Atari 8-bit computer peripherals include

floppy drive A floppy disk or floppy diskette (casually referred to as a floppy, a diskette, or a disk) is a type of disk storage composed of a thin and flexible disk of a magnetic storage medium in a square or nearly square plastic enclosure lined with a ...

s, printers, modems, and video game controllers for

Atari 8-bit computers The Atari 8-bit computers, formally launched as the Atari Home Computer System, are a series of home computers introduced by Atari, Inc., in 1979 with the Atari 400 and Atari 800. The architecture is designed around the 8-bit MOS Technology 650 ...

, which includes the 400/800, XL, XE, and XEGS. Because the Atari 400/800 8-bit computers were bundled with an

RF modulator An RF modulator (radio frequency modulator) is an electronic device used to convert signals from devices such as media players, VCRs and game consoles to a format that can be handled by a device designed to receive a modulated RF input, such ...

, stringent

FCC The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is an independent agency of the United States government that regulates communications by radio, television, wire, internet, wi-fi, satellite, and cable across the United States. The FCC maintains ju ...

regulations limiting radio emissions applied. Consequently, the Atari 400/800 systems internal construction use large metal frames as Faraday cages to prevent emissions. This prevents the use of internal cards to add connections for peripherals. To permit easy expansion, Atari developed the SIO (Serial Input/Output) bus. This bus

daisy chain Daisy chain may refer to: * Daisy chain, a garland created from daisy flowers * Daisy chain (climbing), a type of strap * Daisy chain (electrical engineering) In electrical and electronic engineering, a daisy chain is a wiring scheme in whi ...

s together all Atari peripherals into a single string. The Atari computer family was designed to be easy for novice users to expand, with one universal connector plug. Peripherals have their own IDs and can deliver downloadable drivers to the computer during the boot process. However, the additional electronics in these "intelligent" peripherals made them cost more than the "dumb" devices for other systems.

List of peripherals

The names and the styling of Atari's 8-bit peripherals generally match the contemporary computer family. Thus, they can be divided into one of three groups: the 400/800 era (4xx/8xx), the XL era (10xx), and the XE era (beginning with 'X'). The XL-era naming reflects Atari's original intention to launch an "Atari 1000" line.The Atari Sweet-16 Project
atarimuseum.com. Article retrieved 2007-03-18. These are superficial issues and the majority of peripherals are compatible with any 8-bit Atari computer. Atari failed to release a large selection of machines and peripherals that were otherwise completed.

400/800 era (1979-1982)

* 410 Program Recorder - a

tape drive A tape drive is a data storage device that reads and writes data on a magnetic tape. Magnetic-tape data storage is typically used for offline, archival data storage. Tape media generally has a favorable unit cost and long archival stability. ...

, 600 bit/s on

compact cassette The Compact Cassette, also commonly called a cassette tape, audio cassette, or simply tape or cassette, is an analog magnetic tape recording format for audio recording and playback. Invented by Lou Ottens and his team at the Dutch company ...

s ** There are several variants of the 410. Early models were sizeable due largely to a much bigger speaker area at the back, and had square cornered buttons. Later versions were smaller and had buttons that were rounded off on the front. ** The 410 used stereo with the data recorded on one track and the other track holding audio that could be fed through the 400 or 800's sound output (as demonstrated by the language courses). The tape could also be programmatically stopped and started, provided the 'Play' button was engaged. * 810 Disk Drive - a 5¼"

floppy disk A floppy disk or floppy diskette (casually referred to as a floppy, a diskette, or a disk) is a type of disk storage composed of a thin and flexible disk of a magnetic storage medium in a square or nearly square plastic enclosure lined with a ...

drive, single-density single-sided, 90 KB ** Pre-1982 drives "have notoriously poor speed regulation", ''

ANALOG Computing ''ANALOG Computing'' was an American computer magazine devoted to Atari 8-bit computers. It was published from 1981 until 1989. In addition to reviews and tutorials, ''ANALOG'' printed multiple programs in each issue for users to type in. Almo ...

'' reported in 1983; unlike other companies, "ATARI did not begin incorporating a reliable separator into the 810 until early 1982". * 820 40-Column Printer -

dot matrix A dot matrix is a 2-dimensional patterned Array data structure, array, used to represent characters, symbols and images. Most types of modern technology use dot matrices for display of information, including mobile phones, televisions, and pri ...

on adding machine paper * 822

Thermal Printer Thermal printing (or direct thermal printing) is a digital printing process which produces a printed image by passing paper with a thermochromic coating, commonly known as thermal paper, over a print head consisting of tiny electrically hea ...

- 40-column thermal on slightly wider paper * 825 80-Column Printer - dot matrix, used the Centronics interface so required an 850 (repackaged Centronics 737) * 830 Acoustic Modem - a 300-

baud In telecommunications and electronics, baud (; symbol: Bd) is a common unit of measurement of symbol rate, which is one of the components that determine the speed of communication over a data channel. It is the unit for symbol rate or modulat ...

modem The Democratic Movement (, ; MoDem ) is a centre to centre-right political party in France, whose main ideological trends are liberalism and Christian democracy, and that is characterised by a strong pro-Europeanist stance. MoDem was establis ...

, using an

acoustic coupler In telecommunications, an acoustic coupler is an interface device for coupling electrical signals by acoustical means—usually into and out of a telephone. The link is achieved through converting electric signals from the phone line to so ...

, used RS-232 so required an 850 (relabelled

Novation CAT Novation, Inc., is an early modem manufacturer whose CAT series were popular in the early home computer market in the late 1970s and early 1980s, notably on the Apple II. The Hayes Microcomputer Products, Hayes Smartmodem 300, introduced in 1981, ...

) * 835 Direct Connect Modem - a 300-baud modem, direct connect, basic Hayes compatible with SIO interface * 850 Interface Module - included four

RS-232 In telecommunications, RS-232 or Recommended Standard 232 is a standard introduced in 1960 for serial communication transmission of data. It formally defines signals connecting between a ''DTE'' (''data terminal equipment'') such as a compu ...

ports and one

Centronics Centronics Data Computer Corporation was an American manufacturer of computer printers, now remembered primarily for the parallel interface that bears its name, the Centronics connector. History Foundations Centronics began as a divisio ...

parallel port In computing, a parallel port is a type of interface found on early computers ( personal and otherwise) for connecting peripherals. The name refers to the way the data is sent; parallel ports send multiple bits of data at once (paralle ...

* CX30 Paddle Controllers - a set of 2

potentiometer A potentiometer is a three- terminal resistor with a sliding or rotating contact that forms an adjustable voltage divider. If only two terminals are used, one end and the wiper, it acts as a variable resistor or rheostat. The measuring instrum ...

s attached to a single

Atari joystick port The Atari joystick port is a computer port used to connect various gaming controllers to game console and home computer systems in the 1970s to the 1990s. It was originally introduced on the Atari 2600 in 1977 and then used on the Atari 400 and ...

. Originally released with the

Atari VCS The Atari 2600 is a home video game console developed and produced by Atari, Inc. Released in September 1977 as the Atari Video Computer System (Atari VCS), it popularized microprocessor-based hardware and games stored on swappable ROM cartridg ...

console. * CX40 joystick - 8-directional 1-button joystick, originally released with the Atari VCS console. Bundled with some Atari 400/800 packages and also sold separately. Originally all-black, a version with a matching gray base was later bundled with the

Atari XEGS The Atari XE Video Game System (Atari XEGS) is an industrial redesign of the Atari 65XE home computer and the final model in the Atari 8-bit computer series. It was released by Atari Corporation in 1987 and marketed as a home video game console ...

. * CX70 Light Pen - a

light pen A light pen is a computer input device in the form of a light-sensitive wand used in conjunction with a computer's cathode-ray tube (CRT) display. It allows the user to point to displayed objects or draw on the screen in a similar way to a to ...

. Bundled with demonstration software on cassette * CX85

Numerical Keypad A numeric keypad, number pad, numpad, or ten key, is the calculator-style group of ten numeric keys accompanied by other keys, usually on the far right side of computer keyboard. This grouping allows quick number entry with right hand, ...

- external keypad that plugs into the joystick ports.

Prototypes and vaporware

* 815 Dual Disk Drive - dual 5¼" floppy disks, double-density single-sided, 180 KB (only small number of prototypes produced)

XL era (1982-1984)

* 1010 Program Recorder - a tape drive, a smaller replacement for the 410 * 1020 Color Printer - a 40-column

plotter A plotter is a machine that produces vector graphics drawings. Plotters draw lines on paper using a pen, or in some applications, use a knife to cut a material like Polyvinyl chloride, vinyl or leather. In the latter case, they are sometimes k ...

with 4 pens * 1025 Printer - 80-column dot matrix (

Okidata , commonly referred to as OKI, OKI Electric or the OKI Group, is a Japanese information and communications technology company, headquartered in Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo and operating in over 120 countries around the world. OKI produced the fi ...

ML-80) * 1027 Letter Quality Printer - 80-column letter quality that printed with a 5-wheels-on-a-drum system kept inked by a top-mounted roller (

Mannesmann Mannesmann was a German industrial conglomerate. It was originally established as a manufacturer of steel pipes in 1890 under the name "Deutsch-Österreichische Mannesmannröhren-Werke AG" (lit. "German-Austrian Mannesmann pipe-works joint-s ...

Tally Riteman LQ) * 1029 Programmable Printer - 80-column lower-quality 7-pin dot matrix sold in Europe (

Seikosha was a branch of the Japanese company Seiko that produced clocks, watches, shutters, computer printers and other devices. It was the root of the manufacturing companies of the Seiko Group. History *1881 — Kintarō Hattori opens the wat ...

mechanism) * 1030 Modem - 300 baud, direct connect with built in communications software. * 1050 Dual-Density Disk Drive - 5¼" floppy disk, "enhanced density" format single-sided, 130 KB * 1064 Memory Module - 64 KB memory expansion for 600XL * CX75 Light Pen - a

. Bundled with the AtariGraphics drawing program on cartridge. * CX77 Touch Tablet - a

graphics tablet A graphics tablet (also known as a digitizer, digital graphic tablet, pen tablet, drawing tablet, external drawing pad or digital art board) is a computer input device that enables a user to hand draw or paint images, animations and graphics, w ...

. Bundled with the AtariArtist drawing program on cartridge.RX8053 Atariartist
''Atariartist came out in 1983 as a bundle package with the CX-77 Touch Tablet unit. The way it works is you start the program and use the pen to draw on the tablet and the images appear on the screen. This kind software would later be used in the early credit card signing devices in the early 90s. '' * CX80 Trak-Ball Controller - a

trackball A trackball is a pointing device consisting of a ball held by a socket containing sensors to detect a rotation of the ball about two axes—like an upside-down ball mouse (computing), mouse with an exposed protruding ball. Users roll the ball t ...

, also contains a switch for joystick emulation

Prototypes and vaporware

* 1053 - a 5¼" floppy drive, looks like a 1050 but double-sided double-density, 360 KB * 1055 - a 3½" floppy drive, single-side enhanced-density * 1090 XL Expansion System - a case connected to the PBI port, with 5 slots intended for various expansion cards

XE era (1985 onward)

* XEP80 Interface Module - provides 80-column display and a Centronics parallel interface for a printer, controlled by NS405, an

8048 The MCS-48 microcontroller series, Intel's first microcontroller, was originally released in 1976. Its first members were 8048, 8035 and 8748. The 8048 is arguably the most prominent member of the family. Initially, this family was produced ...

based chip. Attached via a joystick port controlled at 15625 baud horizontal video timing.NS405: the heart of the XEP80
/ref> * XC11 Program Recorder - a tape drive * XC12 Program Recorder - a tape drive (small model like the 1010, sold worldwide). It was based on an earlier tape drive, Phonemark PM-4401A, not manufactured by Atari. A number of similar models were released, not marketed by Atari, mainly in

Eastern Europe Eastern Europe is a subregion of the Europe, European continent. As a largely ambiguous term, it has a wide range of geopolitical, geographical, ethnic, cultural and socio-economic connotations. Its eastern boundary is marked by the Ural Mountain ...

and

Latin America Latin America is the cultural region of the Americas where Romance languages are predominantly spoken, primarily Spanish language, Spanish and Portuguese language, Portuguese. Latin America is defined according to cultural identity, not geogr ...

, including these: ** XCA12 (same case as XC12) ** CA12 (same case as XC12) ** XL12 tape drive (an XC12 with minor changes) * XF551 Disk Drive - 5¼" floppy disk, double-density double-sided, 360 KB * XMM801 Dot-Matrix Graphics Printer - 80-column * XDM121 Letter-Quality Daisy-Wheel Printer - 80-column * XM301 Modem - 300 baud * SX212 Modem - 1200 baud (also included RS-232 for use on Atari ST computers) * XG-1 - a

light gun A light gun is a pointing device for computers and a control device for arcade and video games, typically shaped to resemble a pistol. Early history The first light guns were produced in the 1930s, following the development of light-sensi ...

, bundled with the

Prototypes and vaporware

* XF351 - 3½" floppy drive (never released) * XF521 - 5¼" floppy drive, 1050 compatible, XE style (never released) * XC1411 - 14"

composite monitor A composite monitor or composite video monitor is any analog video display that receives input in the form of an analog composite video signal to a defined specification. A composite video signal encodes all information on a single conductor; a ...

(never released) * XM128 - 12"

monochrome monitor A monochrome monitor is a type of computer monitor in which computer text and images are displayed in varying tones of only one color, as opposed to a color monitor that can display text and images in multiple colors. They were very common in t ...

(never made)

References

External links

RespeQt
— open-source software emulator of Atari peripherals {{DEFAULTSORT:Atari 8 bit computer peripherals 1980s toys Atari 8-bit computers Home computer peripherals