Turn your VCS into a Powerful Home Computer! - Atari 2600 Sneak Peek

[Clint Thompson]

Scan provided by Lost Dragon - Enjoy!

 

[The Professor]

This was never released, no. The keyboard in the photo is just a mock-up.

[Rowsdower70]

Starpath could've made it happen. 

[Arenafoot]

don't forget the Spectravideo CompuMate keyboard was released...........

 

[RickR]

Was this from Atari Age magazine?

 

Nevermind...found it...Atari Age Volume 2, Issue 1:

 

http://www.atarimania.com/mags/pdf/atari_age_vol_2_no_1.pdf

Edited June 7, 2016 by RickR

[patrickglovescec]

Wow, this is cool.

Too bad they never released it.

[Arenafoot]

@Arenafoot:Huge thanks for putting up that piccy, i'd heard said keyboard was released, but until now, never seen one myself, very much appreciated.

looks like alot of them have sold on eBay recently: 

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_sacat=0&_nkw=atari%20compumate&LH_Complete=1&rt=nc&_trksid=p2045573.m1684

 

they sold from $26.59 to $79.99

[Ballblaɀer]

Lots more about this, including very comprehensive design notes, over at the Atari Museum.

 

And they "said it could not be done"...  ha! 

[Atari 5200 Guy]

Lots more about this, including very comprehensive design notes, over at the Atari Museum.

 

And they "said it could not be done"...  ha! 

There was a lot done with the VCS they said couldn't be done. It might seem primitive but it has done a lot.

[Scott Stilphen]

More info about "My First Computer" AKA "2600 Computer" AKA "The Graduate":

 

http://www.ataricompendium.com/game_library/unreleased/unreleased.html#graduate

Edited March 14, 2017 by Scott Stilphen

[Scott Stilphen]

Fixed link.  There's a link to an excerpt from Brian Bagnall's excellent book "On The Edge: The Spectacular Rise And Fall Of Commodore":

 

http://www.ataricompendium.com/faq/bagnall_vcs_keyboard.pdf

 

Soon after PVI was formed, Jack Tramiel heard PVI approached Atari and filed a ("exploratory") lawsuit against them, claiming they stole trade secrets.  PVI were forced to disclose details of their VCS project.  Tramiel insisted that was his product, and pursued the case.  The Graduate was ultimately cancelled by James Morgan when he took over as the new Atari CEO in 1983.  An ongoing lawsuit against PVI by Commodore was likely the main motivating reason for its cancellation.  PVI eventually won, but it cost them several years and approximately $300,000.

 

There were 3 other companies that worked on VCS keyboard peripherals, only one of which was released:

 

Entex:  http://www.ataricompendium.com/game_library/unreleased/unreleased.html#piggyback

Unitronics: http://www.ataricompendium.com/game_library/unreleased/unreleased.html#expander

Spectravideo: http://www.ataricompendium.com/game_library/unreleased/unreleased.html#compumate

Edited March 14, 2017 by Scott Stilphen

[TrekMD]

I remember seeing the Atari keyboard in the Atari Age magazine and feeling very excited about it.  Too bad it was never released.