[continued from previous message]

Formula intermediate (by Mind Movers), Secret Formula advanced (by Mind Movers), Screen Maker, Player Maker, Alligator Mix (Arcademic Skill Builders
by DLM), Minus Mission (Arcademic Skill Builders by DLM), Dragon Mix
(Arcademic Skill Builders by DLM), Atari Super PILOT (previously: PILOT II; to ship April '84; never shipped), Phone Home (never shipped), Name Rondo (never shipped), Create a Rondo (never shipped), Instructional Computing
Demonstration (previously released by APX), Music I (Terms & Notations) (by MECC; previously released by APX), Music II (Rhythm & Pitch) (by MECC; previously released by APX), Music III/Scales & Chords (by MECC; previously released by APX), Elementary Biology (by MECC; previously released by APX), Earth Science (by MECC; previously released by APX), Geography (by MECC; previously released by APX), Prefixes (by MECC; previously released by APX), Metric & Problem Solving (by MECC; previously released by APX), The Market Place (by MECC; previously released by APX), Basic Arithmetic (by MECC), Graphing (by MECC), Pre-Reading (by MECC), Counting (by MECC), Expeditions (by MECC), Spelling Bee (by MECC), Word Games (by MECC). Announced: AtariLab Biofeedback, Timekeeper, Lie Detector, and Mechanics modules (all never shipped), AtariWriter Curriculum Guide (never shipped), Swarthmore Trig (never shipped). Again promised for future release: AtariLab Curriculum Modules: Temperature and Light, CONDUIT Algebra, Green Globs and Other Trig Diversions. Linda Gordon was Atari Products Management SVP Education.

October: Atari released the Pro-Line Trak-Ball Controller (CX22) (VGU 11/83)

October: Premier issue #0 of L'Atarien magazine, the official magazine of the Atari Club in France, published by Rive Ouest - Cato Johnson France on behalf of P.E.C.F. Atari.

October: "Atari still had not brought out any of its new XL line by mid- October." (Compute! #43 Dec83 p32)

October 21: Atari said that it was delaying the making and marketing of its
two higher-priced computer models, the 1400XL and the 1450XLD. The machines 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
($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. feature 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 (L.A. Lab, Atari Corporate Research).

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: Atari Engineering Computer Division Manager of VLSI Development Rich Pasco departed the company (to IBM Research - Almaden).

November 19: Atari (Coin-Op) announced the opening of the first Atari
Adventure family entertainment center (and the third Atari "Adventure"
location overall) at the Northwest Plaza shopping center located in St. Ann MO (suburban St. Louis MO). The location was planned as the 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 (Kent Wilke). (CCv7n11; PR via Fun p757)

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

November/December: Ken Wirt, previously of Atari Sales & Distribution Co., would become Atari Products Managment VP of computer marketing (reporting to SVP computer marketing Fred Simon), replacing Don Thorson who departed the company (to Apple Computer). John Hahn, previously director of technical support, would become 600XL/800XL product marketing manager (replacing the departed Andrew Soderberg; reporting to Wirt).

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

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 Management SVP Education Linda Gordon.

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

November/December: Atari Engineering Computer Division engineer Ajay Chopra departed the company (to Mindset).

November/December?: Bill Carris, previously of Atari (Coin-Op) (and before that, Atari (Home Computer) director of software marketing), became Atari Products Management director of business development (computers), replacing Robert Cory who departed the company (to Apple Computer).

December 1?: Atari released the Atari Program Exchange (APX) Product Catalog Winter Edition 1983-84, introducing: 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

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

December: For Atari home computers Atari shipped: Jungle Hunt, Robotron: 2084 (original "large box" version with dual cartridge holder) (VGU; 1/1/84 price list)

December: Steve Bristow, previously Atari VP engineering, AtariTel Division, would now be Atari Products Co. VP Engineering Computer Division. (Dave Stubben remained VP engineering.)

"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, for the 600XL ($249), 800XL ($399), and 1450XLD (unshipped but again shown), Atari introduced the Light
Pen (CX75) with AtariGraphics and the 1064 Memory Module for the 600XL. Again promised: Touch Tablet (CX77), Remote Control Wireless Joysticks (CX42), the AtariWriter System kit (previously: Writing System), the Programming System kit, The BASIC Tutor I kit. Atari announced that DOS 3 (previously: DOS III) would be made available for free via Atari Customer Service, and would also ship with new production 1050 disk drives. Software introduced: The Atari Translator (to ship via APX or Atari Customer Service only), Captain Hook's Revenge (previously: Peter Pan's Daring Escape; 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. in 1985), Jungle Hunt (title by Taito; shipped Dec. 83), Millipede (would be shipped by Atari, Corp. in 1985); again promised: Joust, Ms. Pac-Man, Pole Position, Tennis, RealSports
Football, Pengo, Donkey Kong Junior, AtariMusic I, AtariMusic II, The
Mysteries of Wonderland, TeleLink II (again promised apart from Communicator
II kit); announced: Pop'R Spell (previously released by Milliken; never
shipped by Atari), Sky Writer (previously released by Milliken; would be shipped by Atari, Corp. in 1985), SynCalc by Synapse, SynFile+ by Synapse, SynTrend by Synapse (consisting of SynGraph and SynStat); previewed: Crystal Castle (box mock-up; Crystal Castles would be shipped by Atari Corporation in 1988), 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 (never shipped under the new name). Finally, Atari Learning Systems promoted: AtariLab Starter Set with Temperature Module ("ready to ship now"), AtariLab Light Module, Atari Pascal (Version 2.0), Atari Super PILOT, Player Maker, Screen Maker (1/1/84 price list; Analog #17 p13;

January 14: At the Annual Atari Star Awards Banquet held at 12:30pm at The Westin St. Francis Hotel, Union Square, San Francisco CA, in the City Club located on the 12th floor on the main building, Atari awarded the third annual Atari Star Award and $25,000 to Mark Reid for his APX title, Getaway!. Other Finalists: James Burton, R. Stanley Kistler, Gregor Novak. Atari Products Management SVP Fred Simon announced the winner and APX director Fred Thorlin presented the award. (AC Spr84p14)

January: Atari shipped: Tennis, Ms. Pac-Man, Pole Position, Joust (VGU; 1/1/84 price list)

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 23: James J. Morgan, chairman and CEO Atari, Inc., announced an organizational realignment of the company. John Farrand was named president
of Atari, Inc. and president and COO of Atari Products Co. (both newly created positions; reporting to Morgan).

Three scientists were named to a newly created position, "Atari Fellow," the highest ranking technical position in the company: Alan Kay (previously: VP/chief scientist), Dave Stubben (previously: Atari Products Co. VP Engineering), Steve Bristow (previously: Atari Products Co. VP Engineering Computer Division) (PR; WCI 1983 Annual Report; Fun p792 for Stubben business card)

Winter: Atari shipped the Touch Tablet (CX77; with AtariArtist), AtariMusic I, AtariMusic II (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).

January/February: At Atari Products Co., John Hahn, previously 600XL/800XL product marketing manager, was promoted to director of computer marketing (reporting to SVP computer marketing Fred Simon), replacing VP of computer marketing Ken Wirt who departed the company (to Cognitive Systems). Sherri L. Horowitz was promoted to 600XL/800XL product marketing manager (replacing the promoted Hahn in the role), and Thea Cain was promoted to 1450XLD product marketing manager.

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

February?: Atari Products Co. Director of advanced engineering Donald Teiser departed the company (to Cadtrak).

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

February: Atari Fellow Steve Bristow departed the company (to Technicom Advanced Design Center).

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

March 6: Atari, Inc. was awarded U.S. patent 4,435,779 for 13 claims by inventors Steven T. Mayer, Jay G. Miner, Douglas G. Neubauer, and Joseph C. Decuir regarding their "Data processing system with programmable graphics generator" (the Atari 400/800 hardware platform).

March 7-9: At Billboard's second Computer Software/Video Game Conference, held at The Westin St. Francis Hotel in San Francisco, Nancy Garrison,
International Marketing Manager, AtariSoft, took part in a panel entitled: "Getting Over Seas: International Marketing"

March 11-18: At the Festival International du Son et de l'Image, held at the CNIT (Centre des Nouvelles Industries et Technologies), Paris La Defense, 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: Atari released: Football, Donkey Kong Junior, Pengo (VGU 3/84, 4/84)

March: Atari Products Co. applications software and telecommunications
products group manager Sherwin Gooch was 1450XLD project manager. (CreativeComputing Jul84 p206) (having recently replaced engineer Phil Suen in the role).

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, and APX director Fred Thorlin would depart the company. A new, final production run of 15,000 850
interfaces had just been manufactured. At Atari: Thea Cain was 1450XLD
product manager; Dave Wilson had been promoted to director of Customer Relations, replacing VP Consumer Product Service Jon Ebbs who had departed the company; Earl Rice remained Manager, Users' Group Support; Bill Bartlett remained manager of Product Support for Customer Relations.

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: Programmer Michael Barall (QDOS developer) joined Atari, where he would direct advanced operating systems development. (see Antic 1/86 pAC14; source for date?)

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

April: Stephen Race, previously Atari International director of marketing, would be promoted to Atari International VP marketing and communications, and Steve Gerber, previously director of the Software Development Group of the Software Development Centre at Atari International (U.K.) Inc., would be promoted to VP International New Product Development, together replacing VP Marketing and Product Management Chris Deering who departed the company (to Spinnaker Software). (for date: RCA/Columbia PR 4/5/1985)

April: Atari Fellow Alan Kay departed the company (to Apple). (NYT 5/3/84; InfoWorld 6/11/84)

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, AtariLab Starter Set with Temperature Module, SynCalc, SynFile+, SynTrend, Typo Attack

Spring: Atari released DOS 3, offered through Atari Customer Service (free to those who had purchased Atari 1050 disk drives with DOS 2.0S).
(AtariConnection Spr84 p9,73)

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 the CNIT (Centre des Nouvelles Industries et Technologies), Paris La Defense, France, Atari featured the 600XL/800XL product line. (L'Atarien #4 p21)

May: Atari Products Co. Applications Software and Telecommunications Products Group manager Sherwin Gooch departed the company. Earl Rice, previously Manager, Users' Group Support, became 1450XLD project manager (replacing Gooch in the role). Mark Cator was promoted to Atari Manager, Users' Group Support (replacing Rice in the role).

May 18: Atari announced that Atari Products Co. EVP sales and distribution Donald Kingsborough would depart the company (after an unspecified period; he would be assigned to a special project for Atari CEO James Morgan until his departure). Atari said Kingsborough's duties would be assumed by SVP planning and distribution Conrad Jutson (WSJ 5/18p47) who would be acting head of sales. (EN 6/4)

May 22: Publication date of the Atari Learning Systems New Products Bulletin, introducing: Find It! (Atari XL, C-64, Apple II, IBM PC; never shipped), Green Globs (Atari XL, Apple II; never shipped), Yaacov Agam's Interactive Painting (Atari XL, IBM PC; never shipped), First Aid... The ABC of CPR (Edunetics; Atari XL; never shipped), Simulated Computer II (Atari XL, C-64; never shipped), Telly Turtle (Atari XL, C-64, Apple II, IBM PC/PCjr; never shipped), Wheeler Dealer (Atari XL, C-64, Apple II, IBM PC/PCjr; never shipped),
AtariLab Starter Set (versions for Apple II, C-64; 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"; platform(s) unspecified; never shipped).

May 22: Dennis Groth, previously Atari EVP, would become president of Atari International Marketing, replacing Atari International president Anthony
Bruehl (Anton Bruehl) who had departed the company. (WSJ 5/22) Also in the Atari International division: Stephen Race, previously VP marketing and communications, would be promoted to executive director, marketing

May 24-25: At MIDISoft '84, the first annual event sponsored by IMA (the International MIDI Association) held at the Mark Hopkins Hotel in San Francisco, Hybrid Arts introduced MIDIMate for the Atari 800 or 800XL
computer.

May 28: Media report that Atari was shuttering its Atari-Wong manufacturing plant in Hong Kong and terminating a purchasing accord there with its primary supplier of home computers, Chelco Sound. (ElectronicNews 5/28 as referenced
in EN 6/4) Atari-Wong had been the producer of almost all Atari video games and home computers sold in the international market over the last year. Production of the 600XL was currently suspended. 800XL production would continue exclusively at Atari Taiwan Manufacturing Corp. (ATMC). The dealer price for the 800XL had been cut to $217 (previous dealer price: $280, corresponding with the previous retail price of $399). (EN 6/4)

June 1: David Evans, previously product director at Atari Elektronikvertriebs GmbH in West Germany, became head of marketing (product management director) for Atari International, in part replacing departed VP Marketing and Product Management Chris Deering. (Evans would report to executive director for marketing Stephen Race.)

June 3-6: At the Summer CES in Chicago Atari introduced the MindLink System, comprised of: infra-red transmitter, receiver, head band, and one software cartridge.

Atari introduced or again promised (due summer/fall 1984): Ballblazer (would
be shipped by Epyx in 1985), Crime Lab (never shipped -VGU 7/84 p64 sole source), Crystal Castles (would be shipped by Atari Corporation in 1989),
Final Legacy (previously: The Legacy; would be shipped by Atari, Corp. in 1985), Hobgoblin (Atari Advanced Games Group; later: Habitats; never shipped), Jr. Pac-Man (title by Bally-Midway; never shipped), The Last Starfighter
(would be shipped by Atari, Corp. in 1986 as: Star Raiders II), Millipede (would be shipped by Atari, Corp. in 1985), Moon Patrol (would be shipped by Atari, Corp. in 1985), Rescue on Fractalus! (would be shipped by Epyx in
1985), This Is Ground Control (Futuremakers series; due Sept. 1984; never shipped), Through the Star Bridge (Futuremakers series; due Sept. 1984; never shipped), Track & Field (with Arcade Controller; title by Konami; would be shipped by Atari, Corp. in 1985), Elevator Action (title by Taito; never shipped), Stargate (title by Williams Electronics; never shipped). (VGU 7/84 p64). Also announced/previewed/again promised (due in 1985): Sky Writer
(would be shipped by Atari, Corp. in 1985), Proofreader (previously released via APX as: Atspeller for AtariWriter; would be shipped by Atari, Corp. in 1986), Letter Tutor (never shipped), Word Tutor (never shipped), Captain
Hook's Revenge (never shipped), Pole Position II (title by Namco; never shipped), Mario Bros. (would be shipped by Atari Corporation in 1988). Also announced/previewed: Garfield on the Run (Atari Advanced Games Group; never shipped). Atari Learning Systems introduced or again promised (due
summer/fall 1984): AtariLab Light Module (would be shipped by Atari, Corp. in 1985), Green Globs (never shipped), Escape (never shipped). (VGU 7/84 p64) Atari Learning Systems also previewed (due in 1985): Find It! (never shipped), First Aid... The ABC of CPR (Edunetics; never shipped), Wheeler Dealer (never shipped), Simulated Computer II (never shipped), Telly Turtle (never shipped). (Analog #22 p49)

Privately previewed: the (revised) 1090 XL Expansion System (previously: Expansion Box; to ship with one XL 64K RAM Card). Atari also 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." The new machine (unnamed; previously: 1450XLD), previewed privately to software developers, was to include "a built-in, double-sided, dual density disk drive that stores 352 kilobytes of RAM....(that) operates five times faster than a disk drive previously planned in a computer announced a year ago (the old 1400 series)." Also to be built-in: a 300 baud modem, telecommunications software and a mini-database called The Grapevine, an enhanced speech synthesis chip (upgrade from the old 1400 series), and 64K RAM. (While the larger-capacity built-in disk drive would not be supported by DOS 3, it would be supported by the new "QDOS".)

At Atari Products Co.: Dave Ruckert was head of marketing (EVP marketing).
(WSJ 6/4) Philip Restaino, previously Atari Products Co. SVP games marketing, had become SVP games and computer marketing, assuming computer marketing from Fred Simon who had departed the company. (SanFranChron 4/16/86; NYT 6/4) West Shell, previously director of marketing (game hardware), had become director
of marketing (computers), replacing John Hahn who had departed the company. (AdWeek 7/9/84) David Wilson and Bill Bartlett of Customer Relations and Product Support had departed the company. (SLCC 6/84) As previously planned, Don Kingsborough, most recently on special assignment to Atari chairman James Morgan, had departed the company (to Coleco). (ElectronicNews 6/4; SLCC 6/84)

June: Atari 1450XLD product manager (marketing) Thea Cain had departed the company. (SLCC 7/84)

June: Atari released the Atari BASIC Rev. C cartridge, offered through Atari Customer Service (free to 600XL/800XL owners still within warranty). (SLCC
7/84 p3)

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, the lone holdovers were expected to be West Shell III (previously: director of marketing (computers)
at Atari, Inc.) and Bryan Kerr (previously: group product manager (videogames
- AtariSoft) at Atari, Inc.). (AdWeek, July 9, 1984) Systems engineer Phil Suen would be director of engineering - XL family computers. Additional engineers and technicians included: Jim Tittsler, Lane Winner, Jose Valdes, Vincent H. Wu, George Nishiura, Mike Barall, David Owen Sovey, Peter R. Ateshian, John Hinman, George Kulcher, John Honig, Michael Wooding, Songly Mu, Randy Hoopai, Gary Rubio, Tim Chodera. John Skruch, previously Atari, Inc. Operations Manager, Atarisoft Product Line, would be a software product manager.

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." (This was incorrect, Atari had just initiated a new production run of the 600XL NTSC version at Atari Taiwan Manufacturing Corp. (ATMC).)

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

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 13: Date of internal Atari memo detailing plans for 5 new XL computers:
1. "XL": The 64K 800XL with 3.5" FDD support and new DOS.
2. "XL/Writer": A 64K computer with integral 80 column monochrome monitor,
3.5" FDD, letter quality printer, and word processing software.
3. "XL/CMOS": A portable 64K computer with built-in word processor, 3.5" FDD
support, new DOS and 40/80 column optional LCD.
4. "XL/M": An XL with AMY built-in. (The music machine).
5. "XL/P": A 128K RAM version of the XL.
In addition, a 3.5" drive and a color monitor were planned. Phil Suen was director of XL computer engineering; Tom Brightman was VP engineering. http://www.atarimuseum.com/computers/8BITS/XE/Engineering_13AUG84.pdf

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 1 000 F to 2 199 F.

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

Sepetmber 9: Date of internal Atari memo detailing plans for 3 new XL computers, with each new machine representing a step forward in cost
reduction:
1. 800XLF incorporating FREDDIE.
- SECAM version due Oct 1984; NTSC/PAL versions due Nov 1984
2. 900XLF incorporating a new keyboard and housing design
- NTSC/PAL versions due Dec 1984; SECAM version due Feb 1985
(would ship as: 65XE)
3. 900XLKF incorporating KERI (function of ANTIC+GTIA+POKEY)
- NTSC/PAL versions due Jan 1985 (SECAM version not planned)
A new cost-reduced 1050 compatible disk drive was also planned:
- Either 3.5" or 5.25"; 163KiB capacity; 38.4Kbps transfer rate https://preview.tinyurl.com/yarxqgyd

September 11: Atari Games, Inc. (the former Atari, Inc.) was awarded U.S. patent 4,471,463 for 6 claims by inventors Steven T. Mayer, Jay G. Miner, Douglas G. Neubauer, and Joseph C. Decuir regarding their "Data processing system with programmable graphics generator" (the Atari 400/800 hardware platform).

September 11: Atari Games, Inc. (the former Atari, Inc.) was awarded U.S. patent 4,471,464 for 15 claims by inventors Steven T. Mayer, Jay G. Miner, Douglas G. Neubauer, and Joseph C. Decuir regarding their "Data processing system with programmable graphics generator" (the Atari 400/800 hardware platform).

September: Atari discontinued production of the 600XL computer.

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"

[continued in next message]

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)