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 Talented Home Micro
Released in 1992, the Atari Falcon 030 was the final home computer developed by Atari, and arguably its most advanced. The Falcon featured a 32-bit CPU, the powerful Motorola 56001 DSP as a co-processor, 24-bit graphics, and high-fidelity 16-bit audio with 8 stereo PCM channels. Despite its impressive hardware, the Falcon struggled in the market, facing stiff competition from the more affordable Commodore Amiga 1200. Production of the Falcon ceased in 1993 when Atari shifted its focus entirely to the Jaguar gaming console. In 1995, the German company C-Lab licensed the Falcon technology and released Falcon Mk I, Mk II, and Mk-X.
- In the UK, the Falcon was priced at £599 (with 1MB RAM) and £999 (with 4MB RAM and a 65MB hard disk)
- Production numbers are estimated at 29,000 Falcon 030 units and around 10,000 C-Lab Falcon units
"The Artistic Alter Ego of the Atari ST"
Released in late 1989, the Atari STE was a multimedia-enhanced evolution of the popular Atari ST line. While it retained the same Motorola 68000 CPU, the STE introduced significant hardware upgrades, including enhanced graphics, a 4,096-color palette, PCM stereo sound, and a new TOS operating system.
- Priced at $499 at launch (around $1,170 in 2023 money), the STE offered outstanding value
- It’s estimated that 1 million STE units were sold worldwide
"Atari Transputer ATW-800.. Faster than Light"
The Atari Transputer Workstation (ATW-800) was a bold and futuristic attempt by Atari to break into the workstation market of the late 1980s. Based on a parallel processing architecture developed by the British company Inmos, the ATW-800 could harness the power of up to 17 transputer CPUs, delivering computing capabilities far ahead of its time.
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Only 350 units were ever produced, including 50 to 100 prototypes
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Launch price: $8,000 (equivalent to $18,650 in 2023)
The Business Line of Atari ST Computers: Mega ST Series
Released in 1986, the Atari Mega ST was a powerful 16-bit personal computer aimed at the business market. The Mega ST gained popularity in desktop publishing (DTP), CAD, and MIDI music production, and sold especially well in Germany. The Mega ST line paired seamlessly with Atari’s laser printers, making it one of the most cost-effective DTP solutions of its time.
- Launch Price: $1,199 (equivalent to ~$3,055 in 2023 money)
- Estimated Units Sold: ~280,000
"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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