Under new ownership, the Atari 8-bit was one of the few home computers/game systems to survive the crash of '84 even though it's 65C02 CPU was no match for new technologies. At 6 years old it still performed decent with more colors and text/graphics modes and better audio than most competitor's systems. It held dedicated users and attracted more people as well, there was thousands of programs available ranging from sophisticated word processors, desktop publishing, electronic filing, telecommunications, video games, & more. There was also several magazines published monthly or bi-monthly dedicated to the Atari computers .

Atari Corp released DOS 2.5 to replace the incompatible DOS III of 1983. Now with full compatibility of 4 years worth of DOS 1 and 2, you could benefit from the extra capacity of the 1050 disk drive or 3rd party drive that supported the 127K format.

Magazines like ANALOG published a DOS III to 2 conversion in BASIC for those who used DOS III and wanted to convert to the much preferred methods used in DOS 2/2.5

Here are screenshots of the new demos used with the 65XE and 130XE debut.

BOINK.BIN

This demo program cleverly matched the spinning ball demo that showcased the new Amiga computer in 1985, Atari Corp. had the ST and XE models also showing a colorful spinning bouncing checkered ball. The demos also showed Atari Corp.'s new slogan

"Power without the Price"

In a related demo, FUJIBONK.BIN, the ball was replaced with a colorful spinning bouncing Fuji logo to show that the old 8-bitters graphics.

Here's Video Blitz, a full screen animated demo for the 130XE only.  A truly impressive site for an 6502.

The entire checker field flowed in 3D while each square had ananimated ripple sequence, all behind a colorful Fuji logo.

This one has the spinning logo again, the Atari name spins and alternates with 130XE, and a animated bird flies by.

soon I'll add animated scenes here instead. ;)

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