600XL goes on sale this week

THE new Atari 600XL computer goes on sale for the first time this week.

Its introduction marks the first stage of the company’s proposed recovery plan. On it, and its more advanced relative. the 800 XL, Atari is pinning its hopes of recouping some of the huge losses incurred by the company in the last nine months.

The 600XL will be priced at £159 and replace the existing 400 machine. The 800XL —replacement - which it is still hoped will be available in quantity by late November, will sell for £249. The 600XL will be upgradable to the 800XL for the price difference of £90. The two new machines are completely software compatible with the existing 400 and 800 computers.

“Both machines will have all the features we have had with the 400 and 800, but at a price we can make money at it,” commented Atari UK’s managing director, Graham Clark.
“Everyone, over here and in the US, is stumbling through a period when margins are declining, and some will go down.

“But Atari is here to stay and we are beginning to recover our position.
“In most of the major markets I think we will see good sales this Christmas. Obviously it takes time to build back up a market share like Commodore or Sinclair, but I think by Christmas 1984 we will have a very substantial piece of the UK market.”