Atari 800XL or 800?

[zektor]

Since I am having a ball collecting vintage computer carts (great games most of the time, and cheap) I have decided to go one further (I currently collect c64 and Vic-20 carts) and go with an Atari 8-bit computer. I used to have a XEGS, and while it was ok, I didn't like the detachable keyboard, the pastel buttons, and even the keys on that keyboard. Well, that machine is long gone, but I'm going for one of the others. I see the 800XL and 800. The XL is newer looking, while the 800 is the old brown color. I really like the look of that old brown one believe it or not. I don't know what it is, but it just looks cool to me. Any differences other than the obvious cosmetic differences listed here? Does the 800XL have something more that the 800 lacks? I will only be using the machine I get to play cartridge based games, so I am not really worried about anything else. Thanks for any help!

[IntvGene]

Yeah, the XL has a whole 12K more RAM.

I don't think that would be an issue, especially if you are only playing cartridge games. From what I recall, a couple of disk games, like Alternate Reality used the extra 12K if available.

Otherwise, you get 4 joystick ports on the old 800.. and a sweet top-loading cartridge bay-mechanism too...

My vote goes for the 800.

[zektor]

Cool, it's settled then THe good old brown box is the way I'm going

[video_game_addict]

...depending on which cart games you want to play, you may need both. There's a fair number of cart games that only work on the older OS of the 800, and then there are the 64K games like some of your XE releases which won't work on a 48K 800.

[Goblin]

Over the years I've had them all (400, 800, 800XL, 130XE). Currently I only have a 130XE since that's what I found when I got back into the hobby.

800 - Built like a tank, 4 joystick ports, Limited RAM.

800XL - Looks very small and cheap when compared to the 800, although the small size makes for easy storage, 2 joystick ports.

130XE - Nice construction, 2 joystick ports, only problem is rear cartridge slot which can be a hassle.

While I will always have fond memories, of the 800 I am quickly running out of storage space so for me the 130XE offers a solid unit with a small form factor. With any one you really can't go wrong.

[RJ]

Yeah, what v_g_a said: several later released XE games are 64K which won't play on the older 800 model.

I once had an "Astro Chase" cart but it wouldn't run on my 800XL- 400/800 only.

800XL also has built-in BASIC but you stated that didn't matter to you.