Atari 8-Bit Computers: Frequently Asked Questions

• Introduction
• 0.1) Table of contents
• 1.1) What is an Atari 8-bit computer?
• 1.2) What can I do with an 8-bit Atari?
• 1.3) What are the some of the performance features of the 8-bit Atari?
• 1.4) What is the internal layout of the 8-bit Atari?
• 1.5) How did Atari get it's name?
• 2.1) What is comp.sys.atari.8bit?
• 2.2) What other Usenet newsgroups cover the 8-bit Atari?
• 3.1) What is INFO-ATARI8?
• 3.3) What is ATARIPL?
• 3.4) What is ATARI8-L?
• 3.5) What is ATARI8PL-L?
• 4.0) What is XL Search?
• 4.1) What is the University of Michigan Archive?
• 4.3) What is the PVV Archive?
• 4.4) What is the ClarkNet Archive?
• 4.5) What is the Gatekeeper's Archive?
• 4.6) What is the Polish Demo Archive?
• 4.7) What is the Atari 8bit FTP Archive in Slovakia?
• 5.1) What is the Cleveland Free-Net Atari SIG?
• 5.2) What is the National Capital FreeNet Atari Users SIG?
• 5.3) What is the Victoria Telecommunity Network Atari Users SIG?
• 7.1) What WWW pages support the 8-bit Atari?
• 8.1) What IRC channels discuss the 8-bit Atari?
• 9.1) What's this UUEncoding stuff (.uu, .uue files) all about?
• 9.2) What is an .arc file?
• 9.3) What are the .DCM, .ATR, and .XFD file formats?
• 9.4) What are the .XMO and .BIN file formats?
• 9.5) How can I make my commercial boot disk (tape, cart) into a load file or disk image?
• 9.6) How can I convert my commercial boot tape into a cassette image file?
• 11.1) What are the best terminal emulators available?
• 11.2) Can I read/write 8-bit Atari disks on an IBM-PC?
• 11.3) Can I read/write MS-DOS disks on an 8-bit Atari?
• 11.4) How do I transfer files using a null modem cable?
• 11.5) What is SIO2PC?
• 12.1) What 5.25" floppy disk drives are available?
• 12.2) How can I use 3.5" floppy disks with my 8-bit Atari?
• 12.3) What do I need to connect a hard drive to my 8-bit Atari?
• 12.4) What kinds of monitors can I use with my Atari?
• 13.1) What's the best DOS for the Atari?
• 13.2) What hardware has Atari created in the 8-bit computer line?
• 13.3) What are the power-supply requirements for my Atari components?
• 13.4) What are the pinouts for the...?
• 13.5) What BBS software can be used on the Atari?
• 13.6) What versions of Atari BASIC or the CTIA/GTIA chip do I have?
• 13.7) Which versions of the Operating System (OS) are there?
• 13.8) What games support 4 simultaneous players on the 400/800?
• 13.9) Why should I disconnect the 810/1050 power supply before connecting or disconnecting SIO cables?
• 13.10) What is Omnimon?
• 13.11) What is the difference between NTSC and PAL machines?
• 13.12) Is the software for the Atari 8-bit computers "TV-standard dependent?"
• 13.13) What programming languages are available for the Atari?
• 13.14) What is the Atari XEP80 Interface Module?
• 13.15) What makes some XL/XE software incompatible with the 400/800?
• 13.16) What games run only on the 400 and 800 models?
• 13.17) How do I type a tilde (common character in Web URL's) on my Atari?
• 14.1) What vendors, developers, or publishers support the 8-bit Atari?
• 14.2) Where is my nearest 8-bit Atari BBS?
• 14.3) Where is my nearest 8-bit Atari user group?
• 14.4) I'm new to the Atari. How do I use this thing?
• 14.5) Can I use an emulator to run my old Atari software on my new computer?
• 14.6) What hardware upgrades, modifications and add-ons are available?
• 14.7) What is the HARD-Interlacing-Picture (HIP) format?
• 14.8) How do I access Usenet, FTP, Gopher, and WWW by e-mail?