What was the atari 800s' meaning?

[ValiantVenality]

I know the atari 800 was meant for games and programming but like what did you actually do on it? I know games but what sort of programming? And also was this made for the typical buisness man? I would really like to get one but if it doesnt interest me then I dont really wanna get it anymore. I love atari so the games will be fine but I want more than games.

[Reaperman@home]

well the ataris and the commodores were generally 'game computers' so they really weren't for much else, but there were the usual crop of other functions.

atari basic was the primary language of homebrew, either built in or on cart. (other flavors of basic as well) but otherwise, the most common were 6502 assembler, pascal and logo.

common apps:
visicalc (spreadsheets)
atariwriter (word proc)
print shop (desktop publishing)
koalapainter (required koalapad)
some kind of wireframe 3d drafting program (I forget the name)

but no, the atari computers weren't really aimed at the application user.

[atari2600a]

Don't forget BBS.

[Sparkfist]

I'll agree that Ataris and Commodore comptuers, specificly the 800 and 64s were ment to home use. However the vast veriety of software make the computers useful for a large number of things, even use in businesses.

Games were just the biggest part of the computers. Atari was known more for the VCS (at the time) and Commodore had made the 64 originally for arcade systems.

[benheck]

Its meaning was that it KICKED ASS!!!

Check it out, I STILL have mine hooked up, right above my main PC:



In fact, I even have a cable that allows me to load disk images off my PC (since all my disk drives broke)

I wish I had more time fool around with it. Maybe program a game?

It was the 3rd most common home PC, behind Commodore 64 and Apple II. Tech-wise, it was better than an Apple, but the Commodore beat it with sound and graphics.

[NES_fanatic]

I wan't ot get one just to play Rescue on Fractulus. People say it's scary as hell even for such an old game.