The Atari Microbox

Codename: "Painter"

 

           Atari's design team, headed by Ira Valenski went to work on a new Falcon system called the Atari MicroBox.   This new system would be contained in a small footprint  "HP Workstation" looking case which was a very pleasant and welcomed change from Atari.  

The unit would have a built in 3.5" floppy disk drive, ports in the front for Power, keyboard, mouse and what appears to be possible MIDI.   The case could easily pop off for quick convenient access to...SLOTS?!?!?

    Yes, slots 3 32bit slots for long wanted expandability for the Atari 16/23 bit systems.     The processor was to be a 68030, speed is unknown at this time.    An actual Microbox (Microfalcon030) motherboard has been acquired for the shown system, however is appears to be non-functional at this time.    The hard drive is standard IDE and memory could be installed using standard SIMM modules.     

   This computer had a look and feel that every Atari computer user had wanted for so long, plus the expansion capabilities which were well over due.  (The Mega ST Megabus and the Mega STe and TT030 VME slots were never fully exploited).     As with many other Atari ST projects, the Microbox would not see the light of day, most Atari computer users were fortunate enough that Atari released the Falcon030 before stopping production of it computers all together.   According to production documents for project "Painter" only 3 sample cases were made and shipped to Atari. 

 


The Atari MicroFalcon030 Front & Rear views.


 


            After receiving such heavy criticism from its users over using the same tired old Atari 1040STe case.   Atari went to work on a new Falcon system called the Atari MicroFalcon030.   This new system would be contain in a small HP Workstation looking case which was a very pleasant and welcomed change from Atari.  The unit would have a built in 3.5" floppy disk drive, ports in the front for Power, keyboard, mouse and probably MIDI.   The case could easily pop off for quick convenient access to... SLOTS?!?!?    Yes, slots 3 32bit slots for long wanted expandability for the Atari 16/23 bit systems.     The processor was to be a 68030, speed is unknown at this time.    Atari Historical Society recently acquired an actual fully functional Falcon030 motherboard and is eagerly awaiting its arrival.    The hard drive is standard IDE and memory could be installed using standard SIMM modules.     This computer had a look and feel that every Atari computer user had wanted for so long, plus the expansion capabilities which were well over due.  (The VME bus slots in the Mega STE and TT030 were crippled and didn't give the expandability that the 16/23's truly needed).     As with many other Atari ST projects, the MicroFalcon030 would not see the light of day, most Atari computer users were fortunate enough that Atari released the Falcon030 before stopping production of computers all together.