After Jack Tramiel purchased Atari home
market from Warner, he set out to establish computers as Atari's
prority, while cancelling all game machines, including the new
7800.
While the newly discovered 16-bit
technology is superior for advanced features, they chose to continue to expand it's popular 8-bit market and show the new models with the ST debut.
*This purchase did NOT
include the arcade division >Atari Games Inc.<*
Atari 65XE
The 65XE is functionally identical to the 800XL model. All
the same components were used, but on a redesigned motherboard.
The only changes are...
>New streamlined case, similar to the ST, with the Atari logo
in red.
>Built-in Atari BASIC updated (rev. C) to repair minor bugs.
>The cartridge slot was moved to the back.
>Function keys moved above the numbers.
The XE models are fully compatible with all XL software and
peripherals. *click on the image below
Atari 130XE image gallery, click here
Two other models were also
mentioned at the CES, but were never to be released.
> Atari 65XEM, Music enhanced, with stereo
output
> Atari
65XEP, Portable,
with a built-in monitor and disk drive
The peripherals were also
designed in smooth platinum-grey casing, with some new items as well.
Atari XF551
Atari finally announces
a true external double-sided, double density floppy drive,
although it didn't arrive until around 1987. With 360K capacity
per 5¼" disk, it greatly improved over the older 127K 1050
drive.
» It's only down-side...no power-on light.
--collecting
info--page under construction--
*Other new XE styled Atari-made peripherals*
(NOTE:by 1987 other companies also released similar, or maybe better, items as well)
XC12 : program recorder(image)font>
XF351: a 3½" floppy drive; SS-SD, 360K per disk.
XMM801 : 80 column dot-matrix printer
XDM121 : daisy-wheel LQ printer, 12 cps
XTC201 : a thermal color printer
XM301 : direct-connect modem
there was also a color monitor, but I currently haven't got it's name.
Atari XEP80
{released 1987}
While 16-bit technology was thriving, this is perhaps the
greatest achievement for the 8-bit systems. But was it too late?
The Atari XEP80 displays 80 columns by 24 rows of readable text
on a color monitor, and razor sharp on a monochrome.
» Requirements: any XL/XE computer with a disk drive (DOS 2.5 or
higher)
>connects via joystick port
>special features:
enable
underlining
produce a blinking cursor
mix double-width or double-height text with standard text
mix blinking text with standard text
enable character-by-character horizontal scrolling
>built-in
25-pin parallel printer port
>dimensions: 5 3/8" x 9 1/4" x 1 3/8"
>includes utilities and demos on disk
Around late 1987, the 8-bit
market was doomed to new technologies and upgrading was no longer an option. The 65XEs and 130XEs were eventually cancelled.
Atari Corp. re-entered the gaming platform and pushed the 8-bit market into this field, as a new game-machine with an already vast market and computer upgradability, all peripherals are cross-compatible.
The Atari XE video game
system
Essentially it's a 65XE in a new case. Usable without the detached keyboard, it's more suitable for younger children to operate, only the function keys are on the base designed as large colorful buttons. The package included a joystick, a new light gun, and 3 games-Missile Command, Bug Hunt, and Flight Simulator II. Unfortunately it's aged graphics and speeds were no comparison to the 7800 or NES and SEGA systems. There were hundreds of titles available on cartridge and disk and attracted nostalgia players. Many game programmers were now writing for the ST computers for it's improved colors, features and speeds
