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That's funny! I wanted an Apple ][ but my dad got me the 800xl. Looking back, it makes sense. The Atari was about $100 and the ][ was like $1000 and I was a little kid. I wouldn't buy my kids a $1000 computer now and that's 2023 dollars!

But I am so glad I got the Atari. I learned BASIC, assembly, and Pascal on it. I would type in games from the back of the magazine. And here I am decades later!

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I wanted an Apple ][ as well, but also got an Atari 800xl. It did make sense for cost reasons, same as you.

A bit later on, I did end up with an Apple and have both today in working condition.

I am glad I got the Atari first. There was a lot in the box, so to speak, and I learned a ton. Later, when doing more advanced projects, I found the Apple and it's expansion cards could make a very capable workstation.

Yes the AppleII priced itself out of the 8-bit home computer market. I never saw one in the UK in the 80's. One could get the same tech (6502) with an equally good BASIC and OS for less than half (e.g. Acorn BBC Micro was my choice).

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