Atari 8-bit



"Computers for people."

Right after the 2600 was released, Atari started work on a heavily improved successor. But, all of a sudden, the "microcomputer revolution" happened: machines like the Apple II, Commodore PET, and TRS-80 quickly became immensely popular. Noticing this new trend, Atari decided to forgo that new console and turn their badass new hardware design into a computer of their own. This became the "Atari home computers" family, or the "400/800" after its earlier models, and retroactively called the "Atari 8-bit" family after the release of the 16-bit Atari ST.

In the late 80s, Atari released a consolized version, the XE Video Game System, or simply "XEGS".

The Atari 8-bit line was successful at first, being considerably more powerful than earlier home computers. However, it struggled later due to lack of marketing, poor management, and competition against the far more affordable Commodore 64.

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