Editing Atari 8-bit computers (section)

=== 1200XL===
[[File:Atari 1200XL.jpg|thumb|Atari 1200XL]]

The original Sweet 8/16 plans were dropped and only one machine using the new design was released. Announced at a New York City press conference on December 13, 1982,<ref>{{cite press release|title=Atari introduces the 1200XL computer|url=http://mcurrent.name/atari1983/|place=New York|publisher=[[Atari, Inc.]]|date=December 13, 1982|agency=[[PR Newswire]]}}</ref><ref name="creative-atari-1200xl">{{cite book|author=Anderson, John|title=The Creative Atari|chapter=New Member of the Family - Atari 1200|chapter-url=http://www.atariarchives.org/creativeatari/New_Member_of_the_Family.php|year=1983|publisher=Creative Computing Press|location=Morris Plains, NJ|page=116|url=http://www.atariarchives.org/creativeatari/|access-date=May 7, 2014|isbn=0-916688-34-8|editor=Small, David|editor2=Small, Sandy|editor3=Blank, George}}</ref> the 1200XL was presented at the Winter [[Consumer Electronics Show|CES]] on January 6–9, 1983.<ref name=creative-83-ces>{{cite magazine|author=Ahl, David H.|author2=Staples, Betsy|date=April 1983|title=1983 Winter Consumer Electronics Show; Creative Computing presents the Short Circuit Awards|url=http://www.atarimagazines.com/creative/v9n4/18_1983_Winter_Consumer_Elec.php |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130702024034/http://www.atarimagazines.com/creative/v9n4/18_1983_Winter_Consumer_Elec.php|archive-date=July 2, 2013|magazine=Creative Computing|volume=9|issue=3|publisher=Ahl Computing|page=50|issn=0097-8140}}</ref> It shipped in March{{citation needed|date=May 2014}} 1983{{sfn|Goldberg|Vendel|2012|p=698|ps=: <q>Released in early 1983, it will only remain in production until June 1983.</q>}} with 64&nbsp;KB of RAM, built-in self test, a redesigned keyboard (with four function keys and a HELP key), and redesigned cable port layout.{{r|halfhill198303}} The number of joystick ports was reduced from 4 to 2. There is no PAL version of the 1200XL.{{citation needed|date=October 2020}}

Announced at a retail price of $1000,<ref name="lock198306">{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/stream/1983-06-compute-magazine/Compute_Issue_037_1983_Jun#page/n7/mode/2up|title=Editor's Notes|magazine=Compute!|date=June 1983|access-date=October 30, 2013|author=Lock, Robert|pages=6}}</ref> the 1200XL was released at {{USD|899|1983|about=yes|long=no|round=-2}}.{{r|creative-83-ces}} This is $100 less than the announced price of the Atari 800 at its release in 1979,<ref name=prices/> but by this time the 800 was priced much lower.

The system uses the SIO port again instead of the Parallel Bus Interface. The +12V pin in the SIO port is not connected, which prevents a few devices from working. The +12V was typically used to power RS-232 devices, which now required an external power source. An improved video circuit provides more chroma for a more colorful image, but the chroma line is not connected to the monitor port, the only place that could make use of it. The operating system has compatibility problems with some older software.

The 1200XL was discontinued in June 1983.

''[[Compute!]]'' stated in an early 1983 editorial that the 1200XL was too expensive;<ref name="lock198302">{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/stream/1983-02-compute-magazine/Compute_Issue_033_1983_Feb#page/n9/mode/2up|title=Editor's Notes|magazine=Compute!|date=February 1983|access-date=October 30, 2013|author=Lock, Robert|pages=8}}</ref> [[John J. Anderson]] of ''[[Creative Computing (magazine)|Creative Computing]]'' agreed.<ref>{{cite journal|author=Anderson, John|title=Outpost: Atari|url=http://www.atarimagazines.com/creative/v9n5/272_Outpost_atari.php|journal=Creative Computing|date=May 1983|page=272}}</ref> Bill Wilkinson, author of Atari BASIC, co-founder of [[Optimized Systems Software]], and columnist for ''Compute!'', criticized the computer's features and price. He wrote that the 1200XL was a "terrific bargain" if sold for less than $450, but that if it cost more than the 800, "buy an 800 quick!"<ref>{{cite news|url=https://archive.org/stream/1983-05-compute-magazine/Compute_Issue_036_1983_May#page/n199/mode/2up|title=INSIGHT: Atari|work=Compute!|date=May 1983|access-date=October 30, 2013|author=Wilkinson, Bill|pages=198}}</ref>