Computer Made for the Masses, not the Classes
Released in April 1985, the Atari ST was one of the first 16-bit home computers in the world.
Based on Motorola 68K, the ST offered processing power, 512K of RAM, a GUI, 512 colors, and a 3-voice sound. All that for $799, when the IBM PC and Macintosh could do less for a much higher price tag.
"Atari Falcon 030.. the Most Talented Home Micro"
Released in 1992, Falcon 030 was Atari's last computer. Falcon was ahead of its time by featuring the 68030 CPU, the powerful 56001 DSP from Motorolla, 24-bit graphics, and 8 stereo PCM channels (50 kHz). Falcon was more expensive than its main competitor Amiga 1200 and sold only a few thousand units.
- In the UK, it was sold for £599 with 1MB RAM and for £999 with 4MB RAM and a 65MB hard disk
- It is estimated that only about 29,000 Falcon 030 and 10,000 C-Lab Falcon units were ever sold
"The Artistic Alter Ego of the Atari ST"
Released in late 1989, Atari STE is a multimedia-enhanced ST. The 68000 CPU remains the same, however, the STE features several improvements such as a new operating system, hardware graphics, 4,096 colors, and significantly better stereo sound.
- The STE was released for $499 ($1,170 in today's money)
- It is estimated that around 1 million STE units were sold
"Atari Transputer ATW-800.. Faster than the Light"
The Atari Transputer or ATW-800 was a workstation manufactured in the late 1980s. The ATW’s architecture was based on parallel computing processor technology, developed by the British company Inmos. The system accommodated 1 to 17 transputer CPUs working in parallel.
- 350 machines were produced in total and that includes 50/100 prototypes
- The ATW-800 was sold for $8,000 ($18,650 in today's money)
"The Business Line of Atari ST Computers"
Released in 1986, the Atari Mega ST is a 16-bit business computer widely used in the late 80s for desktop publishing and CAD applications. The Mega ST computers could be easily combined with Atari's laser printers to offer a low-cost DTP package.
- The Mega ST was initially sold for $1,199 ($3,055 in today's money)
- The Mega ST line sold about 280,000 units
"Computer Made for the Masses, not the Classes"
Released in April 1985 for $799, the Atari ST was the first affordable 16-bit computer in the world. Atari’s CEO used to say that the ST is made for the masses, not the classes. Based on the MC68000 CPU, the Atari ST offered a GUI, colorful graphics, and a 3-voice sound chip.
- ST stands for Sixteen/Thirty-two
- The ST line sold more than 2 million units
- Engineered by Shiraz Shivji (who previously worked on the C64 development)
- A feature distinguishing the ST from other computers was the built-in MIDI port and the fantastic Cubase software.
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