.A.L.O.G. 400/800 Magazine, published by Lee Pappas and Mike DesChenes. 4000 copies printed.

    Winter: Atari shipped: Bond Analysis, Stock Analysis, Stock Charting, Mailing List, Touch Typing, Graph It, Statistics I (Analog#2p47)

    Winter: Atari (Personal Computer) operations moved to a new division headquarters at 1196 Borregas Ave., Sunnyvale CA (located in the Moffett Park industrial park).

    February 2: Atari had announced that Conrad Jutson, previously Atari (Personal Computer) VP Sales & Marketing, was promoted to (corporate) VP market planning (consumer and computer products). (TVDigest) Atari announced that Rigdon Currie, previously of Xerox subsidiary Diablo, had joined the company as VP marketing for the Computer Division (Compute!#11p166; TVDigest) (replacing Jutson in the role). Peter Rosenthal, previously Atari (Personal Computer) director of marketing (reporting to Jutson), would become Atari (Computer) director of business planning and development (new position).

    February: J. Fred Thorlin joined Atari (Computer) as director of software product acquisition (new position, reporting to VP software Bruce Irvine).
    One charge for Thorlin would be to direct the transformation of an internal software development tools exchange program that had been established by applications software supervisor Dale Yocum into a public-facing program
    (Atari Program Exchange).

    February: Andrew Soderberg, previously a partner at a computer retailer called Computer Connection, joined Atari (Computer) as an assistant product manager. He had been hired by, and would report to, software marketing manager Tandy Trower.

    February?: Paul Laughton, previously Shepardson Microsystems, Inc. (SMI) staff engineer, joined Atari (Computer) as a systems software programmer (hired by manager of systems software Brian Johnston).

    February 25: The source code to Atari BASIC (including Atari OS Floating Point Package (FPP)), the FMS component of Atari DOS 2.0S (DOS.SYS), and the Atari Assembler Editor were purchased from Shepardson Microsystems, Inc. (SMI) by Optimized Systems Software (OSS), headed by former SMI employees Bill
    Wilkinson and Mike Peters.

    March: Jim Tittsler, previously Director of Software Development at International Remote Imaging Systems (and before that a Software Engineer at Heath Zenith (Heathkit)), joined Atari (Computer).

    March?: Atari VP research and development Al Alcorn departed the company. (Alcorn would establish Cumma Research, Inc. on 2/2/83.)

    March 16: Gene B. Rosen had joined Atari as VP of engineering for the Atari Computer Division. (ComputerWorld 3/16/81p74) Larry Plummer remained Atari (Computer) director of engineering, now reporting to Rosen.

    April 2-30: Atari-sponsored dealer promotion: Free $100 subscription to The Source with purchase of Atari Communicator System: choice of 400 or 800 computer with 850, 830, and TeleLink I.

    April 3-5: At the 6th West Coast Computer Faire, San Francisco Civic
    Auditorium and Brooks Hall, Atari (Computer) announced the Atari Software Acquisition Program (ASAP), which would involve the creation of ASAP regional centers where qualified developers could work with Atari equipment and receive technical assistance (the first ASAP center was expected to open in the Sunnyvale CA area in mid-May), and Atari Program Exchange (APX), a free quarterly mail-order catalog of user-written software (first/Summer Edition
    due for publication June 1). Programs accepted for the APX catalog would qualify for $100,000 in prizes to be awarded over the coming year, including a grand prize of $25,000 cash. Bruce W. Irvine was Atari (Computer) VP
    software. (see Compute! #12 5/81 p150) The event also featured Atari's
    "first annual" invitational hospitality suite for Atari computer users' group officers and their guests. About 20 persons attended, on behalf of about 30 total groups registered with Atari Users' Group Support.

    Fred Thorlin remained Atari (Computer) director of software product
    acquisition (reporting to Irvine). Dale Yocum, previously Atari (Computer) applications software supervisor, would be APX manager (reporting to Thorlin). Ken Balthaser, previously of the Atari (Consumer) Advanced Technology Group (and prior to that, programmer at The Authorship Resource, Inc. (ARI)), would

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