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Top Document: Atari 8-Bit Computers: Frequently Asked Questions
Previous Document: 1.4) What is the Atari 1200XL?
Next Document: 1.6) What is the Atari 800XL?


1.5) What is the Atari 600XL?


Released in 1983 as a replacement for the 400, the 600XL is the low-end
version of the 800XL.  The 600XL/800XL include most of the features of the
1200XL minus the Function keys and the demo program.  But both the 800XL and
600XL have the Atari BASIC language built-in.  In addition, these two systems
offer the Parallel Bus Interface (PBI), providing fast parallel access to the
heart of the computer.  The 600XL has 16K RAM.

The 600XL can be expanded from 16K to 64K with the Atari 1064 Memory Module.

Normally boots with Atari BASIC (Revision B) enabled; Hold down [Option] on
startup to boot without BASIC.

The 600XL was produced in both NTSC (North America) and PAL (Europe) versions:
  o  NTSC (North America), produced fall 1983 to summer 1984 by Atari, Inc.
     - No composite Monitor port

  o  PAL (Europe) version, produced fall 1983 to summer 1984 by Atari, Inc.
     - Includes Monitor port, but this lacks the separate chroma video signal 

Rare variations of the 600XL:
  o  Some late-model 600XLs were sold with 64K RAM.  These may have only
appeared in Canada.  The box had a round gold foil sticker reading: "64k
Memory -- Now with a full 64k of memory built-in."

5 different types of 600XL/800XL keyboards were nicely documented by Beetle
here: http://www.atariage.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=105170

The 600XL was made in Hong Kong and Japan.

Production of the 600XL was discontinued by July 1984.



Top Document: Atari 8-Bit Computers: Frequently Asked Questions
Previous Document: 1.4) What is the Atari 1200XL?
Next Document: 1.6) What is the Atari 800XL?

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