gjw (08/12/82)
Some comments have been made on this news group concerning the differences between the Atari 400 and 800 machines. First the price difference between the two models is on the order of $350 not the $600 to $700 somebody mentioned. I've seen the 400 discounted to around $240 and I just bought my 800 for $585. For the extra money you not only get the real keyboard and easier memory expansion but a tv monitor jack plus the right hand cartridge slot. The right hand slot should not be underestimated. Right now Atari only has one cartridge ( Monkey Wrench, an expansion of Atari Basic ) to utilize the right hand slot but more are comming in the near future. Anyone contemplating buying an Atari computer in the near future should make sure that the one their getting has been manufactued after Jan. 1, 1982. Those made after Nov. 1,1981 have an improved OS software which speeds up I/O functions. Those made after Jan. 1 1982 have an improved color graphics chip which adds three additional modes of color graphics to the previous 9 modes. Atari will upgrade older models with the new chip for $62.95.