AtariWriter

AtariWriter is a word processor for the Atari 8-bit family of home computers published by Atari, Inc. as a 16KB cartridge in 1982. It replaced the Atari Word Processor, which shipped on a copy protected disk, required 48KB, and was incompatible with the XL computers.

AtariWriter
Editing "Lorem Ipsum"
Original author(s)William Robinson[1]
Developer(s)Atari, Inc.
Initial release1982 (1982)
Final release
Version C / 1983 (1983)
Written inAssembly
PlatformAtari 8-bit family
Size16KB
TypeWord processor
LicenseCopyright © 1982, 1983 Atari, Inc. Proprietary software

Features

AtariWriter includes automatic word wrap, full-screen editing, dual-column printing, search and replace, undo, block editing and a print preview feature that allows users to view a printable page by scrolling across the screen. Printing attributes are set directly into the document using control characters. This allows direct changes to formatting such as margins, spacing, justification, etc. AtariWriter has only one menu, the main menu, for creating and editing documents, file directory, file management and printing.

The cartridge only has built-in printer drivers for Atari printers. Printer drivers for other printers were not available from Atari. However, third-party sources and driver kits were made available.[2] Furr estimates that he sold 10,000 disk-based driver kits through the Atari Program Exchange.

Development

A replacement for the Atari Word Processor was needed that could run on any of the Atari 8-bit computers, which meant using a cartridge instead of a disk. Cartridges on the Atari normally held 8KB or less of ROM, requiring a smaller program.

To fill this need, Atari licensed Text Wizard from William Robinson. Robinson originally distributed Text Wizard through Datasoft, but was able to license it to Atari after his deal with that company expired. Gary Furr was the designer and manager of developing the AtariWriter cartridge, working with product manager Peggy Allen. They wrote the original specifications documents using the original Atari Word Processor on an Atari 800.[3]

Reception

Furr believes that 800,000 cartridges were sold over the product's lifetime.

The Addison-Wesley Book of Atari Software 1984 gave the software an overall A rating. The book stated that it "heralds a new era in word processing" for Atari 8-bit owners, and "a good reason in itself to purchase an Atari". It praised AtariWriter's ease of use and print preview, and concluded that the software was "a must for every serious writer and Atari owner."[4]

Legacy
  • AtariWriter Plus - disk only. Contained enhancements and a spell checker.[5]
  • AtariWriter 80 - disk only. Supported the XEP-80 80-column device.[6]

References
  1. S2E01 Atari AtariWriter, by Ripdubski, 2015.09.24, Inverse ATASCII, This episode features AtariWriter, originally released in 1982 by Atari. It was developed by Atari. Later versions were developed by Micro Fantasy. The primary programmer for all versions was William V. Robinson. This word processor brought word processing to the consumer in an easy to use package.
  2. Antic Vol.5 No.2 I/O Board - Printer Drivers - June 1986
  3. AtariWriter Designer Sells All Archived April 2, 2016, at the Wayback Machine, by Gary W. Fu » Sat, 18 Jan 1997 04:00:00, I sat down at my Atari 800 using the original Atari Word Processor to design the specifications for the AtariWriter cartridge word processor.
  4. Stanton, Jeffrey; Wells, Robert P.; Rochowansky, Sandra; Mellid, Michael, eds. (1984). The Addison-Wesley Book of Atari Software. Addison-Wesley. pp. 233–234. ISBN 0-201-16454-X.
  5. Atariarchives.org - AtariWriter Plus - Carolyn's Corner - November 1991
  6. AtariWriter 80, Review by Matthew Ratcliff, December 1989, Antic Vol.8 No.7
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