I got my Atari 800 CompactFlash drive working!

Post by **benheck** » Thu Oct 20, 2005 1:29 pm

As some of you may know I've been working off and on for the last 2 years on an Atari 800 laptop. This is my ultimate dream portable as the 800 was the first computer I ever had, LONG LONG ago.

There's a guy who made this thing called the MyIDE adapter which, when wired to an Atari with a few extra circuits and with the help of a replacement OS can allow the Atari to access IDE harddrives!

http://www.mr-atari.com

Then I decided to use a CompactFlash to HD adapter. A CompactFlash is accessed pretty much exactly like a harddrive anyways, but uses TONS less power.

So it sort of worked, then didn't, off and on. Had to get a custom OS from him to work with my XEGS I was using. Then yesterday I decided to finally get it working. I rewired the adapter, checked everything and BAM! Works great!

It is so awesome - loads super fast, even faster than a SIO2PC cable. An old 32 meg Compactflash card will hold every Atari 800 program or game you'd ever want, 10 times over. Once I find a suitable screen I can complete The Atari 800 Laptop!

YAHOO!

totokan · Post by **totokan** » Thu Oct 20, 2005 1:31 pm

wow, great news! What size screen are you trying to get for it?

nos_slived · Post by **nos_slived** » Thu Oct 20, 2005 1:32 pm

You are the king Ben!

Post by **gannon** » Thu Oct 20, 2005 1:42 pm

Now, can you find a >7" lcd that uses 5V, or will you need to use a boosting regulator

Post by **Sparkfist** » Thu Oct 20, 2005 2:19 pm

gannon wrote:Now, can you find a >7" lcd that uses 5V, or will you need to use a boosting regulator

Or bit the bullet and just use a PSone screen. I've played the Final Fantasy V port to PSone and the text is easy to read.

Also are you going to have a howto for this when its done or the standard story verson?

soundwave · Post by **soundwave** » Thu Oct 20, 2005 2:20 pm

I need the C64 CF adapter, Its mine...my precious...

Post by **bicostp** » Thu Oct 20, 2005 2:37 pm

So you are making an A800 laptop!

Eff yes!

Can't wait to see it.

(I'd assume a PSone screen would look fine, but it might look kinda small when compared to the 800's keyboard.)

I assume it's one of the later Ataris which has a "Chiclet-style" keyboard (short keys like on current laptops) ?

Post by **benheck** » Thu Oct 20, 2005 2:38 pm

Yeah the final hurdle is the screen... 7" are pretty common, and cheap, but a lot of those are "widescreen" and that won't cut it.

The PSone screen would be easy but WAYYY too small.

Ideal would be 8" diagonal. The screen can't take up the whole lid as I need some room at the sides for the joysticks to go into (when it's closed) Anyone got any leads on such a screen?

The thing looks to be only 1.5" thick! It will rule all when done!

daguuy · Post by **daguuy** » Thu Oct 20, 2005 5:48 pm

madcatz makes some 7" screens
EDIT: nevermind, that's wide screen

Kai · Post by **Kai** » Fri Oct 21, 2005 1:23 am

I need a C64 CF adapter too for my planned C64 D2TV Pal portable.
(but I try to finish my NESp before I broke the bourd but I'll fix it somehow)