Atari 400 User manual

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THE

EDITORS

CONSUMER

GUIDE

THE

USER'S GUIDE

ATARI

400·

800'

1200XL COMPUTERS,

SOFTWARE,

&PERIPHERALS

Another

Original publication

POCKET

BOOKS

POCKET

BOOKS, a division

Simon & Schuster, Inc.

1230

Avenue

the Americas

York, N.

10020

1983

by'Publi

tions International,

Ltd.

All

rights reserved, including the right to reproduce

this book

portions

thereof

any form whatsoever.

For

information

address

Pocket Books,

1230

Avenue

the Americas,

New

York, N.V.

10020

ISBN: 0-671-49503-8

First Pocket Books printing December,

1983

9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 I

POCKET

and colophon are regi

ste

red trademarks

Simon & Schuster,

Printed

the U.S.A.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER

WELCOME

HOME

COMPUTING

using this book

learn about

your

system,

you

will

be well on the

way

many

happy

hours

home computing.

CHAPTER

GETTING STARTED

You

learn

about

what

you

need

assemble

your

basic computer system.

Then

you

go step-by-step through

the

details

setting

CHAPTER

MEET THE KEYS

Each

and every key on

your

keyboard

presented here, complete

with

exercises

teach

you

how

the keys

work

.Detailed

photographs

show

you

how

your

screen

will

look

you

work

through the

exercises.

CHAPTER

PERIPHERALS-

EXPANDING

YOUR

SYSTEM

you

want

your

new

system

do even

more for

you?

Here's the background

information

you

need

decide

what

additional equipment

you

might

want

buy.

170

CHAPTERS

SOFTWARE

Software programs also expand

your

system's capabilities. Here are some

software packages

you

might

use

for

various kinds

purposes.

CHAPTER

192

YOUR

COMPUTER'S

228

NETWORK

Many

resources are available to help

you

get

the most from

your

computer system.

You

can share all sorts

information

with

other computer users and

with

national

information banks

well

CHAPTER

WELCOMETO

HOME

COMPUTING

Now

that

you

are the proud

owner

Atari

home computer, congratulate yourself!A home

computer can eliminate a

lot

the drudgery

associated

with

many types

paperwork, such

writing

reportsand keeping finances in order.

In addition,

your

Atari home computer can pro-

vide

your

entire family

with

stimulating enter-

tainment. In

fact

since the computer can per-

form all sorts

different functions, it's very likely

that every member

your

family

will

drawn

some aspect

computing.

You

will find

that

use

your

Atari

home computer. A home computer

designed

that

long, difficult instructions and various

secret passwords are completely unnecessary

When

you

want

use

your

computer for a spe-

cific purpose, such

ping a letter, balancing

your

checkbook, or simply playing a game, all

you have

buy

the appropriate program

set

instructions already created for you)

that will set up

your

computer for the purpose

you

need. Once

you

are more familiar

with

your

computer,

you

may

want

create

your

own

simple programs. For example,

you

may

want

create a program

that

will

draw

pictures, or

graphics, on the screen.

This

easy

do once

you

know

the simple instructions, or commands,

use

For the most

part

however,

isn't necessary

learn

how

program

know

any

electron-

ics

theories in order

use

and

enjoy

your

Atari.

you

use

the

Atari

from day

day,

you

will

feel more and more comfortable

working

with

computers, and

you

will

learn

about

the many

ways

that

your

computer can simplify

your

work.

This

User's

Guide

will

help

you

get

started using

your

Atari

home computer.

You

will

learn

about

the basic components

your

computer,

how

hook it

,and

how

use

the keyboard

communicate

with

it. In addition,

you

'll learn

about

other

pieces of equipment

that

can en-

"hance

your

computer and

about

the software

programs

that

allow

you

use

the computer in

different ways. Soon

you

will

feel like a real com-

puter

pert

Before

begin, take a

few

minutes

learn

about

several

Atari

home

computers-one

which

you

now

own

MEET

THE

ATARI

LINE

HOME

COMPUTERS

All

the Atari home computers have a

few

things in common. When

you

use

Atari

com-

puter,

you

type messages

the

computer

the keyboard. These messages-yours

the

computer and the computer's back

you-

appear

right

on the TV screen

monitor

that

hooked

it.

One

the main differences in the types

com-

puters

how

much each can do. A computer

contains a certain number

memorychips,

which

allow

store information. For com-

puters, memory

measured in units called bytes.

Each

byte

holds one character (letter, number,

symbol)

information.

One

kilobyte, or K

commonly called,

equal

approximately

1,000 bytes

memory. For example, if

your

com-

puter comes

with

16K

memory, this means

that

can store appr.oximately 16,000 characters

information

one time.

Different types

Atari computers come

with

different amounts

memory.

The

larger the

amount

memory, the more the computer can

do. In

fact

some

the more complex programs

you

can

buy

for

your

computer require a certain

amount

memory in order

work

properly.

You

can

buy

additional units

memory for

your

computer if

you

need more,

which

you

will learn

about later in this guide.Let's take a look at the

Atari models 400, 800, and 1200XL.

Atari

400

The

Atari 400 was introduced in late

1979.

The

first units made contained

16K

memory,

while

the latest models made contain

16K.

The

400 features a flat, touch-sensitive membrane

keyboard, rather than one more like an electric

typewriter. (A membrane keyboard

one

that

has

a flat surface instead

raised keys.)While

the 400's membrane keyboard

not

great for

toUCh-typing or entering long program listings,

does have some advantages: since the key-

board

a sealed flat surface,

fairly imper-

vious

the attacks

small children and

very

easy

clean.

Electrically speaking, the 400

almost identical

the more expensive Atari

800

. Even if

you

have

plans

get

into

a more complicated

system

with

more accessories, the

Atari

400

makes a terrific game cartridge system.

Atari

800

The

Atari 800, introduced

the

same time

the 400, offers greater

ease

expandability

(adding equipment

the computer) and use. Its

full-stroke keyboard makes

typing

a pleasure.

Although

the first models were offered

with

16K

memory, Atari eventually made 48K

memorystandard

with

the

800

computer.

This

larger memory allows

you

run longer and

more complex programs.

The

800

the

only

Atari computer

with

two

cartridge slots. Atari'soriginal plans

were

for

some programs

use

both

slots,

but

way

get

bigger programs

into

one cartridge was dis-

covered and

two-cartridge

Atari

programs

were ever released.

The

800

has

some nice features. The system ex-

pansion slots,

which

make

possible

use

some specialized devices

with

the computer, can

be easily reached

removing the

top

cover. It

also possible

hook

up the

800

computer

your

stereo (which makes for

truly

powerful

sound!), and the

800

will

hook directly

into

color video

monitor

(which can give

you

bit

sharper picture than most regUlar televisions).

Atari

1200XL

The

Atari '200XL was the first

the Atari

line.

The'

200XL

has

nice styling and a very

good

keyboard.

comes

with

64K

memory-

a more

than

ample amount for many purposes.

SOFTWARE

PROGRAMS

YOU

CAN

BUY

As mentioned earlier, a

program

a set

in-

structions

that

tells the computer

some-

thing.

You

can either create a program yourself

using a computer language (such

BASIC),

you

can

buy

a program

that

someone

else

has

already created. For the more complicated tasks

that

a computer can perform, most people find

easier

buy

already-made programs.

Once someone

has

made a program, the pro-

gram

stored on computer software, such

cartridge, a cassette tape,

a diskette (which

you

will

learn

about

later in this guide).

The

pro-

gram can then be used again and again

byany-

one

who

has

a copy

this software. This

what

you

buy

when

you

purchase a program

that

someone

else

has created.

There

wide

variety

programs available for

","

Atari home computers.

You

can

buy

software

program

that

enables

you

use

your

computer

an advanced electronic typewriter. In fact, this

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