Classic Atari

Tribute to the Atari ST

Well, the Atari ST home computer was a very nice, but do not know anything about the facts and the technology? So here it is my short (but hopefully interesting) history of the Atari ST.

It begins with a historical background. After Commodore founder Jack Tramiel left your the company in January 1984 that he was looking for a new computer company that could acquire. Over time, resumed the Atari, which was in financial difficulty at that time. Shiraz Shivji, the father of the C64 is Tramiel on board, left for the Atari and Commodore to Tramiel now to develop new low-cost, high quality system of the summit. Each another team during the development have been canceled and Atari exempt more workers Tramiel Atari.

Shivji started to develop the computer using the Motorola 68000 processor, 32-bit processor with 16-bit data bus (hence the "T", which is officially "Sixteen / Thirty-two"). Genuine ST contains 512 KB of RAM and 3.5 ", Shivji, however, was to build a system with a minimum of equipment which helps keep costs low.

After designing the device has been completed, had to seek an operating system – the development of the internal operating system is not possible, it is ST will be available soon. Microsoft offers to port an older version of Windows on the ST, but have two years of DOS does not work on 68K hardware.

CP/M-68K Atari decided to Digital Research, which is primarily a direct port of CP / M original, mature operating system, More Digital Research GEM GUI. Concern this decision was that the CP / M was becoming increasingly outdated in comparison with MS-DOS 2.0 in 1985, does not support subdirectories, and there is a hierarchical system file, for example.

Digital Research is already working on an operating system called GEMDOS improved, and at the end of the OS GEMDOS in CP / M to achieve hierarchical file system, for example. So finally, operating system, officially called the Atari TOS (operating system) was / MS M GEM port and port their own library.

The first was the Atari ST 520ST, who was born in 1995. Early start-up from a floppy of these TOS, with the latest in TOS ROM on board. ST is less expensive than an Apple Macintosh Plus, he was fast and become very popular due to good price performance ratio. Atari ST emulator terminal software, which is also significantly cheaper than a Digital VT220 terminal, for example.

The main competitor of the Atari ST was the Apple Macintosh and Commodore Amiga. Macintosh computer screen is limited to a monochrome monitor with an integrated small, in fact, the Atari ST first computer come with a little color and graphical user interface has been completely mapped CAD software for cheap and efficient computer system. This was also the first computer with integrated MIDI support, which has become very popular among musicians.

1040ST is the first personal computer equipped with a basic configuration of the 1 MB of RAM and 999 dollars in the United States, as the first team to break the barrier at $ 1000/megabyte. Also integrated into the disk. Version of the field pizza form factor, high-quality keypad and an independent internal expansion slot has been sent to the "Mega" to meet the needs of the market the professional.

At the end of 1989, Atari launched the ETS, the first major reorganization of the platform of the original version of S & T four years ago. TOS provides an update and improve the aesthetic qualities – color palette of more than 4096 colors, Genlock support, blitter chip, which can quickly move large blocks of data, sound better, and joystick ports. However, still uses the Motorola 68000 clock speed of 8 MHz

There were serious problems with models of sexually transmitted diseases. Firstly, there are hardware and software conflicts that made them incompatible with a series of programs and development of the classical model of ST. In addition, there are very few programs using STI features improved, although a majority supports the functions of ST software known material.

Premium based on the TT station (Thirty-two/Thirty-two "using 32-MHz processor Motorola 68030) was published in 1990, which also includes increased support for more powerful graphics chips and hard drive. ETS TT port were also named in the case of Mega STE held at 16 MHz, and was much better than the original function, STD, but cheaper than the TT.

Final ST computer was the Falcon, is also a multimedia computer based on 68,030 working at 16 MHz, but with enhanced graphics and a lot more balls, including the quality of the DSP. Launched in 1992, was canceled by Atari the following year.

In 1993, the cancellation of any material development of the Atari ST. Some companies continue to ship and use Falcon TT-68040 compatible devices, and even CPU 68060 (Motorola chip initially expected to challenge Intel's Pentium, but it was never used by Apple in conjunction the transition to the PowerPC architecture).

Even today, despite the lack of equipment suppliers, is still a small active community dedicated to preservation Platform ST.

About the Author

Jos Kirps is the creator of several software and web projects, including Galaxiki, a fictional galaxy where site members can get their own solar system and the Open Source CorneliOS webOS.

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