Atari Microsoft BASIC
Encyclopedia
The Atari Microsoft BASIC and Atari Microsoft BASIC II variants of the BASIC programming language were cartridge or floppy disk
packaged versions of the Microsoft BASIC
dialect ported
to the Atari 8-bit
machines.
Atari originally licensed Microsoft BASIC for use in their 8-bit computers, but were unable to fit it in an 8KB
ROM cartridge, the largest at the time. They outsourced to another company, Shepardson Microsystems
Inc., who created Atari BASIC
instead.
Atari Microsoft BASIC, unlike Atari BASIC, didn't allow abbreviations for keywords. Keywords had to be fully spelled out. Syntax checking occurred after running a program, not immediately after entering the line. Also, arithmetic operations with integers resulted in an integer result.
Example - Division with two integers:
Example - Division with integer and floating-point:
Atari Microsoft BASIC came in two packages:
Although more feature filled than ATARI BASIC
, Microsoft BASIC never had the popularity that Atari BASIC had. The biggest problems were:
The cartridge version eliminated the first two requirements, but a disk drive was needed for all of its features.
Floppy disk
A floppy disk is a disk storage medium composed of a disk of thin and flexible magnetic storage medium, sealed in a rectangular plastic carrier lined with fabric that removes dust particles...
packaged versions of the Microsoft BASIC
Microsoft BASIC
Microsoft BASIC was the foundation product of the Microsoft company. It first appeared in 1975 as Altair BASIC, which was the first BASIC, and the first high level programming language available for the MITS Altair 8800 hobbyist microcomputer....
dialect ported
Porting
In computer science, porting is the process of adapting software so that an executable program can be created for a computing environment that is different from the one for which it was originally designed...
to the Atari 8-bit
Atari 8-bit family
The Atari 8-bit family is a series of 8-bit home computers manufactured from 1979 to 1992. All are based on the MOS Technology 6502 CPU and were the first home computers designed with custom coprocessor chips...
machines.
Atari originally licensed Microsoft BASIC for use in their 8-bit computers, but were unable to fit it in an 8KB
Kilobyte
The kilobyte is a multiple of the unit byte for digital information. Although the prefix kilo- means 1000, the term kilobyte and symbol KB have historically been used to refer to either 1024 bytes or 1000 bytes, dependent upon context, in the fields of computer science and information...
ROM cartridge, the largest at the time. They outsourced to another company, Shepardson Microsystems
Shepardson Microsystems
Shepardson Microsystems, Inc. was a small company producing operating systems and programming languages for the Atari 8-bit and Apple II computer families...
Inc., who created Atari BASIC
Atari BASIC
Atari BASIC is a BASIC interpreter for the Atari 8-bit family of 6502-based home computers. The interpreter originally shipped on an 8 KB cartridge; on later XL/XE model computers it was built in, with an option to disable it, and started when the machines were booted with no other cartridges...
instead.
Atari Microsoft BASIC, unlike Atari BASIC, didn't allow abbreviations for keywords. Keywords had to be fully spelled out. Syntax checking occurred after running a program, not immediately after entering the line. Also, arithmetic operations with integers resulted in an integer result.
Example - Division with two integers:
PRINT 3/2
1
Example - Division with integer and floating-point:
PRINT 3/2.0
1.5
Atari Microsoft BASIC came in two packages:
- Floppy diskFloppy diskA floppy disk is a disk storage medium composed of a disk of thin and flexible magnetic storage medium, sealed in a rectangular plastic carrier lined with fabric that removes dust particles...
- CX8126 - Cartridge - RX8035. Since the cartridge could only hold 16KB, the remaining 11KB file was included on a "extension" disk. The cartridge version was called Atari Microsoft BASIC II
Although more feature filled than ATARI BASIC
Atari BASIC
Atari BASIC is a BASIC interpreter for the Atari 8-bit family of 6502-based home computers. The interpreter originally shipped on an 8 KB cartridge; on later XL/XE model computers it was built in, with an option to disable it, and started when the machines were booted with no other cartridges...
, Microsoft BASIC never had the popularity that Atari BASIC had. The biggest problems were:
- increased memory needed (at least 32KB)
- disk drive required
- performance (faster than Atari BASIC, but slower than Turbo-Basic XLTurbo-Basic XLTurbo-Basic XL is an advanced version of BASIC for the Atari 8-bit family of home computers. It is a compatible superset of the more common ATARI BASIC whose most important feature is the vastly improved execution speed...
and BASIC XL) - not compatible with Atari BASIC
- added cost
The cartridge version eliminated the first two requirements, but a disk drive was needed for all of its features.
External links
- AtariAge Microsoft Basic II - RX8035
- Antic Vol. 6, No. 2 BASIC Bonanza - Review by Charles Cherry
- Atariwiki.org Atari Microsoft BASIC instruction manual