The 65XE and 130XE (pictured) which followed the XL line, were once
again re-cased (this time to match the new ST line from Atari), and offered 64k and 128k of
RAM respectively, in addition to having all the features of the 800XL.
The XE line wasn't in production as long as the XLs, and came near the end of Atari's 8-bit days. And
despite it's clean, high tech look, improved keyboard, and extra RAM, it offered little in the way of
performance improvements over previous Atari 8-bits - although the hard core 8-bitters still
embraced it.
And it was about this time that Atari began phasing out the 8-bits, in favor of it's new 16-bit computer,
the Atari ST, which came out about the same time as the first
Apple Machintosh, and had similar features, including a graphical user interface, and often
superior performance...
Continue with the history of the ST line
Atari 8-bits Today?
The Atari 8-bits continue on today, with many hard core users around the world. Web sites dedicated
to the wonderful machines abound, and new software and hardware products are still being
developed (visit the links page here on
Nurmix Web Central for more on this).
Used 8-bit gear can be purchased very cheaply from thrift stores, garage sales, 8-bit retailers like
B&C Computervisions and Best Electronics, and Internet auction sites and newsgroups
like comp.sys.atari.8bit.
Emulators for the PC, MAC and later Atari 16/32 computers are available that let you run all your old
favorite 8-bit titles on a modern computer. But that said, it's not quite the same as running it on the
real thing...