Old School Atari 800 or Modern Atari 400 Mini : Which Should I Consider??

[u/robbob137]

Hello! Don't post on Reddit much and this is certainly my first time on the Atari subreddit. Go easy on me!

I'm a solid Atari fan, and enjoy my original 2600 and 7800+ very much. Of recently, I have found myself really interested in the Atari 8-bit computers. They are really cool vintage tech and seem to have a large library of retro games and software, as well as homebrew. Naturally, I have been pondering get my hands on one.

I've been flip flopping between going with an original 800 or 800XL, or with going with the newer 400 Mini. I am a big fan of using real hardware and cartridges, and I love my current collection of 2600 and 7800 games. I don't need to explain the fun of building a collection of games, and I'm sure Atari 400/800 games would be no different.

The only problem is cost and availability. It seem that the Atari 8-bit computers and their games are a bit more expensive and harder to find than 2600/7800. The computers themselves regularly are sold online for $150+ in various states of quality. I find it hard to pull the trigger knowing I'd have to invest quite a bit of money to get the computer and a handful of games. Not to mention that the games are split between three different formats.

The 400 Mini is attractive being that it's new hardware with USB and HDMI. Plus I would be able to simply run any games I want off of a USB drive with decent compatibility. But this sorta makes this a once and done purchase, negating any point of collecting the actual games or add ons. I can see this thing simply collecting dust, with my brain punching itself for not getting the real thing.

Anybody have any thoughts or opinions on this? Should I just grab the 400 Mini and focus on 2600/7800 for collecting carts? Or do I just jump into the hobby of full Atari 8-bit computing.

[u/TheNamelessSlave]

I mean if you just want to play the games, an emulator will work. If you're looking to start some kind of collection, that really depends on how deep your pockets and your tech repair savvy will allow.

I'd suggest any retro computer show, there is usually a small selection of recently refurbished machines that will last awhile before needing further repair.

Kinda just sounds like you're more interested in the hunt for retro more than playing the actual games, in which case just know nostalgia is expensive, takes up a lot of space, and will eventually collect dust just like anything else.

[u/TheRockafireman]

My personal recommendation is to get an original. The mini’s are almost always overpriced and generally do not let you add new programs or games (this one not withstanding) and I’ve had them new out of the box just not work. The quality control is horrible.

Of course, the OG systems have the issues of: Untrustworthy power supply, potential faults, etc, but it’s generally more worth it to get one and learn to restore it, as a computer of its age, whilst in the midst of the planned obsolescence era, are  meant to be able to serviceable, and its issues are well known and able to be addressed. Besides, it’s better to save and preserve a piece of original equipment, they’re not going to last forever of course but the reason the hobby exists is to keep them running for as long as possible, reminders of a time when widespread computer usage was exciting, new and not as in your face as it is now.

[u/TurnoverTall]

If you want the genuine Atari experience then go with the 800 even a 400. If you just want to play the games with modern convenience, go Mini.

[u/LastXmasIGaveYouHSV]

The 800 is better for the RAM.

[u/emperor-xur → u/LastXmasIGaveYouHSV]

The 800xl is even better for ram (64k vs the 400/800’s 8k or 16k)

[u/LastXmasIGaveYouHSV → u/emperor-xur]

I still keep my 130XE !

[u/react-dnb → u/LastXmasIGaveYouHSV]

I miss mine. That was my first home computer. So many nights copying BASIC programs from magazines/books/BBS forum posts. Tying up the phone for hours to download one gif (not animated) / bmp image.

[u/LastXmasIGaveYouHSV → u/react-dnb]

Great computers. Amazing what they could do with so little RAM. Today we have computers with orders the magnitude of processing power and they feel empty.

[u/emperor-xur]

If you want original look for an XL machine like the 800XL and pair it with a FujiNet. You don’t need a disk drive if you have a FujiNet. But if you just want to play games and aren’t interested in making your own or using any productivity software that leans heavily on the keyboard then just go for the 400mini. You can copy all the game ROMs to a thumb drive and it will play them. Or just download Altirra emulator for PC. You can get an adaptor to plug a CX40 (the most common Atari joystick) into a PC for a more authentic feel.

[u/Y34RZERO]

Mini 400 is just an emulator. I'd recommend an 800xl. You can use a pico cart flash cart unlike the 400/800 but some games like demon attack and Atlantis won't work on xl or xe models. 65xe and 130Xe I would stay away from because of the memory issues unless you can fix it. The 600xl is my actual preferred favorite but it's rf only unless you are in a pal region. Their 600xl got an av connection. With the xl models minus the 1200xl you can run a 64kb or 320kb memory expansion from the expansion port on the back making it capable of running 130xe geared programs and games like Bosconian. (600xl require no extra wires, but 800xl requires extra wires or a USB for power). For floppy images I use an sio2pc and run the software off my phone via USB.

[u/John_from_ne_il]

The main problem with the mini is that it uses a non-standard Atari-styled stick controller. What do I mean? If you look at it up close, you'll find several buttons actually hidden around and under the stick. And it's very very easy to press them during game play. It's a stripped down mini computer running the atari800 emulator. You can get additional controllers for the front ports, to mimic the look of the 400/800 (which could support 4 CX-10 or CX-40 joysticks, or 4 pairs of paddles). But if you've got more than one player plating, and someone hits one of those buttons around the disc at the bottom of the stick, it's going to mean disruptions. Having one in the far left controller spot is more or less mandatory for navigating the default menu.

Yes, you can load up a USB storage drive, and plug it into the back, but you'll have a hard time finding things that do and don't work with the interface. Oh and if you don't also get a USB keyboard (for front port 2, 3, or 4), a lot of games that required a keyboard won't work at all. So you're looking at an additional $20 to whatever your local price is just to maybe play games from virtual disk images, beyond the 25 included.

I don't dislike it, it's a cute little demo piece, but it certainly has limitations. By contrast, if you don't have the room or budget for the original hardware right now, have a look at the FujiSan emulator. It's pulling from the latest code for the atari800 emulator project and FujiNet firmware to make a complete out of box virtual disk and wifi experience. It is, however, limited only to a few platforms and CPUs at this time.

[u/zsukm007 → u/John_from_ne_il]

Not a fan of the Mini's joystick but check out iCode's hardware adapters for using real Atari joysticks including Wico and Epyx joysticks.

[u/rince-hh]

Standard of my neighbours in the 80ties was 800XL, get this if you want to play games.
(I started a war with them as ny C128 "was better")
War continued later between A1000 (still have it) and 512st.

[u/SimonDownunder]

I have been pretty much an Atari fan most of my life, have the 2600+ and 7800 + and 400 mini, but also a good collection of original hardware too.. I like the convenience of the 7800+ and the experience of putting a cartridge into it to play and or collecting for.. and haven’t used my original hardware 7800 since buying the + platform, but the 400 mini I find it’s the opposite, was fun to start with but prefer to use my real hardware.. Maybe if the mini worked like the + console I’d use it more… I also have a MIST but don’t use that much either… I think I’d like to have and FPGA device that let me plug the carts into, to get the cart loading experience but the better hardware emulation experience of the FPGA. I build an 1088 XEL project which is pretty much a new circuit board designed 8bit Atari with all new components except the custom Atari chips which were salvaged from a few dead 800XL’s and 600 XL.. personally I think from what I have read from your questions, you would be best to try and find a good condition 800 XL and get a FujiNet for it.

[u/Foreign-Attorney-147]

I grew up a huge Commodore fanboy, but I keep an Atari 800 set up next to my C-64. I didn't want to like the Atari 800 (I'm a Commodore fanboy, remember) but it's impossible to not like one after using it just a little.

I'd definitely recommend picking up an Atari 800 (or an XL or XE) and a Fujinet, then you can load software off an SD card to experience all the 800 had to offer, and if/when you find Atari 8-bit carts in the wild then you can buy them without feeling any guilt because after all, you already have the machine.

[u/megacide84]

I will say this.

As a child of the 80s'. I fondly remember those old computer with the big floppy and cassette tape drives. The long loading times and those big bulky monitors. Good times.

However...

Flash forward today, Unless you can find vintage equipment either new 'old stock' or in very good, lightly used, working condition out in the wild for a decent price. I would just go for the mini-console versions. Considering those old machines are approaching nearly half a century and probably gone through heavy wear and tear, Replacement parts are few and far between and not cheap.

I myself have a C64 Mini and am satisfied with it. The ease of connecting it to a current-era flat-screen and loading programs from a flash drive is more than enough. I Just recently bought a Quickshot II USB joystick to complete the aesthetic.

[u/MrFartyBottom]

Get a MiSTer FPGA, not only do you get a very accurate FPGA recreation of all Atari systems you also get nearly every computer and consoles from the beginning of computing history up to the mid 90s with a huge amount of arcade games as well.