bob@imsvax.UUCP (Bob Burch) (10/10/85)
Myself and others are interested in performing the modifications
specified in "The Quarter-Meg Atari 800XL" article as featured in
BYTE 9/85. We currently have the necessary parts on order and have
acquired the BYTEnet code.
In the interim, we are looking for any advice, tips, suggestions,
warnings, etc. from those of you having experienced these
modifications.
Among our questions are:
1) Does this mod actually work?
2) Will DOS 2.5 perform the proper bank switching?
3) Is there any applicable Public Domain software
available?
4) and lastly, HELP!!!
Your comments on this matter will be greatly appreciated!oyster@uwmacc.UUCP (Vicious Oyster) (10/11/85)
In article <427@imsvax.UUCP> bob@imsvax.UUCP (Bob Burch) writes: > > Myself and others are interested in performing the modifications > specified in "The Quarter-Meg Atari 800XL" article as featured in > BYTE 9/85. We currently have the necessary parts on order and have > acquired the BYTEnet code. ... > Among our questions are: > 1) Does this mod actually work? > 2) Will DOS 2.5 perform the proper bank switching? > 3) Is there any applicable Public Domain software > available? > 4) and lastly, HELP!!! The local Atari user's group Hardware SIG has two working 256K 800XLs. I saw them demo'd at both the SIG and general meetings. They work; however, I think they found that the Byte article wasn't 100% accurate, but since they have the hardware knowledge, have done there own modifications, and also have modified DOS 2.5 to work properly. The good news is that we (the User's Group) have made both the circuit diagrams and the DOS patches Public Domain. I'm not sure how you, as a member of the public, would go about getting this information, but since I'm here on the net and a member of the AUG, I'll take names of interested people and see what I can do. (If you ARE a member of some Atari user's group, it might be easier to ask your chairman or secretary or whatever to get ahold of my chairman or secretary or whatever, and request the info. Here's the address: Madison Area Atari Users Group (MAAUG) Post Office Box 56191 Madison, WI 53705 Further news: they haven't yet made a 256K 1200XL, but they've opened one up and said it can be done, but you also have to buy, um, it was either an Antic or GTIA chip (I forgot which one; probably the former). Also, they believe it's possible to cram an *extra* 256K into these machines. Yup! That's 512K! And as the icing on the cake, our chairman, when last seen, was mumbling something about "Directly accessing memory... forget about ramdisks... piece o' cake..." - joel "vo" plutchak {allegra,ihnp4,seismo}!uwvax!uwmacc!oyster Can you say "opinion"? I *knew* you could! Disclaimer: the Academic Computing Center, the State of Wisconsin, and the Madison Area Atari Users Group cannot be held responsible for anything I, an employee and/or member of said organizations, say, post, or do.
BillHolland.ES@XEROX.ARPA (10/14/85)
Please copy me in on all answers, THANKS Bill
Hruschak.WBST@XEROX.ARPA (10/18/85)
I am interested in the 800XL upgrade information; please add my name to your list. - Joe
DYOUNG@USC-ISID.ARPA (C. David Young) (10/21/85)
Joe, I will soon have a 256K upgrade for the 800XL that will make it look like a 130XE+128K for $99.95. They will be ready in a couple of weeks. David Young -------
djk611@uiucuxa.CSO.UIUC.EDU (10/21/85)
yes the mod works...be careful when assembling the code
dsaker@iuvax.UUCP (10/23/85)
I too want a copy of the answers. thanks Daryel Akerlind dsaker@iuvax