[comp.sys.atari.8bit] Atari 800 system expansion make sense?

david1@mhuxu.UUCP (Rick Nelson) (12/13/88)

A friend who has an 800, but no other peripherals, wants to expand his
system so he can use it to keep track of his inventory of various personal items
as well as wordprocessing.  I told him a disk drive and printer will cost him
around $600, plus more for software.  What I didn't know to tell him were the
following:

What printers do you think are good recommendatons?
Would he need the infamous 850 interface for one or are some direct-connect?
If they are direct connect does the cable come with the printer?
What do the recommended printers cost?
Possible suppliers?  Suppliers to stay away from?

What about disk drives?  I have a 1050, but which other ones are
recommended?  Cost?  Suppliers?

I know there's not alot of software around.  I guess he needs a database
manager for his inventory needs.  Which are available and from where?  Also
which word processors are good?  Is Atariwriter decent?

Thanks for any info you can supply.  My friends alternative is to buy an 
entirely new system which I thought would end up costing him $2000 for
everything he wants.  Am I off base on this cost estimate?  He was considering
an Apple 2C or an IBM type.

His 800 has 48K.

Please respond by e-mail to:

mhuxu!david1

rick nelson
reading, pa.