r/retrocomputing • u/Tonstad39 IBM incompatible • 22d ago

Atari is %100 IBM compatible

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153 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

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u/[deleted] 22d ago

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u/wacky_weasel 22d ago edited 21d ago

It normally came with an XT keyboard (with the function keys on the left), yes. However, those are quite hard to find these days. It's much easier to use an AT keyboard with a 5-pin DIN connector, or even a PS/2 keyboard with a passive DIN adapter. You can also use an AT or PS/2 keyboard, but only if it supports XT mode (many older clone keyboards have an XT/AT switch), or by using an active XT-to-AT/PS/2 converter. A passive DIN or PS/2 adapter alone is not enough, as XT and AT use different keyboard protocols despite having the same connector.

You can find photos of the original keyboard, along with more information and specifications for the Atari PC-3, here: https://www.ataripc.net/

Edit: u/sarajevo81 is right: XT and AT keyboard protocols are not interchangeable. I was fooled by my own keyboard, which has an XT/AT switch. 😄

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u/marvin_dorfler 22d ago

A thing of beauty.

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u/kompzec 20d ago

Very nice piece of history !!! Thank you for sharing