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Because of the continued usefulness of the Atari 8bit line of computers, and because of my continued appreciation for them, I returned to the place where my computing started. I was given a 130XE and 1050 drive to start with, and a wealth of information via the internet. And the feelings of comfort came next. I realized how complicated things have become in the computer world. PCs are running the latest version of Windows, MACs are in a world of their own, and gone are the days when we would sit down with a magazine on a quiet evening and type in the programs that graced the pages of those ANTIC and Analog magazines, and then ran that program we had spent so many hours typing in, correcting, and re-running… until it finally worked. The simplicity of the numerous games belied that actual challenge. There were no "special moves" which would enable the player to snap the spine of an opponent, although World Karate Championship had various kicks and flips. (*) In your defense of the galactic system as a Star Raider, you weren't overwhelmed with the Gauraud shading of ships. Instead, you were consumed with concern over your fuel supply, and how long it would take your ship to refuel as you flew into the sun to recharge it in Star Raiders II. Even the mindless fun of Frogger as you tried to leap the logs and avoid the mouth of anticipation of the menacing crocodile on your way across the river is enough to keep any kid nowadays trying until bedtime because it LOOKS SO EASY and it simply ISN'T!
But those days are gone. Now we are inundated with games that are overcome with the latest advances in graphics, 3D viewability, and a violence never before imagined. And while I enjoy the outstanding graphics of UNREAL, a relatively new game for the PC market, I long to boot up my old favorite, Bounty Bob Strikes Back, on my Atari.
Needless to say, the computer industry has all but forgotten the name of Atari. And while there are a few companies that still strive to provide support for the remaining masses of Atari 8bit owners, the future looks rather bleak at times.
But the usefulness of the Atari has never changed! It still remains one of the most advanced computers not only of its hey-day, but today. No other computer system was designed to work so intricately with its dedicated chips such as ANTIC, CTIA/GTIA, and the 6502 processor. It was and still is a marvelous design capable of far more than any of us imagined. The Atari Corporation had an Open Policy when it came to understanding this machine, and the information is enough to keep you busy for months, possibly years! If you're an electronics enthusiast, you'll love the ability you have with the Atari 8bit to create robotic units, control your household electrical components, and much more. If you're a gamer, you'll find a new and unexplored universe in the Atari 8bit, either through the hundreds of games available for it, or in programming your own. Need to work on a letter? The Atari 8bit has some of the best and easiest to use word processors you'll ever meet, such as Speedscript and TextPro.
What it all comes down to is this: the Atari was never just a GAME machine. That misnomer was the result of bad publicity. But ask any Atari owner/user and you'll get a much different story, and perhaps even a demonstration of this computer's power and efficiency, all nicely viewable on your TV set!
I built this website on the premise that the Atari is not only NOT dead, but that there remains a wondrous FUTURE ahead for it in the face of the ongoing technical revolution that leaves the rest of the PC world in upheaval, as the Atari 2000 home page logo clearly represents, with the Atari 2000 standing in the forefront of an otherwise bleak future.
As a web site dedicated to supporting Atari, I have designed Atari 2000 to serve primarily as a portal. To the Web newbie, a portal is a launching pad to places you would like to go, a window to the world, in this case, the world of Atari. I've gathered significant amounts of information that will provide you with links and more if the Atari 8bit is what you are interested in.
In addition to that, this will be the official site where you will be able to follow along on the development of the new PHOENIX web browser for the Atari 8bit, and eventually be able to download its beta releases, and finally the public release. More about the PHOENIX web browser is discussed elsewhere on this site.
Changes will be ongoing here at Atari 2000. If there is anything you don't find, know of something that isn't here that should be, or I've stated/posted something that is wrong, contact me immediately!
For now, I hope you enjoy Atari 2000! ----Morloc----
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