How to use classic Atari, Commodore, and Sinclair software on your Mac

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In Part 1 of our sequence on basic emulators, we checked out operating classic Mac, Lisa, NeXT, and Apple II software program in your Mac.

On this half, we’ll have a look at 4 extra of the 1980’s main house computer systems: VIC-20 and C64 from Commodore, Sinclair ZX81 and Timex/Sinclair 1000, and Atari 400/800 and consoles.

One other key Silicon Valley firm that helped launch the house pc revolution was Atari, which initially began the house online game console trade with house Pong consoles and the Atari 2600 (initially known as Video Laptop System) in 1977. The 2600, which solely lasted 5 years offered an astonishing thirty million models, which on the time was unprecedented.

The Fairchild Channel F, an identical console launched a 12 months earlier, was thought of a business failure – and solely offered 350,000 models worldwide.

Recognized for being large and ponderous, a lot of the 2600’s flat, black case was taken up by an enormous steel inner RF protect surrounding a small central circuit board with a ROM cartridge slot for sport cartridges. A smaller board on the prime of the case contained energy, reset, and problem switches.

Atari later licensed the 2600 to Sears, which rebranded it as TELE-GAMES.

The 2600’s killer app was House Invaders, a port of the wildly common arcade sport. Asteroids, one other arcade hit quickly adopted together with Missile Command, Centipede, and others.

The online game firm Activision produced fifty-four sport cartridges for the 2600, a few of which resembling Kaboom!, Barnstorming, and Fishing Derby grew to become the console’s most beloved video games.

Later, Atari launched three successive smaller, lighter 2600 fashions known as the 2600 Jr., which was about half the dimensions and 1 / 4 the load of the unique. Inside it featured a smaller, single-board design and diminished part set.

You may nonetheless get refurbished 2600 Jr’s at the moment on Amazon, eBay, and different on-line retailers. Here is a Jr. with an authentic Atari joystick, and 6 basic video games, together with two from Activision:

After the 2600, Atari later launched two extra sport consoles, the 5200, and 7800. Whereas the 5200 was thought of a failure and criticized for its controllers, the 7800 did pretty effectively, promoting 1,000,000 models by 1988.

The 7800 was adopted in 1987 by the Atari XEGS, which was primarily a repackaged Atari 65XE (see under).

As a footnote, the manufacture of the 7800 was contracted out to a number of third events. One in every of which was GCC Applied sciences, which within the mid-Nineties made a number of the first exterior SCSI drives for the Mac, with its UltraDrive line of 45MB/80MB onerous drives.

When Atari noticed the discharge of the Apple II and its wild recognition, it launched two of its own residence computer systems in 1978: the Atari 400 and 800. Each ran a proprietary Atari OS, had cartridge slots for video video games and different cartridges, and supplied RAM and enlargement card slots beneath a prime cowl:

The 400/800, and later XL fashions have been based mostly round 3 main chips: CTIA and GTIA, ANTIC, and POKEY. As a footnote GTIA was made by Japan’s OKIDATA, which within the 80’s additionally made a low-cost colour printer for Atari machines: the Okimate 10.

The Atari 800 additionally supplied built-in BASIC and different options missing on the 400. Particularly that the 400 featured just one cartridge slot and was little greater than a memo pad with out both a program loaded from a floppy disk, or a sport or programming language cartridge resembling BASIC, PILOT, or LOGO.

An almost unusable membrane keyboard additionally hobbled the 400.

Priced at $550, and $1,000 US {dollars}, respectively, each machines have been thought of costly, however by far far more reasonably priced than the Apple II’s whopping $1,500 price ticket. The following time you purchase a MacBook or iPad Pro and pay $1,000 remember that adjusted for inflation the Atari 400 and 800 at the moment would price $2,000 and $3,800.

Atari additionally offered a reasonably giant and heavy 810 5.25-inch floppy disk drive, a 410 cassette recorder, and an acoustic-coupler modem for each machines. The modem required the Atari 850 interface unit to function.

Later Atari launched a revised line of comparable 8-bit machines together with the smaller, decrease price 600XL, an 800XL, and 1200XL. All have been principally cartridge-compatible with the 400 and 800 fashions. All XL fashions did effectively available in the market, and in 1985 Atari once more redesigned the road and launched the 65XE and 130XE.

When the primary Macintosh appeared in 1984 with its graphical interface, Atari instantly set to work by itself GUI-based pc, the Atari ST. The 2 ST fashions faired effectively additionally, promoting over 2 million models.

Each ran Atari’s new TOS OS together with Digital Analysis’s GEM working system. The ST fashions have been the primary PCs providing a colour mouse-driven GUI:

The ST fashions featured a thinner, wider case with fewer parts, and a 3.5″ floppy disk drive very like the Mac Plus’s. Each ST fashions additionally used the identical CPU because the Mac Plus – an 8MHz (sure, MHz) Motorola 68000.

There are a number of Atari 800 emulators accessible, however by far one of the best on the Mac is Atari800MacX, which options disk and cartridge assist, and even classic Atari printer assist. Throughout the Atari XL line, Atari additionally produced the tiny Atari 1020 thermal printer.

All Atari peripherals linked through a proprietary connector known as SIO. Atari800MacX additionally supplies SIO2OSX – an Atari peripheral emulator which helps you to emulate any authentic Atari SIO peripherals. You may even discover brand-new substitute SIO cables on eBay and different websites for below $20.

When Atari launched the XL line of computer systems it additionally launched a brand new line of peripherals together with the 1027 printer, 1010 cassette drive, a more moderen 1050 5.25-inch floppy drive, and a brand new direct-to-phone digital modem, the 1030.

Each the Atari 2600 sport console and the Atari 8-bit computer systems shared a typical CX40 Atari joystick based mostly on a 9-pin connector, which might be used on any of the computer systems.

At the moment, for Atari emulation, there are a number of nice choices. For 2600 emulation, Stella is the primary alternative.

Stella was the codename of the 2600 mission, and its TIA, or Tv Interface Adapter. (Late 70’s early 80’s house pc and console engineers developed a convention began by Jay Miner of codenaming system chips after their wives or girlfriends, and as we’ll see, the development caught).

Amazingly, Atari’s authentic CEO, Nolan Bushnell has resurrected the corporate and a more moderen, Linux-based VCS was produced in 2018, and continues to be accessible on atari.com, though manufacturing of the brand new system has ceased as of 2023. atari.com additionally affords new, particular “>limited editions of a number of the authentic 2600 video games for round $100 every.

He additionally has a website and is now a psychological well being counselor.

Warshaw was the writer of the 2600 sport E.T.: The ExtraTerrestrial based mostly on the 1980’s Stephen Spielberg film of the identical title. The ET sport was a lot maligned, and when the video game crash of 1983 hit, so as to legally write off stock, Atari infamously dumped 1000’s of unsold copies of the ET sport right into a Utah landfill.

Warshaw additionally wrote one other movie-based sport for the 2600: Raiders of the Misplaced Ark, additionally based mostly on the Spielberg film.

For emulation at the moment, one of the best Atari Emulators are:

For a whole checklist of 7800 emulators, see EmuGen.

For a whole checklist of Atari 400/800/XL/XE emulators, see Emutopia.

Fingers down, one of the best normal retro console gaming emulator for macOS is OpenEmu, which helps 20+ retro-consoles, together with most Atari consoles, Colecovision, NES, GameBoy, Intellivsion, and early Sega consoles. You’ll need to put in system ROMs for every console, nevertheless, and OpenEmu supplies some self-installing ROMs.

From a basic console standpoint, OpenEmu is a should.

There may be additionally C64 65XE NES Debugger by slajerek, which lets you run and think about Atari 65XE, Commodore 64, and NES apps in actual time, view their meeting because it executes, set breakpoints, and extra.

Xformer 10 is an 400/800/XL/130XE emulator, however it’s Home windows solely and hasn’t been up to date in just a few years.

In 2017, AtGames launched licensed mini Atari consoles known as Atari Flashback, now in its tenth iteration. Later fashions characteristic HDMI out for picture-perfect Atari gaming. In addition they launched a 7800 model.

Based by UK’s Clive Sinclair and beginning as an digital calculator maker, Sinclair Analysis produced a number of pc kits within the 1980’s.

The primary Sinclair pc was the ZX80 equipment, which was accessible through mail-order and based mostly on the Zilog Z80 CPU. Two years later Sinclair launched a brand new mannequin known as ZX81.

Customers needed to assemble each by hand. ZX81 was tiny, with a small plastic case, membrane keyboard, 1K of RAM, and an exterior enlargement connector. Sinclair additionally launched a 16K reminiscence improve module that plugged into the again.

US watchmaker Timex licensed the ZX81 for an American mannequin which was known as the Timex/Sinclair 1000, and a 16K RAM expander, the 1016. A 32K model was deliberate however by no means launched.

The truth is, Sinclair had employed a Timex manufacturing unit in Scotland to fabricate most ZX81s, and each the ZX81 and TS1000 because it grew to become higher identified have been made there. Hundreds of TS1000s have been offered within the US and Canada together with a small thermal printer, the TS2040.

Timex added a 1500 mannequin which was smaller, and supplied a rubber-chicklet keyboard very like Sinclair’s colour mannequin of the ZX81, the Spectrum. Spectrum was tailored for North America by Timex in a bigger case for a mannequin known as the 2068, which included a entrance cartridge port.

Each the ZX81 and TS1000 price below $100, which was a significant promoting level. Corners have been lower to maintain prices down, together with leaving the complete solder masks off the highest of the motherboard and shenanigans with RAM financial institution switching to cut back RAM prices.

A number of different UK Spectrum fashions adopted together with the Spectrum+, Spectrum 2, 128K, Spectrum 3, and others. Later fashions included a bigger case and a full-sized keyboard.

A whole bunch of third-party firms sprang up round Sinclair computer systems from 1980-1983 with many add-ons, enlargement modules, keyboards, printers, RAM packs, and software program.

Sinclair and Timex fashions lacked disk drives initially and most packages have been loaded/saved to cassette tapes on customary audio recorders of the day.

Sinclair lastly launched the Spectrum Microdrive for many Spectrum fashions which was a tiny proprietary disk drive in a case that snapped onto the enlargement port.

Renewed curiosity at the moment in Sinclair computer systems has led to a number of recent firms and websites arising. You may even get a model new plastic Spectrum plastic case ($40) in a number of colours, together with a brand new rubber keyboard, membrane ($13), and substitute Microdrive shell ($20) at RetroRadionics.

They even supply a completely modernized and restored full working Spectrum 128 mannequin in a brand new case known as the “OMNI DESKTOP 128HQ” for $130.

ByteDelight affords a variety of recent ZX81 and Spectrum substitute components and add-ons – together with a brand new trendy SD card reader known as DivMMC, ZX diagnostic carts, Ethernet, WiFi, audio, mouse, LED light-up keyboards, ROMs, and even floppy drive interfaces.

In addition they supply two complete new Spectrum kits known as “Harlequin“, in 128K and 48K variations for $93 and up. You may want good soldering abilities and endurance to assemble them, however when accomplished you may have a model new working Spectrum computer.

In case you have a working TS1000 and simply need it modernized and upgraded with new components, try ts1000upgrade.com which affords a number of upgrades together with keyboard substitute, and an entire refurb ($150). In addition they can add a composite video mod so your TS1000 works with trendy TVs which have composite enter.

There are a number of prime Sinclair/Timex emulators for macOS:

Fuse and zxsp are on par with one another, besides that zxsp permits you to emulate almost each mannequin of Sinclair, Timex and Spectrum machine ever made, and the Jupiter ACE.

There are additionally three very cool on-line ZX81 emulators:

There are additionally a number of ZX/Spectrum emulators for iOS and Android, the 2 finest being Spectaculator ($3, iPad solely), and ZX81 (iPad solely).

In case you have a Raspberry Pi you may as well obtain or buy a pre-built multiple-machine Spectrum emulator for that platform, which turns your Pi right into a full working Spectrum clone.

David Anderson has written a wonderful guide: Everything Timex/Sinclair: The Information to All {Hardware}, Software program and Equipment for the Timex/Sinclair Computer systems and has a definitive website for all issues Timex/Sinclair. He additionally has a weekly podcast and YouTube channel.

Additionally, make sure you try the BBC film Micro Men, a quasi-fictional account of Clive Sinclair and Sinclair Analysis.

Because the Seventies turned to the Eighties, a brand new participant entered the market: Commodore Enterprise Machines, (later Commodore Worldwide).

Like Sinclair, Commodore began out as an digital calculator maker competing with the dominant calculator maker of the day: Texas Devices. Previous to that it made mechanical typewriters.

The truth is, almost thirty years later Apple would borrow one of many authentic Commodore typewriter mannequin numbers: the 4400.

Commodore obtained into the PC enterprise with the Commodore PET – an enormous PC in an enormous steel field with a built-in monitor. PETs have been principally offered to companies however confronted stiff competitors from the Apple II.

Commodore determined the house market was extra profitable and simpler, so it got down to make a low-cost house pc for round $300 to compete with the ZX81, TS1000, and Atari computer systems.

The outcome was the Commodore VIC-20, which grew to become the primary house pc to promote 1,000,000 models. Like Apple II, Atari, and lots of different computer systems of the day, VIC-20 was based mostly on the Motorola 6502 CPU, which was the primary actual low-cost PC CPU permitting house computer systems to be reasonably priced.

“VIC” was quick for “Video Interface Chip”. The VIC-20, nevertheless, was restricted in a number of methods: 3K of RAM, expandable to 32K, low-resolution show with giant characters, and an AC energy provide on the motherboard which may destroy the complete machine if the ability provide failed.

The VIC-20 and later Commodore machines ran a proprietary Commodore OS known as KERNAL. The VIC-20 had three ROMS: Kernal, Character, and BASIC. Commodore revised the VIC-20 4 occasions, and the ultimate model, an “RC” or “Diminished Price” model was the final of the VIC-20 line.

Commodore’s follow-up was the wildly-successful Commodore 64 which supplied a a lot larger decision show, 64K of RAM, expandable to 1MB, an enhanced sound “SID” chip, and {hardware} sprites for easy graphics, which offered for $599 – a steep sum for the early Eighties.

Prospects liked the “C64” because it grew to become identified and it grew to become the preferred house pc of the Eighties, and the best-selling house pc of all time.

Commodore additionally made a cassette drive for each machines, and a number of other floppy drives, together with the preferred 5.25-inch drive: the 1541 (which was a pc unto itself and in addition had its personal 6502 CPU inside).

All of this was earlier than the commercialization of the web and Commodore additionally made a modem for the VIC-20 (the VICMODEM), and later fashions for each the VIC-20 and C64. Modems used landline phone know-how to dial up different computer systems for communications – and to connect with BBS’es.

Dave Bradley, certainly one of Canada’s prime BBS operators within the 1980’s now has a YouTube channel with quite a lot of tutorials and discussions about classic Commodore computer systems and software program.

There have been a number of fashions of the C64, the final being the C64C, after which commodore launched the Commodore 128, which was a failure as a result of it did not actually supply a lot that was new, aside from 128K and some different enhancements.

Because of the C128’s failure, Commodore started to say no. In an try to avoid wasting the corporate, Commodore launched a number of smaller, extra restricted fashions: the C16, C116, and the Plus 4, none of which faired effectively.

Each VIC-20 and C64 included a keyboard, cartridge port, serial and video ports, a cassette port, and a person port for different peripherals.

There are a number of nice VIC-20 and C64 emulators, however the definitive customary is named VICE – the Versatile Commodore Emulator. VICE runs almost each mannequin of early Commodore house pc from VIC-20 to Plus 4, and it is easy to make use of. It additionally affords peripheral assist.

Two newcomers to the Commodore emulation area are VirtualC64 by Dirk Hoffman, and micro64, though micro64 continues to be but a little bit unpolished. VirtualC64 is slick, however the file loading system takes a little bit getting used to.

Frodo is one other very good C64 emulator, however it lacks complete peripheral assist like VICE and others have.

Vx02 is one other C64 emulator.

In case you have Java put in in your Mac, try the very cool Z64K multi-emulator. This single .jar file can emulate Atari 2600, VIC-20, C64, C128, and ZX Spectrum – all from a single-window interface. Simply double-click the .jar file, choose a machine, then click on the Begin button and also you’re off and operating.

Chances are you’ll get a macOS Gatekeeper warning the primary time you run Z64K, so you may have to open System Settings->Privateness & Safety and click on “Open Anyway” to permit it to run.

Basil PET Emulator is a Commodore PET emulator that runs on the C64. So you may run PET packages in Basil operating in a C64 emulator.

commodoreserver.com is a Commodore cloud file storage and retrieval web site which additionally sells new WiFi modems for the C64. You may retailer your C64 information and apps on the positioning, then use certainly one of their WiFi modems to obtain these information from the web wirelessly. In addition they have a C64 TrueType font you may set up in your Mac.

RetroReceipies has a video on construct your individual model new C64 with almost all new components.

The ultimate mannequin within the authentic line of Commodore house computer systems was the unreleased Commodore 65. A devoted group of lovers has resurrected the Commodore 65 in a brand new mission: the MEGA65, which is in pre-order.

After the failure of the three new Commodore pc fashions, the corporate needed to take drastic motion. The outcome was a wholly new line of Commodore computer systems known as Amiga (Spanish for “pal”).

The primary mannequin – the Amiga 1000 was giant – far bigger than any earlier Commodore house pc. Commodore adopted up with the Amiga 500, 500+, and 600 fashions in a lot smaller circumstances, adopted by the 1200 in a considerably bigger case.

In 1994, largely as a consequence of competitors from Apple and Microsoft, Commodore closed its doorways endlessly.

Unusually, after Commodore closed, its authentic founder Jack Tramiel and a number of other key staff purchased the remnants of Atari after the online game crash of 1983 and shaped a brand new firm, Atari Company. Lots of the authentic Commodore staff have been instrumental within the growth of Atari ST and 7800.

All Amiga fashions have been based mostly on the identical authentic CPU as the primary Macs: the Motorola 68000. Amigas ran a brand new Commodore OS known as AmigaOS developed collectively with Hyperion.

You may nonetheless purchase the ultimate model of Amiga OS 4.1 accessible within the US solely at amigaonthelake.com ($52).

In addition they promote the Amiga Home windows emulator bundle Amiga Ceaselessly on DVD ($39). In addition they have add-ons, adapters, PCBs, modems, and new Atari SIO cables.

High Amiga emulators for macOS embody Denise, FS-UAE and vAmiga. (Denise was the title of the Amiga’s graphics chip). Denise may also run some C64 program information.

Additionally, try Amiga fanatic Dan Wood’s YouTube channel.

Given so many basic emulators for macOS and Home windows, it is easy to run outdated software program from the 1980’s and early 90’s in your present Mac at the moment. There’s an enormous vary of emulators and extra proceed to look each few months.

In our subsequent installment within the sequence, we’ll have a look at two remaining basic 1980’s house computer systems and emulators for them: the Tandy TRS-80 sequence, and Texas Devices’ TI/99-4A.