My First Atari ST
The author recounts their first experience with an Atari ST, describing how they acquired the computer in 1986 and the impact it had on their early computing and gaming life. They detail the machine's specifications, its role in music and desktop publishing, and their transition from the Commodore 64 to the Atari platform.
Background
- The Atari ST was a popular 16-bit home computer released in 1985, competing with the Commodore Amiga and Apple Macintosh. It was known for its built-in MIDI ports (making it a favorite for musicians), a graphical user interface (GEM), and a lower price than the Mac.
- The article is a personal retrospective from a developer who started with the ST in the late 1980s, reflecting on its hardware (Motorola 68000 CPU), its development environment (using C and assembly), and the vibrant demo and game scene that grew around it.
- For readers familiar with modern computing, the ST represents an era when home computers were distinct platforms with their own operating systems, floppy-disk-based software distribution, and a strong hobbyist programming culture — a stark contrast to today's standardized PC/Mac landscape.