Rarities of the Atari 8-bit home computer systems

{From a now-defunct Atari board. Modified and formatted from original postings.}

Rarities [pt 1] - 1000, 1000X, 1200, 1400XL, 1450XLD


Model: 1000

Manufacture Date: April - June 1982
Spec: CPU: 6502 1.79mhz / Ram: 16kb
Display: 24 x 40 text

Initial Sale Price: N/A - prototype "sweet-16" - entry level computer - 400 replacement?

Information: 2x (enhanced) SIO ports (with "wake" state) , PBI 4x function keys with onboard system diag.​

Model: 1000X

Manufacture Date: April - June 1982
Spec: CPU: 6502 1.79mhz / Ram: 64kb
Display: 24 x 40 text

Initial Sale Price: N/A - prototype "sweet-16" - 800 replacment?

Information: 2x (enhanced) SIO ports (with "wake" state) , PBI 4x function keys with onboard system diag.​

Model: 1200

Manufacture Date: late 1982
Spec: as 1200XL
Display: 24 x 40 text

Initial Sale Price: N/A - prototype "sweet-16"

Information: Case ID lacks the "XL" and is smooth finished as opposed to the rough feel of the mass produced XLs.
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Model: 1400XL

Manufacture Date: early 1984
Spec: based around 1200XL architecture
Display: 24 x 40 text

Initial Sale Price: N/A - prototype only

Information: A breathrough for Atari; due to include speech handler chip, built-in modem and PAL A, B & C encoding. a rare beast - only a handful of prototypes known to exist.
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Model: 1450XLD

Manufacture Date: early 1984
Spec: based around 1200XL architecture, but included new "Freddie" chip,
Display: 24 x 40 text

Initial Sale Price: N/A prototype and pre-sales builds only only

Information: Included; built-in 300baud modem, 5¼ 360k d/drive and space for 2nd drive, speech synth. Sale of Atari to Tramiels resulted in release being cancelled.
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Rarities [pt 2] - 1200XLS, 1600XL, 1650XLD]

Model: 1200XLS

Release Date: N/A
Spec: as 1200XL
Display: 24 x 40 text

Initial Sale Price: N/A - concept design model (case only?)

Information: some fundamental differences in design between this "CES show" model and the mass-produced "XL"; cart slot in top rather than left side, 2x telephone/modem sockets, and case was modified to allow for PBI.​

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Model: 1600XL

Manufacture Date: July 1983
Spec: 6502 /80186
Display: N/K

Initial Sale Price: N/A Prototype only

Information: high-end model code-named "Shatki" - a dual processor system with 6502 and 80186 for IBM compatibility.​

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Model: 1650XLD

Release Date: late 1983
Spec: 6502 / 80186
Display: N/K

Initial Sale Price: N/A - Prototype only

Information: another hybrid Atari 8-bit/IBM 80186 clone dual system - planned to be a joint project with Toshiba.​

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Rarities [pt 3] - 1850XL, 1850XLD

Model: 1850XL

Development Date: 1983
Spec:
Display: N/K

Initial Sale Price: N/A - shelved project

Information: add-on expansion box would allow access to various peripherals via the rear bus​

Model: 1850XLD

Development Date: 1983
Spec: 68000 w/256k "Minnie" expansion
Display: N/K

Initial Sale Price: N/A shelved project

Information: code-named "Mickey" based on the Amiga Lorraine, principally a game console with (later available) keyboard and memory add-ons.​

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Rarities [pt 4] - XL Range


Model: 600XL

Release Date: Late 1983
Spec: CPU: 6502 1.79mhz / Ram: 16kb
Display: 24 X 40 text

Initial Sale Price: proto only - secam version for French market

Information: The XL range of computers were designed to be truly global. While most of the world would be PAL or NTSC, a French SECAM prototype bearing the codename "Pauline" was made​

Model: 600XL

Release Date: Late 1983
Spec: CPU: 6502 1.79mhz / Ram: 16kb
Display: 24 X 40 text

Initial Sale Price: proto only - NTSC proto

Information: At the same time as the French prototype was being released, this US (NTSC) version, codenamed "SHIRLEY" (in New York) and "SURELY" (in Sunnyvale, CA). Some protos can be identified by the "Chelco" branding on the motherboard. Atari later stopped Checo form branding their boards.​

Model: 800XLF

Release Date: October 1983
Spec: CPU: 6502 1.79mhz / Ram: 64kb
Display: 24 X 40 text

Initial Sale Price: Fr 1799

Information: An enhanced version of the 800XL, called 800XLF, with new "Freddie" chip installed, accommodating better/faster memory management. 800XLF was released in Europe (mainy Frnace) with SECAM video interface - the monitor port being 6-pin. A much lesser quantity of PAL machines were released with standard 5-pin monitor port to UK and mainland Europe.
some quick tests to identify an XLF: "Freddie chip will be bottom left - CO61991 or CO61992

There are some non-secam XLFs out there - usually Basic Rev C, you can entre ? PEEK(43234) to identify which basic you have:

162= Rev, 96=Rev B (XLs), 234= Rev C (XEs and late XLs)​

Some indicators that you may have a non-SECAM Freddie?

• stock 800XL has 5 large ICs (bottom half of mainboard). 6502 "Sally" CPU, Antic, GTIA, Pokey, PIA. A Freddie machine has 6.
• finally, you can test your video output using an S-video cable. As XLF 800XLs mainboards connected for chroma to 5-pin monitor port as per the XE range, then connecting S-video will result in a colour display on an XLF
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NOTE: An extremely hard-to-find ATARI FRANCE prototype/vaporware 800XLF with SCART output connector exists - but has yet to be found.

Motherboard Info
Rev-R1 © Apr-1984 proto?
Rev-R2 - N/K.
Rev-R3 © Sep-1984
Rev-R4 Oct-18-1984, Jun-7-1985 + Feb-04-1988

The 800XL-SECAM (Freddie):
© 4/84 REV-X1A prototype board week 18 1984
© 8/84 REV-R3 week 42 1984 + week 05 1985​

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Model: 800XLD

Release Date: Never Released
Spec: CPU: 6502 1.79mhz / Ram: 64kb
Display: 24 X 40 text

Initial Sale Price: Idea Stage Only - (suggested) $350

Information: Planned as an Atari 800XL with built in disk drive and Freddie Chi. As a cost-cutting exercise it was suggested that the modem and speech synthesis would be abandoned.​

Model: 800XL 128k

Release Date: 1984
Spec: CPU: 6502 1.79mhz / Ram: 128kb
Display: 24 X 40 text

Initial Sale Price: proto/vaporware only -

Information: 128kb RAM arranged as 2 banks of 8x8k chips - on what appears to be an 800xe proto board? has much the same arrangement of ICs as the 130xe (16 ram chip version) NTSC.​

Model: 800XL - Hebrew Modification

Release Date: 1983
Spec: CPU: 6502 1.79mhz / Ram: 64kb
Display: 24 X 40 text

Initial Sale Price: Fr 1799

Information: Not a new machine (as such) - rather an upgrade via a Hebrew chip in 1983. Much like the Arabic 65XE, this is done thru key combinations - the Hebrew character set (POKE 756,224). The second is changing typing direction to 'right to left' mode. CTRL-SHIFT-S toggles Hebrew/English letters, CTRL-SHIFT-R toggles Left-to-Right and Right-to-Left typing direction. Also provided a full COLD-START via CTRL-SHIFT-ESC. Unknown how rare this upgraded XL is.​

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Rarities [pt 5] - XE Range

Model: 65XE نجم (Nijem / Najm)

Release Date: August 1987
Spec: CPU: 6502 1.79mhz / Ram: 64kb
Display: 24 X 40 text / full Arabic character set

Initial Sale Price: unknown

Information: It's a 65XE - released in the Middle East, and is very scarce/sought after - it's said (source: www.savetz.com/vintagecomputers/arabic65xe/) that Atari may have made only 15! - to test a potential Arab market. I managed to locate one of these myself (which I now own) - and other than curiosity / retention value - it has no real use to me. Apart from the OS revision date of 21 July 1987 including full Arabic character set and Dos menu and typing from right to left, it appears to be a bog standard 65XE.​

Footnote:
I'm now in possession of 4 of these beauties - I had previously sold my ONLY 1 to Tim. Anyhow, there's some subtle differences with these. Although these are deemed the "hen's teeth" of any Production/Sold Atari, even within this there's a rarer model. I don't know how many were aware, but, as few of these that actually exists there's an even rarer variant.​

The standard 65XE NAJM (nijem nejm) "star" comes with two clear visible identifying marks:

1] the mobo is marked "65XEN" and the letter "G" on the keyboard has two Arabic characters that look like jJ
2] the rarer flavour has a mobo marked 130XE 64x4 rev 1 and the letter G has only ONE Arabic character the larger J. These stemmed from the arse-end of the 8-bit line - when Atari were essentially assembling units from "whatever they had knocking about the factory floor". They'd clearly run out of bespoke 65XEN boards and used the 130XE four-chip board to ship the final few Arabic 65XEs.​

Question:
The bespoke 65XEN board has only one row of circuitry for 8x ram chips, yet it also has the ECI port. why? surely, if you're releasing a machine with ECI capability and the potential for expansion in that way, you'd also allow for memory expansion to upgrade the machine as required?

More Info:

enter the 'PEEK' commands in BASIC provides OS, Basic and GTIA information.
PEEK(53268) = 1
PEEK(65528) = 177
PEEK(65527) = 59
PEEK(43234) = 234​

The NAJM 65XE has two character sets - standard ATASCII characters and Arabic character set. Although mass-produced XEs have two character sets, which affects what you see when you hold the control key while typing a letter:
either, graphics chars when PEEK(756)=224 or international character set (offering letters with accents and so on) when PEEK(756)=204.

65XE NAJM has dual character sets occupying the same ROM space. The standard set occupies the alternate space with Arabic characters replacing the international character set, with Arabic characters when PEEK(756)=224, as default. Graphics characters are accessed using PEEK(756)=204.

O/S Chip Variations and Peculiarities:

65xen board (8/8 ram) - c101700-001a
1987 - SHIFT+HELP functionality disabled. Use CONTROL to force alternate Arabic characters.

65xen board (8/8 ram) - c101700-1c
more info required

130xe board (2/4 ram) - C101700-02c
1988 - SHIFT+HELP functionality enabled. Improved Arabic font over "001a". OS terminal character insertion when spacebar pressed toward end of word.

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As expected (in Arabic mode) all typing appears from right to left. Press the CAPS key to revert to English and left to right typing.

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Additional Note:
there's a little discussion on AAge at the moment about this machine and the exact translation of the Arabic symbols on the case badge. I've posted my findings there, but also repeated here to keep everything in one tidy place

a very simple google translate gives this:

ATARI = بوابة STAR = نجمة​

I think "star" is pretty close. Also bear in mind there are (at least) 8 different Arabic languages.

You can also factor in how the noun "star" is applied/described:

نُجوم = as in; an all-star line-up
نَجْمة = as in; in the shape of a star
نَجْم = as in; celebrity - superstar
كَوْكَب = as in; planet​

"celebrity/superstar" looks about the closest match, there may be a better closer Arabic translation that doesn't use the word "star" but maybe means "celebrity".
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Model: 130XE - Secam

Release Date: 1986?
Spec: CPU: 6502 1.79mhz / Ram: 138kb
Display: 24 X 40 text

Initial Sale Price: unknown

Information: 130xe Secam (France only) 6-pin DIN, no RF​

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Model: 65XEM

Release Date: 1985
Spec: CPU: 6502 1.79mhz / Ram: 64kb - AMY-1 (sound chip)
Display: 24 X 40 text

Initial Sale Price: Prototype

Information: Planned as an This unreleased computer was a standard Atari 65XE computer fitted with a special Audio chip "AMY" Debut at 1985 CES with reputedly stunning sound/voice synthesis. The AMY chip encountered problems and ended up being sold to Sight & Sound of Milwaukee.​

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Model: 65XEP

Release Date: 1985
Spec: CPU: 6502 1.79mhz / Ram: integral 64kb 3½" disk drive / 5" mono screen
Display: 24 X 40 text

Initial Sale Price: Prototype - $400

Information: Atari's first portable computer was shown at CES 1985. Being a portable version of the Atari 65XE with built-in 3.½" 360 KB disk drive, 5" green CRT and a battery. The price was fixed at less than $400, but beyond its (rumoured) ONE prototype, the machine never made it to retail.​

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