1979 Sears Wishbook

for

Y.OU

and

your

family

The new Atari 400™Personal Computer System

can teach, play games and help organize your life

-but it doesn't take a genius to use it

For many people a computer 1s one of those exotic

"number crunchers" that calculates satellite orbits

or audits tax returns on the blink of an eye. Until

now. the idea of actually owning and operattng one

of the thongs (even a small one) didn't seem to be

practical or even possible for the average oerson.

The Atari 400N personal computer system lets a

novice begin using the computer for exciting. edu–

cational and useful purposes by simply placing pre–

programmed cartridges (sold separately) onto the

console and pressing a few buttons. Of course. the

system 1s also designed to keep on challenging you

for years to come because 1t 1s a powerful general

purpose computer you can program yourself.

LIKE EVERY

COMPUTER

THIS ONE

PERFORMS MANY

MATHEMATICAL

FUNCTIONS WITH

UNCANNY SPEED

Inside the sleek computer console there's a power–

ful electronic brain and memory that can store and

manipulate over 8000 bytes ("SK" 1n computer

lingo) of informatton at a time. Among other things.

this power can be used to perform a wide variety of

arithmettc and aovanced mathematical computa–

tions with numbers uo to 10 digits long. In a more

practtcal vein. you can use the computer's capacity

to store names. numbers. addresses. even recipes

then recall and sort them in an infinite variety of

ways. But that's not all. Look what can be done

using the optional cartridges and cassettes sold on

the facing page.

IT CAN ALSO BE A TEACHING MACHINE

By inserting t'ie Educational Cartridge into the con–

sole you've programmed the brain to teach a varie–

of courses.

TAKE A COURSE IN SOCIOLOGY

Use one of the Educational Cassettes w1Ui the Pro,

gram Recorder (sold on facing page) and the sys–

tem automattcally begins teaching by using a print·

ed text. spoken voice and simple graphics.

the

lesson progresses the computer tests you by ask–

ing multiple-choice questions. Answer questions by

pushing keys on the console. If you answer incor–

rectly. the computer lets you know. If you are

cor–

rect. lhe computer continues the lesson.

In years to come ado1-

t1ona1cassettes wi ll oe

offered on subiects irom

auto mechanics

for–

eign la nguages. L1Ke

having a k1noergarter

thru universrty teacher

in your loving room.

HDMC: TIME VISITORS

~·

.. · •, -:-:,

a.-

•

PLAY 1. 2. 3 OR 4-MAN BASKETBALL

TRY 1TO4-PLAYER SUPER BREAKOUT

PLAY GAMES MADE FAMOUS BY ATARI

The Game Cartridges make full use of the com–

puter's aboltty to add-lively action. color and

sound as well as a wide variety of game options

to challenge and entertain you.

With up to 4 optionaI Joystick Controllers (sold

on facing page) you and your friends can play lofe–

like basketball by running. jumping. blocking

shots. dribbling and shooting oaskets. Score and

elapsed time 1s shown on the screen.

With up to 4 optional Paddle Controllers you

and your friends can compete in exciting Super

Breakout. Or. if you choose. play either game

against the computer.

CREATE BEAUTIFUL KINETIC ART

USING THE LIFE CARTRIDGE

WATCH COLORFUL PATTERNS DEVELOP

Translatong electronic ompulses onto exciting full–

color graphic displays is one of this system 's

many talents. Usong the Life Cartridge and up to

4 opt1onal Joystick Controllers select the color.

shape and dorect1on of graphic elements and

watch the computer create fantasn c arrange–

ments that grow and evolve like exotic blossoms

on your TV screen.

YOU CAN EVEN COMPOSE MUSIC

Plug in Music Composer Cartridge. arrange or

change notes on your TV screen with an oot.

Joystick Controller. Enter key and tempo. too.

Touch button to hear tune played. Save music on

blank cassette using Program Recoroer.

YOUR TUNE IS SHOWN ANO PLAYED

DO YOUR OWN PROGRAMMING

The cartridges ano cassettes sold on the facing

page and those to come 1n the future make usong

a computer useful and fun with httle need to un–

derstand iust how the computer works. Sooner or

later. though. you'll get the itch to create your

own games. handle business and home finance

problems. keep household recoros. maolong and

recipe losts and a-thousand-and-one other appli–

cations that will develop over the years. That's

why the system includes a Basic Language Car–

tridge. Basic Language Instructional Cassette and

a 332-page Programming Textbook. With them

you can "talk" to the computer on its own terms.

Using the Program Recorder you can store your

own specialized programs on ordinary audio tape

cassettes for later use.

THE BASIC SYSTEM IS VERY VERSATILE

PROGRAM PICTURES. CHARTS. GRAPHS

You enter. alter and manipulate text. graphics

and sound input using the 57-key touch sensitive

typewriter layout and 4 soec1al functton keys.

Type on upoer and lower case. change colors.

sound and d1solay 44 different graphic symbols.

Insert optional program cartridges onto console

to add specialized 1nstruct1ons to memory.

The 13Y

x 11Y:!x4

Yz-on.

high console has onput

iacks ior up to 4 controllers plus the Prograrn–

mono Recorder. A TV switch box lets you

attac~

the console to any TV set. Console operates on 9

v.: AC adapter incl. System also incl. Basic Lan–

guage Cartridge and Instructional Cassette. text–

book and operating manual

ORDER INFO:

Order Program Recorder. Car–

trtdges. Conrrollers and Cassetres on facing page.

T3 C 7601C- Shpg.

wt.

2 lbs....... 5549.00

.,, 2

jSearsl 655