Atari Stacy
Announced:1987
Released:1989
Price:US $1995 w/ 20Meg HD
Weight:15 lbs / 7 kg
CPU:Motorola 68000 @ 8MHz
RAM:1Meg; 4Meg max
Display:640 X 400 monochrome 9-inch LCD
Ports:Cartridge, joysticks/mouse
MIDI, RS232, parallel, color monitor
Storage:internal 720K 3.5-inch floppy drive
optional internal hard drive
OS:Atari TOS 1.4 in ROM
Digital Research GEM OS


Three different models of the Stacy were available -
Stacy    = 1 MB RAM, 3.5-inch internal floppy drive.
Stacy 2 = 2 MB RAM, 3.5-inch internal floppy, 20MB SCSI HD.
Stacy 4 = 4 MB RAM, 3.5-inch internal floppy, 40MB SCSI HD.
Two floppy drives can be installed, if the hard drive is not present.



Atari had talked for years about having a portable Atari ST computer system, but it did not arrive until very late in 1989 - on Dec 9, 1989 the Stacy finally received FCC approval.

Originally designed to operate on 12 standard C cell flashlight batteries, this proved insuffient to operate the Stacy for an extended period of time. With 4Megs of RAM and a hard drive, 15 minutes of use was about all the life the batteries could give you. Additionally, the 15 pound / 7 kg Stacy with external power-pack is somewhat inconvenient to lug around.



Yes, the LCD screen is blue - hope you like it!

This Stacy isn't quite to original specifications - it has a non-Atari memory expansion card installed, as seen above, as well as a CPU accelerator. Actually, the entire CPU has been desoldered from the motherboard and the third-party accelerator installed in its place, as seen below (lower left region) - very risky and difficult to do.


Related Links

  • atariarchives.org
  • Best Electronics has Atari repair parts.
  • Old-computers.com

    • Partial History of the Atari Computers

    • 196?: As an engineering student at the University of Utah, Nolan Bushnell liked to sneak into the computer labs late at night to play computer games on the university's $7 million mainframes.
    • 1972: Bushnell founded Atari with $250 of his own money and another $250 from business partner Ted Dabney. They then created and commercialized the world's first commercial video game, Pong. Bushnell was 27 years old.
    • 1976: Warner Communications buys Atari from Bushnell for $28 million.
    • 1977: Atari introduces the Atari Video Computer System (VCS), later renamed the Atari 2600
    • 1978: December - Atari announces the Atari 400 and 800 personal computers.
    • 1979: October - Atari begins shipping the Atari 400 and Atari 800 personal computers.
    • 1979: December - Atari produces the first coin-operated Asteroids game machine.
    • 1981: May - Atari announces the 8KB Atari 400 is being discontinued.
    • 1982: January - Atari begins shipping all Atari 800 units with GTIA graphics chips, allowing three more graphics modes than previously.
    • 1982: December - Atari issues a US$55 rebate on the Atari 400, dropping its retail price to under US$200.
    • 1983: January - Atari introduces the 1200XL home computer.
    • 1983: May - Atari offers a US$100 rebate on the Atari 800, bringing its retail price to below US$400.
    • 1983: June - Atari introduces the Atari 600 XL.
    • 1983: June - Atari introduces the Atari 800 XL, with 64 KB RAM.
    • 1983: June - Atari introduces the Atari 1450 XL, with built-in 300 bps modem.
    • 1983: June - Atari introduces the Atari 1450 XLD, with built-in 300 bps modem and disk drive.
    • 1983: October - Atari begins shipping its XL computers.
    • 1983: - Atari cancels production of the Atari 1200XL, due to compatibility and other problems.
    • 1984: July - Jack Tramiel, President of Commodore International, leaves Commodore in January and buys Atari.
    • 1984: - Atari introduces the Atari 7800 ProSystem.
    • 1985: January - Atari introduces the 65XE, for US$120.
    • 1985: Atari introduces the 130XE, with 128KB RAM.
    • 1985: Atari introduces the 130ST for US$400.
    • 1985: Atari introduces the 520ST for US$600.
    • 1987: January - At the Winter CES, Atari announces a US$1500 laser printer.
    • 1988: September - Atari introduces the Atari TT.
    • 1989: - Atari Computer introduces the Portfolio, a 1-pound DOS-based PC, which runs on three AA batteries. Price: US$400
      Source: Chronology of Events in the History of Microcomputers



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