New to Atari or Coming Back After a While? Start Here.

[AtariBasics]

If you’re new to Atari, or returning after years away, you’re in good company. I stepped away for 30+ years myself before coming back to these machines, so a lot of this has been a learning process all over again.

Atari Insights is a free monthly newsletter that I started as a way to give back to the community. It’s my way of giving something back and sharing what I’ve been relearning along the way. These machines may look simple now, but they still make you slow down, think things through, and actually understand what’s happening on the screen.

The newsletter follows the things I’ve been poking at since coming back, like emulation, real hardware, BASIC programming, small experiments, and whatever else I happen to be working on at the time. In many cases, I’m learning right alongside the reader, revisiting ideas that trace back to how these computers were used in the 1980s and seeing how they still fit today.

The articles are designed to start simple, move slowly, and leave room to explore. Topics range from using emulators like Altirra, to working with Atari BASIC and OSS BASIC XL, to hands-on projects involving joysticks, sensors, and creative software. There’s also growing coverage of the Atari 400 Mini for people starting where many newcomers are today.

There’s no need to read it cover to cover or worry about order. Grab one article that sounds interesting, mess with it a bit, and come back later if you feel like it.

All of the current and older issues are up on the site, so you can wander through and start anywhere:

https://www.ataribasics.com

Whether you’re using real hardware, emulation, or just reading and learning, you’re welcome.
— John

 

[xp0nentz]

If you’re new to Atari, or returning after years away, you’re in good company. I stepped away for 30+ years myself before coming back to these machines, so a lot of this has been a learning process all over again.

Atari Insights is a free monthly newsletter that I started as a way to give back to the community. It’s my way of giving something back and sharing what I’ve been relearning along the way. These machines may look simple now, but they still make you slow down, think things through, and actually understand what’s happening on the screen.

The newsletter follows the things I’ve been poking at since coming back, like emulation, real hardware, BASIC programming, small experiments, and whatever else I happen to be working on at the time. In many cases, I’m learning right alongside the reader, revisiting ideas that trace back to how these computers were used in the 1980s and seeing how they still fit today.

The articles are designed to start simple, move slowly, and leave room to explore. Topics range from using emulators like Altirra, to working with Atari BASIC and OSS BASIC XL, to hands-on projects involving joysticks, sensors, and creative software. There’s also growing coverage of the Atari 400 Mini for people starting where many newcomers are today.

There’s no need to read it cover to cover or worry about order. Grab one article that sounds interesting, mess with it a bit, and come back later if you feel like it.

All of the current and older issues are up on the site, so you can wander through and start anywhere:

https://www.ataribasics.com

Whether you’re using real hardware, emulation, or just reading and learning, you’re welcome.
— John

Did ya hear? Atari is making reproduction consoles, and they're making new cartridges compatible with old machines! 2026 is a comeback for vintage computers??

 

[AtariBasics]

Did ya hear? Atari is making reproduction consoles, and they're making new cartridges compatible with old machines! 2026 is a comeback for vintage computers??

Sounds like it could be an interesting year for us Atarians. The only things I’m personally aware of right now are THE400 Mini and the RM800XL from Revive Machines.

From what you’ve heard, do you think people are talking about actual 8-bit or 16-bit computers, or more along the lines of the game-machine side of things?
John

 

[Timo W.]

The only things I’m personally aware of right now are THE400 Mini and the RM800XL from Revive Machines.

Wow, you must be a die-hard Atari fan if you are not aware of the 2600+, the 7800+, all the games, joysticks and whatnot that Atari is doing since 2024.

 

[AtariBasics]

Wow, you must be a die-hard Atari fan if you are not aware of the 2600+, the 7800+, all the games, joysticks and whatnot that Atari is doing since 2024.

Indeed I am. I really haven’t been part of that side of things. Even growing up, I was always more of an Atari 800 person (which I still own). The only time I really touched a 2600 was when we’d go to Sears. I’ve never been much of a gamer, honestly. Maybe I’ll do a walkthrough someday just for my YouTube audience, but I’ll be upfront about it — it won’t be pretty.

 

[xp0nentz]

Sounds like it could be an interesting year for us Atarians. The only things I’m personally aware of right now are THE400 Mini and the RM800XL from Revive Machines.

From what you’ve heard, do you think people are talking about actual 8-bit or 16-bit computers, or more along the lines of the game-machine side of things?
John

They're making a reproduction 2600! It's the cartridge one too! Commodore's also manufacturing the 64 ultimate under perifractics ownership.

 

[tschak909]

If you’re new to Atari, or returning after years away, you’re in good company. I stepped away for 30+ years myself before coming back to these machines, so a lot of this has been a learning process all over again.

Atari Insights is a free monthly newsletter that I started as a way to give back to the community. It’s my way of giving something back and sharing what I’ve been relearning along the way. These machines may look simple now, but they still make you slow down, think things through, and actually understand what’s happening on the screen.

The newsletter follows the things I’ve been poking at since coming back, like emulation, real hardware, BASIC programming, small experiments, and whatever else I happen to be working on at the time. In many cases, I’m learning right alongside the reader, revisiting ideas that trace back to how these computers were used in the 1980s and seeing how they still fit today.

The articles are designed to start simple, move slowly, and leave room to explore. Topics range from using emulators like Altirra, to working with Atari BASIC and OSS BASIC XL, to hands-on projects involving joysticks, sensors, and creative software. There’s also growing coverage of the Atari 400 Mini for people starting where many newcomers are today.

There’s no need to read it cover to cover or worry about order. Grab one article that sounds interesting, mess with it a bit, and come back later if you feel like it.

All of the current and older issues are up on the site, so you can wander through and start anywhere:

https://www.ataribasics.com

Whether you’re using real hardware, emulation, or just reading and learning, you’re welcome.
— John

Take a good look at this. https://fujinet.online/

 

[AtariBasics]

Yes, I’m a big fan of the FujiNet group. I picked up a FujiNet Pro a while back and I’m still loving it. I also just got the virtual FujiNet working in the last few days, which has been a lot of fun.

The Commodore Ultimate (I think that’s what it’s called) is pretty nice, but since I don’t have a basement and the dining room is already pretty full, if I acquire anything else I may have to start mounting things on the walls.

Hey have you checked out this Great Newsletter over at: https://ataribasics.com/