Well things are starting to pick up here at AHS.    With this months visit to California and now with my return from a week and 1/2 vacation (very very long over due one at that!) I can start to post a lot more updates and start placing lots of new information onto the site for all to see and share.    New this week are the following new sections which I'm sure everyone will enjoy.

               First is a new link in the Atari XL Systems Peripherals area called Atari Cartridge Designs which I'm sure everyone will want to have a look at.  It includes a photo of the original 1983 Atari XL cartridge case as well as concept drawings of credit card sized cartridges which were proposed for a new line of Atari laptops and portable systems.

                The second new addition is a wonderful look back at the concept designs of the Atari Trakball controller.   Almost everyone is familiar with the Atari Trakball controller for the Atari 2600, 7800 and home computers, but here is a never before look at 15 concept designs that lead up to what we know as the Trakball controller today.

                Did I mention something about Atari laptops and portables in 1983?!?!?   Yes I did, look back over the next couple of days as the AHS launches an all new section in the Atari Computers area of the website called Atari Concept Computers which will feature several dozen design drawings and actual photographs of various designs that Atari was working on prior to the sale of the company to the Tramiels.

                Also we will begin tracking down information regarding the Atari Transputer.   According to one former Atari engineer, the Transputer concept was already in the works in 1983-1984 and was resurrected by the Tramiels in 1988.   We'll keep everyone informed on information as it becomes available.   Last but not least, we have received a few emails from individuals regarding the "marking" of photo's with the APV, AHS and the www.atari-history.com.   This is for the protection and the maintaining of quality of the site so that images presented here aren't misused on overnight startup websites with incorrect or inaccurate information or the blatant plagiarism of the site and its images.   The AHS is now using a new watermarking method which will be less noticeable and allow better viewing of the images on the website, we hope this meets with everyone's satisfaction.