ANTIC The Atari 8-bit Podcast

By: Randy Kindig Kay Savetz Brad Arnold
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  • Summary

  • Retrocomputing podcast about the Atari 8-bit line of personal computers
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Politics & Government
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Episodes
  • ANTIC Interview 445 - Vince Cate, The Critical Connection

    ANTIC Interview 445 - Vince Cate, The Critical Connection
    Nov 22 2024
    Vince Cate, The Critical Connection In my last interview, I talked with the creator of SIO2PC, which let Atari users use a DOS computer as its disk drive and printer. This interview is with the creator a product which - six years earlier - let Atari users use a CP/M computer as its disk drive and printer (and keyboard.) Vince Cate owned a company called USS Enterprises, with just one product: The Critical Connection. Critical Connection was a combination of a specialized cable and software for connecting an Atari 8-bit to a computer running CP/M. The long cable had an SIO plug on one end and a 25-pin serial plug on the other, and some chips in the middle, allowing the Atari and CP/M box to communicate at 19,200 bps. The Critical Connection was released in 1983, six years before SIO2PC. They shared many similar features: with it you could: use an entire CP/M floppy disk as an emulated 600K Atari disk drive, create 92KB CP/M disk files which emulated Atari 90KB disks, and print from the Atari to the CP/M computer's printer. The CP/M machine even acted as a print spooler. You could also use the CP/M machine's keyboard to type on the Atari. Vince needed to create a file format to store virtual floppy disks on the CP/M machine: the filename extension was .ATR. I don't know positively, but I'm pretty sure it's a different file format from the well-known .ATR format that Nick Kennedy created for SIO2PC six years later... just similar functionality given similar names. Nick Kennedy told me that he had never heard of The Critical Connection. Here's what Jerry Pournelle wrote about Critical Connection in the September 1983 issue of Byte magazine: "Vincent Cate continues to improve his Critical Connection. This gadget makes an Atari think a CP/M computer system is a set of disks. The only requirement is that your CP/M system have an RS-232C serial port operating at 19,200 bps. Given that, you needn't buy disks for an Atari; by using The Critical Connection, you can make the Atari believe you have four disks. The really nice part is that you can use 8-inch as well as 5 1/4 -inch disks. Cate's new software package has automatic installation for a number of CP/M systems, including Kaypro, North Star, Sanyo, CCS, Heath/Zenith, and Morrow. ... Cate's documentation is improved, but it's not what I'd call good. Still, you can puzzle it out, and if you don't want to invest a lot in an Atari system but still want to use disks with it, Cate's Critical Connection is the way to go." This interview took place on November 20, 2024. Video version of this interview on YouTube Vince's web site Vince in Wikipedia Critical Connection review in ANALOG magazine 1986-02 CC version 1 in Antic XL version in Antic In Byte 1983-09 In Dr. Dobbs Journal 1983-09 Critical Connection at AtariMania ANTIC Interview 444 - Nick Kennedy, SIO2PC and ATR Support Kay's interviews on Patreon
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    31 mins
  • ANTIC Interview 444 - Nick Kennedy, SIO2PC and ATR

    ANTIC Interview 444 - Nick Kennedy, SIO2PC and ATR
    Nov 15 2024
    Nick Kennedy, SIO2PC and the ATR File Format Nick Kennedy is the creator of SIO2PC, the hardware and software combination that allowed Atari 8-bit computer users to use a PC as a peripheral. In 1989, this was unprecedented, a new way to connect the little Atari to the bigger world, to the (relatively) massive storage and speed of a computer running PC-DOS. For the first time, Ataris could use a PC as storage, RAM disk, and printer. Nick also created the .ATR file format, which quickly became the standard for using virtual floppy disks on Atari emulators. Nick also created 10502PC, a cable that let you connect an Atari floppy drive directly to a PC; and AtariCOM, a less well-known utility that allowed two Atari 8-Bit computers to communicate using the SIO and joystick ports. And, he created Atari-based amateur radio tools: a terminal program for packet radio, and Morse code keyer software, which he and I talked about in detail in our previous interview. This interview took place on November 1, 2024. Video version of this interview on YouTube Nick's web site Nick's SIO2PC page Previous interview with Nick about ham radio: ANTIC Interview 441 - Nick Kennedy, Atari Morse Code Keyer ANTIC Interview 144 - Stephen Lawrow, Mac/65 assembler Bob Woolley's Review of SIO2PC in Atari Interface Magazine 1991-01 1993 Atari Classics article: SIO2PC: Slave An IBM To Your 8-Bit The .ATR File Format ANTIC Interview 441 - Nick Kennedy, Atari Morse Code Keyer AtariCom software DAK catalogs Best Electronics Mapping the Atari by Ian Chadwick AtariMax APE and ProSystem Old Hackers Atari User Group newsletter disks Nick Kennedy on AtariAge Support Kay's interviews on Patreon
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    54 mins
  • ANTIC Interview 443 - Rick Reaser, Current Notes Magazine

    ANTIC Interview 443 - Rick Reaser, Current Notes Magazine
    Nov 8 2024
    Rick Reaser, Current Notes Magazine's 8-bit Editor Rick Reaser was the 8-bit Editor of Current Notes Magazine, a popular magazine dedicated to the Atari computers. He began in 1992, and wrote a column called 8-Bit Tidbits. Rick used his Atari 8-bit computer exclusively through his college years and for programming for grad school. He was also president of P3ACE - Pikes Peak Poke Atari Computer Enthusiasts - a user group serving the Colorado Springs area. This interview took place on February 11, 2023. Video version of this interview at YouTube P3ACE newsletters Rick's "Atari Revolution" quote Current Notes at Internet Archive The Current Notes issue Kay received from Rick Art of Computer Programming by Donald Knuth Rick's letter to Antic Magazine Volume 7 Number 11 "My kids love Talking Toddle" Support Kay's interviews on Patreon
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    51 mins

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