The Atari 400
Personal Computer was Atari's entry level computer. Designed
for younger children with its clean simple design and more importantly
its tactile membrane keyboard to prevent damage from food and small objects.
Also the keys could not be removed and swallowed by small children.
The Atari 400 during is design conception originally was to have only 4K
of memory which is how its number designation was determined: 400 (Also
it was nicknamed Candy.) When it began to ship it then came
with 8K, finally Atari offered it with a base memory of 16K which allowed
it to run almost all cartridge and cassette based software.
Due to its low memory range, using a disk drive was not practical, so the
Atari 400 was teamed up with its own peripheral, the Atari 410 cassette
recorder. Also the Atari 400 did not have a composite monitor
port and could only be connected to a standard TV via is RF modulator cord.
Atari later offered an Authorized Service Center 48K upgrade for the Atari
400 and so did many 3rd party memory expansion companies. Also
hardware hackers soon learned how to install composite output back to the
Atari 400. Alternative keyboards and even a detachable keyboard
were sold for the Atari 400 making it nearly as powerful as its big sister
Colleen (The Atari 800.) The Atari 400 lacked the RIGHT hand
cartridge slot which was almost never used on the Atari 800 and getting
into the inside of the Atari 400 was not nearly as easy as the Atari 800
with its pop-top design. The Atari 400's unique wedge
shape is very eye catching. No other computer company ever
cloned the look of the Atari 400, it holds a style all its own.