• Atari 8-Bit Computers: Frequently Asked Questions (27/28)

    From Michael Current@21:1/5 to Marc G. Frank on Sun Oct 21 18:01:34 2018
    [continued from previous message]

    would not ship until late December, after the Christmas selling season, and then only in limited quantities. (WSJ 10/24/1983 p.5)

    October 21-23: TariCon '83, "the world's first Atari-only computer
    convention," was scheduled by MACE, Michigan Atari Computer Enthusiasts, at
    the Southfield Civic Center Pavillion, Southfield, Michigan. The even did not come together as planned, but TariCon '84 was successfully held August 1984.

    October 24: Report that plans at Atari to introduced a new computer model, the Atari 1600, had recently been canceled by Atari CEO James Morgan. (WSJ 10/24/1983 p.5)

    October/November: Atari shipped the 600XL NTSC version for North America (US$199) (The Globe and Mail (Canada) 12/23/83), 600XL UK version (159.99 pounds) (Page 6 #7 p6), and 600XL PAL version for Europe (except France).

    November 2: Report that Atari announced that because of production snags in Hong Kong (Atari-Wong and contract manufacturer Chelco Sound), it would be
    able to fill only 60 per cent of its Christmas orders for the 600XL and the 800XL. Atari also reiterated that it would ship the 1400XL and the 1450XLD in limited quantities in late December and more widely after the first of the year. (WSJ 11/2/1983 p.2)

    November 4: Premier of the Warner Bros. film, Deal of the Century, which included a fighter plane cockpit monitor where the display was driven by a
    real (off-screen) Atari 800, software by Atari's Los Angeles Lab (Corporate Research Division L.A. Lab).

    November 9: Atari said it would raise the prices of its home computers and video game consoles by between 17 percent and 29 percent, effective Jan. 1, 1984. The increases would raise the dealer price on the 600XL to $180, from $140. The dealer price of the 800XL would rise to $280, from $240. Atari
    also said it would raise prices of its 1027 printer and 1050 disk drive by about $15 each.

    November: John Peeke-Vout, previously Atari Products Co. director of external software development (computers), would be promoted to VP software marketing (computers), replacing Steve Arnold who departed the company. (Arnold would join the Lucasfilm Computer Division Games Group as general manager in January 1984).

    November 19: Atari opened their third "Adventure" location, the first Atari Adventure family entertainment center at the Northwest Plaza shopping center located in St. Ann MO (suburban St. Louis MO). The 8,000 square foot location was planned as the corporate prototype for a nationwide roll-out of 12-15 facilities. Store design by Bill Poon & Company Architects. The location combined a traditional video game arcade (65 games), a new video game technology display area, and a Computer Learning Center: a hands-on public computer classroom/lab featuring 8 Atari 1200XL computer stations and a full- time instructor. Barry Sullivan was VP of Atari Adventure (having replaced
    the departed Jim Ginsberg). (CCv7n11)

    November 22: John J. Cardozo had become Acting Manager, Product Review, APX, replacing Jack Perron who departed the company.

    November/December?: Dorothy K. Deringer, previously a program officer at the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF), joined Atari Learning Systems as VP product development. Deringer was hired by Atari Products Co. SVP Education Linda Gordon.

    November/December?: Peter R. Ateshian was promoted to Atari Manager of VLSI Development, replacing Rich Pasco who departed the company.

    November/December?: Joe Miller became Atari Products Co. manager, operating systems software, replacing Scott Scheiman who departed the company.

    December 13: In an open letter posted to the Atari SIG on CompuServe,
    addressed to Atari users from Atari Chairman and CEO Jim Morgan, Morgan described the Atari he had inherited as being "in way over its head with a computer product line as inclusive as the 600XL, 800XL, 1400XL, 1450XLD, and 1600." Morgan announced the formation of "a group led by Ted Hoff and Alan
    Kay which is chartered to define our next generation of computers...In the meantime, we will have to keep our product line rather restricted to broadly saleable products." (M.A.C.E. Journal v4n2/3 Feb/Mar 1984 p.2; see also CC May84p193)

    December: Atari shipped initial small quantities of the 800XL NTSC version for North America (US$299) (see newspaper ads and Current Notes Jan84p6 for timing). (800XL production would ramp up dramatically in Winter 1984.)

    December 20: Ken Wirt remained Atari Products Co. VP marketing (home computers).

    "Atari sold about 400,000 units [computers] in December." - Creative
    Strategies International as quoted in InfoWorld, Feb 6, 1984.

    "Atari sold roughly 250,000 of its 800 series computers last year"
    - Time magazine, July 16, 1984

    1984
    January 1: In the U.S., the suggested retail price for the Atari 600XL became $249 (previously: $199); the suggested retail price for the Atari 800XL became $399 (previously: $299).

    January 7-10: At the Winter CES in Las Vegas Atari again promised the 1450XLD home computer, and introduced the 1064 memory module for the 600XL. For the 600XL ($249), 800XL ($399) and 1450XLD, Atari again promised the Touch Tablet (CX77), Light Pen (CX75) with AtariGraphics, Remote Control Wireless Joysticks (CX42), the AtariWriter System kit (previously: Writing System), the Programming System kit, The BASIC Tutor I kit, TeleLink II, AtariMusic I, AtariMusic II, RealSports Tennis, RealSports Football, Pole Position, Joust, Ms. Pac-Man, Pengo, and Donkey Kong Junior; Atari introduced The Atari Translator, Captain Hook's Revenge (previously: Peter Pan's Daring Journey or Peter Pan's Daring Escape; by Roklan for Walt Disney Productions; never shipped), Typo Attack (previously released by APX), Mario Bros. (title by Nintendo; would be shipped by Atari Corporation in 1988), Moon Patrol (title
    by Williams Electronics; would be shipped by Atari, Corp.), Jungle Hunt (title by Taito), Robotron: 2084 (title by Williams), and Millipede (would be shipped by Atari, Corp.); and Atari announced Crystal Castles (prototype box: "Crystal Castle"; would be shipped by Atari Corporation in 1988), Pop'R Spell (never shipped), Sky Writer, The Mysteries of Wonderland (Walt Disney Productions; never shipped), SynCalc (previously introduced by Synapse), SynFile+ (previously introduced by Synapse), SynTrend (consisting of SynGraph and SynStat; previously introduced by Synapse), The Legacy (Atari Advanced Games Group; later: Final Legacy; would be shipped by Atari, Corp.). The Bookkeeper kit was to be renamed The Accountant effective 4/1/84. Finally, Atari announced the release of DOS 3 (previously: DOS III), available for free, and also to ship with new production 1050 disk drives. (1/1/84 price list; Analog #17 p13)

    Also for Atari home computers, the new Atari Learning Systems division featured/again promised the AtariLab Starter Set with Temperature Module ("ready to ship now") and the Atari Lab Light Module, and also introduced: Atari Pascal 2.0 (never shipped), Atari Super PILOT (never shipped), Player Maker, Screen Maker

    January 14: At San Francisco's St. Francis Hotel, Atari awarded the third annual Atari Star Award and US$25,000 to Mark Reid for his APX title,
    Getaway!. Other Finalists: James Burton, R. Stanley Kistler, Gregor Novak. Fred Simon remained Atari Products Co. SVP of computer hardware and software marketing.

    January: Atari shipped: Joust (VGU 1/84)

    January: Atari opened their fourth "Adventure" location, the second Atari Adventure family entertainment center, at Crestwood Plaza in Crestwood MO (suburban St. Louis MO). A 2-story location, using the same concept as the area's Northwest Plaza Atari Adventure location.

    January: John Farrand, previously Atari president and Atari Products Co. SVP engineering, became Atari president and Atari Products Co. president and COO. David Stubben, previously Atari Products Co. VP engineering Computer Division (reporting to SVP engineering Farrand), was promoted to SVP engineering (reporting to EVP operations/product engineering Paul Malloy). Steve Bristow, previously Atari VP engineering AtariTel Division, became Atari Products Co.
    VP Engineering Computer Division (replacing the promoted Stubben in the role). Ted Hoff, previously Atari VP research and development, became Atari Products Co. EVP R&D/product development (reporting to Atari Products Co. president
    John Farrand), and would establish the Atari Advanced Computer Technologies Design Center.

    January: Atari recognized three of the highest ranking technical positions in the company with the new additional title of "Atari Fellow": Atari VP/chief scientist Alan Kay, Atari Products Co. VP Engineering Computer Division Steve Bristow, and Atari (Coin-Op) VP of creative development Lyle Rains.

    Winter: APX Catalog introduced: Equestrian, Mastermatch, Atspeller for AtariWriter, Bellum, Burgers!, Chambers of Zorp, Character Fun, Dragon Quest
    or A Twist in the Tail, Numberland Nightwatch, Raid on Graviton, Rush Hour, Weakon, National Flags, Dog Daze Deluxe

    Winter: Atari shipped the Touch Tablet (CX77; with AtariArtist), Tennis, Pole Position, Ms. Pac-Man (see 1/1/84 price list)

    Winter?: Mark Cator was promoted to Atari Manager, Users' Group Support (replacing Earl Rice in the role; Rice would remain with customer support).

    Winter: Atari Products Co. VP marketing (home computers) Ken Wirt departed the company (to Cognitive Systems). Wirt's role would be absorbed by SVP computer hardware and software marketing Fred Simon.

    Winter: At Atari Products Co., Thea Cain was promoted to XL computer line product manager, replacing Don Thorson who departed the company (to Apple Computer).

    February 7: Atari had re-launched 1450XLD development; Phil Suen was project manager. (http://TinyURL.com/y8zep9e7)

    February: Atari shipped Football. (VGU 3/84)

    February: Atari Products Co. manager, operating systems software Joe Miller departed the company (to Koala technologies).

    February: Atari Products Co. SVP engineering Dave Stubben would assume direct responsibility for computer division product engineering, and would receive an Atari Fellow recognition, replacing VP engineering Computer division and Atari Fellow Steve Bristow who departed the company (to Technicom Advanced Design Center). (Fun p792 for Stubben business card)

    February 16: Phil Suen was 1450XLD project manager; Thea Cain was product manager. (http://TinyURL.com/y8zep9e7)

    March 11-18: At the Festival International du Son et de l'Image, held at the CNIT (Center of New Industries and Technologies) in La Defense in Paris, France, P.E.C.F. Atari launched the 600XL and 800XL in France. PAL versions were available immediately (2 200 F / 3 200 F); 600XL SECAM version (2 500 F; never shipped) and 800XL SECAM version (3 500 F; would be shipped by Atari, Corp. 11/84) were due to ship in June 1984. (L'Atarien #2; L'Ordinateur Individuel #58 Apr84 p81; L'Atarien #4 p18 for prices)

    March?: Atari shipped the 800XL UK version (249.99 pounds) and 800XL PAL version for Europe.

    March: For Atari home computers Atari released: Donkey Kong Junior, Pengo (VGU 4/84)

    March: APX director Fred Thorlin departed the company. Thorlin's role would
    be assumed by VP software marketing John Peeke-Vout.

    March 22-25: At the 9th West Coast Computer Faire, San Francisco Civic Auditorium and Brooks Hall, Atari showed/again promised the light pen, the Plato System cartridge, and many games. Atari introduced APX Bumpomov's Dogs, while confirming that APX was being discontinued, with the top 20 APX titles
    to be absorbed into the "main line" of products. A new, final production run of 15,000 850 interfaces had just been manufactured. Atari again promised the 1450XL (previously known as: 1450XLD); Thea Cain was 1450XL product manager. Dave Wilson remained Atari's director of customer relations; Earl Rice and
    Bill Bartlett remained with customer support.

    March 31: James Morgan, CEO of Atari, said shipments of his company's home computers in the first three months of this year were 35 per cent lower than
    in the first quarter of 1983. (The Globe and Mail (Canada) 6/1/84)

    April 2: Internally, Atari Products Co. EVP Ted Hoff announced the promotion
    of Jan Dekema to manager, Research Administration (assistant to Hoff in the administration of the entire Atari R&D and Product Development organization) (Dekema was previously administrative manager for the Atari Sunnyvale Research Laboratory, and would also retain that role). Hoff also announced the promotion of Chris Jeffers (previously: manager of administration for
    Corporate Research) to VP Product Development, also reporting directly to Hoff (Update), replacing director of advanced engineering (new product development) Donald Teiser who departed the company.

    April 2: Programmer Michael Barall joined Atari (hired to develop DOS IV).

    April 5: John Peeke-Vout was Atari Products Co. VP computer software
    marketing. (https://archive.org/details/APX_Programmer_Correspondence)

    April: Atari National Educational Sales Manager and director of the Atari Institute for Education Research Alfred Moye had departed the company (to Hewlett-Packard).

    Spring: I/O Issue Five turned out to be the final issue of Input/Output, the magazine of the Atari Home Computer Club (Atari International (U.K.)).

    Spring: Atari shipped: CX75 Light Pen with AtariGraphics, Sky Writer,
    AtariLab Starter Set with Temperature Module, SynCalc, SynFile+, SynTrend

    May 1: "Hearing on Computer Education" held before the Subcommittee on Elementary, Secondary, and Vocational Education of the Committee on Education and Labor, U.S. House of Representatives, included testimony by Atari Learning Systems VP product development Dorothy Deringer.

    May 8: At the Lucasfilm Ranch in Marin County California, Lucasfilm Ltd. and Atari Inc. introduced Ballblazer and Rescue on Fractalus!, both developed by the Lucasfilm Computer Division Games Group (Peter Langston was Games Group Leader, David Levine was Ballblazer project leader, David Fox was Rescue on Fractalus! project leader), to be published by Atari and marketed under the
    new Atari/Lucasfilm logo on cartridge for Atari home computers (summer). (PR)

    May 14-19: At the special SICOB show held at CNIT in France, Atari featured
    the 600XL/800XL product line. (L'Atarien #4 p21)

    May: Atari Products Co. manager, Applications Software and Telecommunications Products Group Sherwin Gooch departed the company.

    May 30: Atari confirmed plans to withdraw from its joint venture with Wong's Electronics Co. and close the Atari-Wong Co. consumer products manufacturing plant in Hong Kong. Production was to be moved to Atari's wholly owned plant in Taiwan.

    June 3-6: At the Summer CES in Chicago Atari introduced the MindLink System; packages would include: headband, two infrared sensors, and a software
    package. 3 initial software packages for the unit were planned: an adventure game, a new version of Breakout, and a relaxation biofeedback program.

    For the 800XL Atari introduced/featured: Ballblazer, Rescue on Fractalus!, Mario Bros., Millipede, Jr. Pac-Man (title by Bally-Midway; never shipped), Crystal Castles, Donkey Kong Junior, Elevator Action (title by Taito; never shipped), Garfield on the Run (Atari Advanced Games Group; never shipped), Track & Field (with Arcade Controller; title by Konami; would be shipped by Atari, Corp.), Final Legacy (previously: Legacy), This Is Ground Control (Futuremakers series; never shipped), Through the Star Bridge (Futuremakers series; never shipped), Word Tutor (never shipped), Letter Tutor (never shipped), Sky Writer, SynCalc, SynFile+, SynTrend, AtariWriter, Proofreader (previously released via APX as: Atspeller for AtariWriter; would be shipped
    by Atari, Corp. in 1986). Hardware featured: Touch Tablet with AtariArtist, Light Pen with AtariGraphics, 1050 disk drive with DOS 3. Also
    announced/again promised: Captain Hook's Revenge, Pole Position II (title by Namco; never shipped), Moon Patrol, Hobgoblin (Atari Advanced Games Group; never shipped), Gremlins (never shipped), The Last Starfighter (never shipped)

    Atari Learning Systems published a New Products Bulletin, and introduced: Find It! (never shipped), Green Globs (never shipped), Yaacov Agam's Interactive Painting (never shipped), First Aid... The ABC of CPR (never shipped), Simulated Computer II (never shipped), Telly Turtle (never shipped), Wheeler Dealer (never shipped), LabMate Home Edition Ages 9-13 (book for AtariLab Starter Set; never shipped), LabMate Home Edition Ages 14-15 (book for
    AtariLab Starter Set; never shipped), LabMate School Edition Elementary (books for AtariLab Starter Set; never shipped), LabMate School Edition Jr. High (books for AtariLab Starter Set; never shipped), LabMate School Edition High School (books for AtariLab Starter Set; never shipped), The Learning Phone (previously: Atari PLATO; would be shipped by Atari, Corp. in 1986), Escape ("interpreting graphs the fun way"; never shipped). Also featured: Atari
    Logo.

    The 600XL computer (NTSC) had been officially discontinued. (VGU 7/84 p61)

    Atari announced they had "begun developing ties with independent firms to create software for a new high-end computer for introduction in the second
    half of 1984." ("1650XLD" project; never shipped) The new machine was to include "a built-in, double-sided, dual-density disk drive that stores 352 kilobytes of RAM....(that) operates fives times faster than a disk drive previously planned in a computer announced a year ago" (1450XLD). It was to include a built-in telecommunications database called Grapevine in support of
    a built-in 300 bps modem; an enhanced speech synthesis chip, and 64K RAM. The 1090 XL Expansion system, with 64K RAM built in and available 80 column card, RS232 serial card, and OS cards for CP/M, Apple, and IBM limited
    compatibility, was discussed as well. Thea Cain, formerly 1450XL product manager, had departed the company.

    Month?: Exidy released the Max-A-Flex coin-operated arcade conversion system, along with four games for the system, all developed by First Star Software: Astro Chase, Boulder Dash, Bristles, Flip and Flop. The Exidy Max-A-Flex utilized an embedded Atari 600XL system. (MyAtari Magazine, January 2003.)

    July 1-August 25: Third and final year of Atari Computer Camps. Camps were scheduled and held at 2 locations: "Camp Atari--New England" at the Stoneleigh-Burnham School in Greenfield MA, and "Camp Atari--Poconos" at East Stroudsburg State College in PA.

    July 2: Warner Communications Inc. and Tramel Technology, Ltd. (statement by chairman Jack Tramiel) jointly announced the acquisition by Tramel Technology of the Atari, Inc. home video game and computer businesses.

    The transaction included an inventory of 100,000 XL computers. (Current Notes Sept84p10)

    July 5-6: Tramel Technology hired approximately 300 of the existing Atari,
    Inc. domestic consumer and home computer division employees. (InfoWorld July 30) Among key marketing and advertising executives, one of the two holdovers was expected to be Bryan Kerr (previously: group product manager (computers)
    at Atari, Inc.). (AdWeek, July 9, 1984, with corrections by mc) John Skruch, previously Atari, Inc. Operations Manager, Atarisoft Product Line, would also be a software product manager. Engineers and technicians included Jim Tittsler, Lane Winner, and Jose Valdes, plus: Phil Suen (XL line engineering director), Vincent H. Wu (XL hardware project management), George Nishiura, Mike Barall, David Owen Sovey, Peter R. Atesian, John Hinman, George Kulcher, John Honig, Michael Wooding, Songly Mu, Randy Hoopai, Gary Rubio.

    July 11: Tramel Technology, Ltd. filed a Certificate of Amendment to its Articles of Incorporation changing the corporate name to: Atari, Corp.

    July 23: Business week reported, "In just two weeks [Tramiel] has fired 700 people at Atari's Sunnyvale offices and has axed several of Atari's current products, including the 7800 video game system and the $150 600XL home computer."

    July/August?: In the UK Atari shipped: The Pay-Off

    August 3: Atari engineers had commenced work on both an "800XL CR" (cost- reduced primarily via fewer custom chips, using new KERI and MUFFY chip) and a new "900XL" computer as well as a 3.5" Microdisk Drive for Atari XL computers.

    August 7: Tandon Corp. announced it had reached agreement in principle for the sale of up to $130.5 million in floppy disk drive and subsystem products to Atari Corp. Deliveries, which were subject to definitive purchase orders from Atari, had begun and were scheduled to continue through the first half of calendar 1985.

    August 25-26: TariCon '84, the first Atari-only computer fair, was held at Southfield Civic Centre near Detroit Michigan. Sponsored and organized by two User Groups - CHAOS (Ike Hudson of the Capitol Hill Atari Owners Society) and MACE (Mike Lechkun of the Michigan Atari Computer Enthusiasts). About 1800 attended. (Atari did not attend.)

    August 27: Atari, Corp. stated, "Atari plans to manufacture and supply the Atari 800XL family computer, satisfying the overwhelming and increased demand for that product with aggressive, competitive pricing through the end of
    1984." Atari said that it had already lowered the wholesale price for the 800XL (without providing specifics).

    Summer/Fall?: The Atari Adventure at the Northwest Plaza in St. Ann MO was closed.

    September 1: The new US retail price for the 800XL was $179. (AP 11/13; WashPost 11/13)

    September 1: In the UK, Atari cut all prices, including the 600XL by 60
    pounds, from 159.99 pounds to 99.99 pounds, and the 800XL by 50 pounds, from 249.99 pounds to 199.99 pounds. (PopularComputingWeekly 8/16; TheTimes
    8/21p17; The Guardian (London) 9/6) In France, Atari would reduce the 800XL
    by 1000 F to 2199 F.

    September 6: UK Media report that Atari 600XL (PAL/UK) was discontinued. (PopularComputingWeekly 9/6)

    September: Atari engineers completed the "800XLF" motherboard design, to be used in new-production 800XL computers (PAL version). The new 800XL machines would include the new FREDDIE memory management chip (previously developed at Atari, Inc.), the new Revision C of Atari BASIC, and a reinstated chrominance video signal on the Monitor port (missing on the 1200XL/600XL/800XL produced
    by Atari, Inc.). ("800XLF" = "800XL CR" without KERI and MUFFY chips) http://ataricomputers.altervista.org/Foto/800XL_AT84224114_05_FULL.jpg

    September 25: Rather than halt production of Atari's 800XL home computer and its 2600 video-game player, as many had expected, Atari has significantly expanded production of the two products, Sam Tramiel said (interviewed in Taipei by the Dow Jones Service). "In January, Atari will introduce a second low-priced computer that will run games and software made for the predecessor product." (The Globe and Mail (Canada))

    October 9: Date of Atari internal draft specification document for a "900XLA" computer (would be announced as: 65XEM). The document contrasted the
    "900XLA" with the forthcoming "900XL" computer (would be introduced as: 65XE).

    October: In the new AtariSoft software management/development division, John Skruch was software product manager, 8-bit computers.

    October 26: In the UK Atari now offered the 800XL for 169 pounds.
    (TheTimes 10/26p9)

    November 1: In Canada, Irwin Toy ended its role as exclusive distributor of Atari computers, having been supplanted in the role by the newly-established Atari (Canada) Corp. The price of the 800XL was being cut to below $200 (previously: $400; the 600XL was to be priced at under $100 (previously: $250- $300). (Winnipeg Free Press November 16, 1984)

    November 13: Atari held a press conference proclaiming "The New Atari Corp."
    at company headquarters in Sunnyvale, CA. The company currently offered the 800XL computer, price now reduced from $179 to $119. Two new 8-bit computers, compatible with the 800XL, were to be introduced at the January 1985 CES.

    November: In France, P.E.C.F. Atari shipped the 800XL SECAM version (2 499 F). Also remaining available: 800XL PAL version (2 199 F), 600XL PAL version
    (1 599). (L'Atarien #5 p19; L'Atarien #7 p33 for date)

    November 19: In the U.S., Atari had launched a print campaign in major market newspapers to support holiday price cuts on the 800XL. Full-page ads carried the theme, "The powerful personal computer so affordable even Scrooge would have given it." (AdWeek 11/19/84)

    November/December: Ongoing production of the Atari 1050 disk drive was shifted from Atari-PCI Enterprises Pte. Ltd. in Singapore to Atari-Wong Co. in Hong Kong. (AWC had been inactive since June 1984.)

    December 6: Atari had held an early December press conference in Frankfurt, West Germany proclaiming "The New Atari Corp." to the UK and Europe. Atari announced the price of its 800XL home computer in West Germany was reduced
    from DM 648 to DM 499, with similar cuts in the UK (from 169 pounds to 129 pounds) and across Europe. The new Atari product line was to include four 8- bit models: a 65XE (to be equivalent to the 800XL which would be discontinued; the 600XL would also be discontinued), a 128K version of the 65XE (would ship as: 130XE), a "strong music" version of the 65XE (would be announced as:
    65XEM; never shipped), a version of the 65XE with built-in floppy disk drive and monitor (would be introduced as: 65XEP; never shipped).

    December 8: Atari participated in the Children's Holiday Celebration, a fund raising event for the Scholarship Fund of the Children's Health Council (CHC). Atari loaned 24 800XL computers to the event's coordinators. The systems were then rented to participants, proceeds to the Scholarship Fund. Two of the 800XLs and 1,000 T-shirts were donated by Atari to the organization.

    December: Atari engineers completed the prototype "900XLF" motherboard design, to be used in the forthcoming "900XL" computer. (would be introduced as: 65XE)

    "The 800XL has sold almost 500,000 units through 1984" --Atari's Sigmund Hartmann, Atari Explorer magazine, Summer 1985, p. 33.

    "By the end of 1984, the Atari 800XL will have sold more than 600,000 units since its introduction more than a year ago, according to Kenneth Lim of Dataquest, a market research firm in San Jose." InfoWorld January 7/14, 1985

    1985
    January 5-8: At the Winter CES in Las Vegas Atari introduced the 130XE
    computer ($149), the 65XE computer ($99), and the 65XEP computer ($399; never shipped), and announced the 65XEM computer ($149; never shipped). Atari previewed/announced: XC1411 monitor (never shipped), XM128 monitor (never shipped), XF521 5.25" disk drive (130KiB; never shipped) with DOS 2.5, XTM201 printer (never shipped), XTC201 printer (never shipped), XMM801 printer,
    XDM121 printer, XM301 modem. The 130XE/65XE/65XEP/65XEM would run the Atari
    OS as found in the Atari 800XL which would now be phased out. New software by Atari would include: Infinity (by Matrix Software; never shipped), Silent Butler (by Atari/Silent Butler Software), Shopkeeper (never shipped), AtariWriter Plus, Song Painter (by Atari/Carousel Software; would ship as: Music Painter), Atari Tutorial (never shipped), and several titles previously introduced by Atari, Inc.: The Learning Phone (access software for the PLATO Homelink Service), Proofreader, Crystal Castles, Mario Bros. Also featured: AtariLab Light Module, Sky Writer, Millipede, Moon Patrol, Track & Field,
    Final Legacy

    Winter: In France, P.E.C.F. Atari released La Chasse aux Fautes et La Course aux Hapax, and released Calcul Algebrique.

    February 1: In the US, the suggested retail price for the Atari 800XL was reduced to $99 (previously: $119). (WSJ 2/19/95)

    February?: With the conclusion of a production run of the Atari 1050 disk drive, the Atari-Wong Co. (AWC) joint manufacturing venture with Wong's Electronics Co., Limited in Hong Kong was discontinued.

    February: Retail prices from Atari France: 800XL SECAM: 1700 FRF ;
    1050: 2600 FRF ; 1027: 2600 FRF

    March 5: At the San Leandro Computer Club, Atari pledged the XE would ship in April. Regarding the 65XEP, Atari had "postponed plans to produce an 8-bit portable computer, due to lack of interest." Regarding the 65XEM, "plans for an XEM 8-bit music computer have been postponed indefinitely due to problems with finalizing the AMY sound chip." (CN, Apr85, p. 19; SPACE Apr85)

    March 30: At the first meeting of the Atari Worldwide User Network (WUN), held at the office of Antic magazine in San Francisco, Atari announced that the 130XE had just shipped in the U.S. ($149), the 65XE was currently being
    shipped in Canada, and that DOS 2.5 (OSS) was now shipping with 1050 disk drives (replacing DOS 3) and would be also be distributed as freeware.

    March 30-April 2: At the 10th West Coast Computer Faire at the Moscone Convention Center in San Francisco, The San Leandro Computer Club (SLCC) and the Atari Bay Area User's Computer Society (ABACUS) both displayed 130XE units supplied by Atari, their first showing to the general public.

    April: Atari introduced the 130XE to West Germany and featured the 800XL at
    the Hannover Messe (Hanover Trade Fair), and also featured the XMM801 and XDM121 printers. (PopularComputingWeelky 4/25)

    April: Atari released DOS 2.5 as freeware via the CompuServe Atari SIG.

    April: Atari discontinued production of the 800XL computer.

    April 22: Atari shipped the 130XE in the UK (169.90 pounds). (NewsBytes for date; PopularComputingWeekly 4/25 for price)

    Spring: Atari shipped Track & Field (with Arcade Controller), AtariLab Light Module, Millipede, Moon Patrol, and Final Legacy, and in the UK and Europe Atari shipped the 1029 printer.

    Spring: Atari announced (all never shipped): CodeWriter, AdventureWriter, FileWriter, MenuWriter, ReportWriter, Small Business Inventory,
    Home Integrator, Retail Invoice, Accounts Receivable / Payable,
    Salesman's Expenses, Star Voyager (AE Sum85 p41)

    Spring: In France, using the Atarisoft label, Atari released: Nostradamus, L'Enigme du Triangle

    May 6-9: At the Spring COMDEX show at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta GA, Atari said the 800XL and 130XE were available for mass retailers and that they expected the 800XL to sell widely through toy retailers for Christmas 1985.

    May: First issue of the U.K.'s Atari User magazine, published by Database Publications.

    June 2-5: At the Summer CES in Chicago, Atari featured the XM301 modem, introduced The Professional (VIP Software; never shipped), GEM Desktop (VIP Software; never shipped), and Home Astronomer (by Atari/Deltron; would ship
    as: Atari Planetarium), and featured AtariWriter Plus and Silent Butler.

    June: Atari France retail price for the 130XE SECAM: 1990 FRF

    Months?: In the UK, using the Atarisoft label, the Atari Software Products Division released on diskette: Software Pack (The Home Filing Manager + The Pay-Off / Paint), and re-released on cassette: The Lone Raider, Chess, Eastern Front (1941), European Countries and Capitals, An Invitation to Programming

    July 11/17: Atari's XE computer range included the 130XE, available in the UK, Europe, and North America, and the 65XE, available in Canada. (PopularComputingWeekly p5)

    Summer: In France, using the Atarisoft label, Atari released: Cameleon, Promoteur

    September 4: Atari introduced the 130XE to the UK at the Personal Computer World (PCW) show in London.

    October?: A new production run of the Atari 1050 disk drive commenced in Singapore by Atari-PCI Enterprises Pte. Ltd. (This instead of Atari producing the announced XF521.)

    November: Atari shipped AtariWriter Plus, which was designed and programmed from scratch by William Robinson (the core word processor), Ron Rosen (Mail Merge module), and R. Stanley Kistler (Proofreader module) for Micro Fantasy, for Atari. Manual by Jeffrey D. Bass. Package included a version for 48KiB/64KiB Atari computers as well as a version supporting the 128KiB RAM of the 130XE.


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