Atari 400 owner's guide

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ot long ago, computers were large, complicated to use
and priced well beyond the reach of most people. Today,
you own a computer that's small,cbaZYXWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBAaffordable and.easy to
use. In fact, you don't even need to know programming

to enjoy your
dozens of programs are already available. Educational and game
programs, personal development programs, and many more, let you
begin using your computer as soon as you unpack it. Simply insert
a cartridge or cassette press a few keys, and your computer is pro-
grammed to playa game, help you learn foreign languages and
other subjects, or perform time-saving tasks such as mortgage and
loan analysis.

ATARI

400 Personal Computer, because

This booklet tells you how to install your ATARI400 computer in ten
easy steps. All you need to do is install the TV Switch Box, connect
the computer console to your-TV set, plug it into the wall and insert
a cartridge. The only tool you'll need is a reoular screwdriver.

You'llwant one of the specially priced kits described on the next
page to go along with your computer. Or you can choose from the
many other ATAR]prcorams and games available for your computer.
If you didn't pick up any of these at the store, you should consider
going back to get one because your computer needs programs,
games, game controllers and possibly other components to go to

work for you. -

Insert the Star Raiders
a Starship Commander! Arm your attack com-
puter, jump through hyperspace and battle the
the attacking Zylon fighters!

The J&ntertainer*comes with a pair of joystick
controllers and two of the world's most exciting
computer games- Star Raiders and Missile
Command." To play Star Raiders, all you do is
insert the cartridqe, plug in a joystick and get
ready for high-speed combat.

Many other exciting computer games for your
ATARIcomputer are available
available soon.

Asteroids™

Space Invaders!

Super Breakout"

3-D Tic-'Th.c-Toe

Video Easel™

Basketball

Computer Chess

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cartridge and become

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or will be

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Even if you've never written a program before,
The Programmer will have you writing .BASIC
programs in just a few minutes. After that, the
possibilities are limitless- you can solve busi-
ness or scientific problems, invent your own
games or even compose

The Programmer comes with an ATARlBASIC

Computer Language cartridge, the ATARl

BASIC Reference Manual and the ATARl BASIC
Self-Teaching Guide that teaches you how to

program in easy-to-follow steps.

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lTrademark of Taito America Corporation,

*ATARlreserves the right to substitute another game cartridge

for Missile Comrnand.™

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The Communicator can tap into some of the
biggest electronic brains in the world! Get the
news hot off the wire or have the Communi-
cator print your stock prices right on your TV
screen. You'llalso be able to get electronic
mail, games and even "talk"to other users.

The Communicator comes with a Telelnnk" 1
cartridge, an ATARI850™Interface Module
and an ATARI830™Acoustic Modem so you
can send and receive information over any
standard telephone. You also receive a free
hour of connect time to the Dow Jones Infor-
mation Service, the CompuServe Information
Service and The Source Telecomputing, so you
can see the many fascinating kinds of informa-
tion the computer can give you.

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Let the computer teach you a variety of
subjects and skills. It can help you and your
children learn faster because The Educator
makes learning fun.

The Educator comes with an ATARI410TM
Program Recorder to load your programs, a
BASIC cartridge and the States
gram cassette. All you do is insert the cartridge,
plug in the cassette recorder and load the
program-the computer takes it from there.

Many other educational and self-improvement
programs and games for your ATARIcomputer
are available now or will be available soon.

EnergyCzar™

Hangman

Conversational Spanish

Conversational French

Conversational German

Conversational Italian

European Countries

Touch Typing

Statistics

An Invitation to Proqramminq"

An Invitation to Programming

An Invitation to Programming 3

States

Kingdom™

Scram" (A Nuclear Power Plant Simulation)

Biorhythm

Music Composer™

Blackjack

Mortgage

1

&

Capitals

&

Loan Analysis2

&

Capitals

2

&

Capitals pro-

1

2AControlDataCYBERWARETMproduct manufacturedunder

license from ControlData Corporation.©

1980.

TH EBA S IC

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POW E R JACK

POW E R S W IT C H

C O NNECT O R

INST A LU NG

TH E TV SW ITC H BO X

The TV Switch Box switches your
television from regular TV pro-
grams to your ATARI400 computer.
You can also connect your antenna
or cable TV to the TV Switch Box.
When you want to switch from reg-
ular TV reception to your computer,

just slide the switch from the TV

or

to the C ompute r

The TV Switch Box connects
to the VHF antenna terminal
at the back of your TV set.

1

or cable from the TV and reconnect
it to the side of the TV Switch
Box labeled A ntenn a.

But first, you'll need to dis-
connect the present antenna

Game position.cbaZYXWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA

Peel off the protective
cover sheet from the self-
adhesive square and stick

3

was connected to a flat, twin-lead
(300 Ohm) cable, you're finished
installing the TV Switch Box.

the box onto the back of
your TV If your TV set

Notice

whether the cable

is round or flat. If you

have a flat, twin-lead cable,

connect it to the terminals
marked
Box. If you have a round cable,
screw it onto the threaded connec-
tor marked

300 Ohm

on the TV Switch

75 Ohm.

Now locate the short
twin-lead cable marked
TV that comes from the

2

terminals on your TV set.

TV Switch Box and
connect it to the two VHF

However, if the cable is a
round (75 Ohm) one, you
may need to adjust the

4

receive the 300 Ohm signal from the
TV Switch Box. Check the antenna
connection on the back of your
TV and adjust it according to the
following diagrams.

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antenna terminal switch
on your TV set so it can

If it looks like th is, p us h
th e sw itc h to th e 300 O hm

(300n) p os itio n.VH F

If it looks like th is, lo os en

th e sc re ws ho ldi ng th e

U -sh ap ed sli de r an d m ov e

it t o th e p os itio n m ark ed

300 Oh m o r 300 n.

If it lo ok s l ike t his , sc rew th e

sh or t ro un d w ire i nto t he

co nn ec tor provi ded .

CO N NE CTING

TH E A TA RI 400

CO M PU TE R C ON SO LE

Set the Channel Select
Switch on the back of the
computer console to the
same channel. After you
turn on the computer, you

Locate the round cord
that comes from the back
of computer console. Plug

5

Switch Box labeled Co mputer or

Game. Make sure the TV Switch

Box is set to the C ompute r position.

the end of this cord into
the terminal on the TV

7

may need to adjust the fine-tuning
knob on your TV to improve recep-
tion from the computer.

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You're now ready to
turn on your com-
puter. The main pow-
er switch, labeled

Po wer On/O ff, is

located on the side panel. As soon
as you turn it on (provided the
cartridge door is closed and no
cartridge is inserted), the words
ATARICOMPUTER - MEMO PAD
appear on your TV screen. What-

ever you type on the keyboard is
now displayed on the TV screen.

Turn on your TV set and

.tune it to Channel 2 or 3

. - whichever is weaker in

6

your area.

Locate the AC Power

Adaptor that comes with

the computer and plug

8

connector labeled Pow er Jack on
the side of the computer console.

the round end of the
Power Adaptor into the

Plug the other end into
a wall outlet.

9

Youmay notice that the colors on
your TV screen change periodically
if you don't use your computer for
a few minutes. This is perfectly
normal and is done to protect your
TV set.

If your TV doesn't display the words
ATARICOMPUTER - MEMO PAD
or the words you type, you may
have a problem First, check over
all the previous steps. If you think
your computer needs service, con-
tact the Authorized ATARIService

Center listed in the yellow pages
of the telephone directory Or call
the ATARICustomer Service

Department toll free at 800-538-8547
from anywhere in the continental
U.S. (from California, call
800-672-1430).

INSERTING

CONNECTING

CARTRIDGES

ush the cartridge door

release lever down to
raise the cartridge

P

computer automatically turns itself .
off.It turns itself back on when you
close the door.

door. Whenever you
do this, the ATARI400

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When you insert most cartridges
(particularly games), many of the
keys on the keyboard stop working.
The instructions that come with
the cartridge tell you which of the
remaining keys to use for that
cartridge.

OTHER
EQUIPMENT

our ATARI400 com-
puter is designed so
you can easily connect

Y

depending on how you plan to use
your computer. These components
simply plug together so you can
develop or expand a system for a
particular purpose. You'llfind direc-
tions for connecting kit components
such as the ATARI410 Program
Recorder in the instructions that
come with that product.

If you'd like to expand your system,

the ATARI Personal Computer

Product Catalog, available from

your local ATARIdealer, explains
how many other ATARIproducts
can enhance your computer.

your kit, or add other
ATARIcomponents,

Insert the cartridge into the slot with
the label facing you. Press down
carefully and firmly When you close
the cartridge door, the red power
indicator at the right of the keyboard
lights up, and the TV screen displays
the title screen for the cartridge you
selected. Then follow the instruc-
tions that come with the cartridge.

L.

.J.

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MAiNI!JAL CONTENTS © 1981 A'TARI. INC.

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ATARI®

A W a rne r C omm un icatio ns C om p any

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PRINTED IN U.S.A. C017711 REV. 2