Conference 7.286::atarist

    
    It would be of no senseful use to compare a 1040 with a 520 because
    the only difference is the memory (1/2MB vs 1MB) and a built-in
    floppydrive in the 1040 (external with the 520). So if you don't use
    other stuff besides MIDI the cheapest solution would be indeed a 520.
    (As long as the Midi program you use does not need more memory)
    
    Bernd
    
    

    re:.-1 the 520 has an internal floppydrive, I believe only the old
    models used external ones.
    
    There are some excellent PD sequencing packages around
    (Waddington/Alchimie/Cosh etc) all of which should be more than
    adequate for recording midi information and playing it back through
    your instruments.
    
    I agree that the Atari 520 is your cheapest solution and will run the
    above-mentioned software. 
    
    Jonathan
            

    I have never seen a 520; is it physically identical (a small box, plus
    a separate keyboard) as the 1040, roughly the same size/weight, etc?
    
    	-Jim

    No, the 520 is an all in one box. It contains the processor, drive, PSU
    and keyboard all in one housing.
    
    Jonathan

    Hmm, it sounds quite different than the 1040 (i.e. more differences
    than just memory).  The only pictures I've seen show an Atari that's a
    CPU "box" plus separate keyboard plus separate monitor.  Unless I'm
    mistaken ...
    		-Jim

The "Atari" you saw in the picture was a MEGA-ST not a 1040ST. The 1040ST and
520ST have the "CPU" and keyboard in one box (which is similiar looking to the
MEGA keyboard but probably an inch thicker and maybe four inches deeper). Note
that with older 520ST's the floppy drive was external and there was a seperate
small box for the power supply.

If you have some particular programs in mind then you should try to find out
if those programs will run in 512k, if they do then the 520ST may be what you
want to at least start out with since it is definatly cheaper than the 1040ST
(and much cheaper than the MEGA-ST).

The only differences between a 1040ST and a 520ST is the 1040 is 1meg of ram,
the 520 is 512k of ram, the 520 has an RF modulator for direct connection to a
TV, the 1040 does not have the modulator.

	Ray

An Atari ST is an 8mhz 68000-based computer system.  There are several
	models.

All have:
	640x400 pixel monochrome capability with Atari monochrome monitor.
	640x200 four-color capability with any standard RGB monitor
	320x200 eight-color capability with any standard RGB monitor

	Except STE, which has more, you can choose from a palette of 512
	colors.

The variables are:

Memory size:	520 means 512K, 1040 means 1MB, Mega2 is 2MB, Mega4 is 4MB
		Stacy1-1MB, Stacy2-2MB, Stacy4-4MB.  The STe models are
		easily upgraded to any size from 1 to 4MB.  All others can
		be upgraded with flakey add-ons that I don't trust.

RF Modulator for TV:	520STfm, 520STm (look for the "m")

Packaging:		Stacy is laptop with LCD monochrome display.  Mega
			is a 3-box system with separate CPU box that can
			hold a hard drive and/or add-on boards for things
			like large screen monitors of FPU support.  1040
			models, and 520STf models have a keyboard and CPU
			in the same box, in the style of C64 and DEC GIGI.
			All current models have a built-in 720K floppy
			drive.  Some early 520's have single sided 360K
			drives.  Avoid those. Single sided drives are
			valueless.  Very early 520's have external power
			supplies and no floppy drive (you have to add one
			externally).  A maze of wires.  I would avoid
			those too.

Digitized audio:	The STe has digitized audio capability at sample
			rates up to about 50Khz stereo.  All ST's have a
			"video-game" type sound chip that can do limited
			audio as well as square-wave sounds with some
			envelope control.

Enhanced color map:	The STE has 4096 colors instead of 512, but you
			can still only use 8 at a time.


What you want for MIDI work is a used Moniochrome 1040ST.  It's by far the
most common Atari model.  Because of the availablity and price of the new
STe, the used price for original 1040's has gotten pretty low.  Most Midi
software will require 1MB to run.  I know Dr T's Tiger Cub requires it (I
use Dr.  T's) and Hybrid Arts stuff requires it also.  There is almost
nothing that runs in only 512K.  Most music software (except the toy
stuff, like the early Music Studio from Activision) works best in
monichrome.  Certainly band-ina-box wants monichrome.

The really good news is that I have a monochrome 1040 for sale - name your
price.  For reference, the following are brand new prices for various
machines from Toad Computer:

    1MB STe with monichrome monitor and 720K drive $719
    2MB Mega-2 with monichrome monitor and 720K drive $1199
    1MB Stacy1 laptop with 720K drive, no hard drive $1699
    520STfm 512K with monichrome monitor with 720K drive $509
    520STfm 1MB with monichrome monitor with 720K drive $639

What I am selling is a 1040STf, which is the smae at the 520STfm but with
1MB of factory installed memory.  The 520STfm 1MB listed above is with a
dealer installed upgrade.  The only other difference is that my 1040
doesn't have the ability to drive a TV set.  It's it top shape, and comes
with an after-market non-volitale clock.  I can ship it to you UPS, and
you can have it in about two days.  I'll throw in a collection of PD
software as well, including the complete set of Dr T's demo disks.

>The only differences between a 1040ST and a 520ST is the 1040 is 1meg of ram,
>the 520 is 512k of ram, the 520 has an RF modulator for direct connection to a
> TV, the 1040 does not have the modulator.

*****NOT TRUE ANY MORE!*****

The 1040's currently on sale in Holland do have a RF modulator and
are called 1040 STFM
 
   F   means internal floppy 
   M   means internal RF modulator

I believe you can find any combination. But not every model is available
in every country.

I have seen the following models:
520 STM 
520STFM ( only U.K. I believe)
1040 STF 
1040 STFM

The only real important difference between a 520 and a 1040 is the size 
of memory. (520 = 1/2 Mbyte , 1040 = 1 Mbyte)
 
I personally have a 520 STM (so with external Floppy drive) and I have
upgraded it to 2.5 Mbytes by installing a hardware package called
XTRA-RAM. (No soldering required)

Kees de Vries , Netherlands (also called Holland)

Our client here is in the US, where I have never seen a 1040STfm.  If
they exist here, they are rare.  The 520STfm with a dealer upgrade to
1MB is available, which is the same thing as your 1040STfm in Holland. 
(But with US ROMs and Keyboard, of course.)

    FYI, I bought an Atari about 2 years ago, originally for MIDI sound
    editing and librarian work.  I ended up with a used 1040 ST with
    an add on TV modulator and a monochrome monitor.  Many of the music
    programs I now run need the 1 Meg and the monochrome monitor.  I don't
    need a colour monitor - I find the modulator and a TV is fine for
    running games, which is usually the only things I've found which
     won't run on monochrome.
    
    Alex