Atari STacy explained

STacy
Manufacturer:	Atari Corporation
Discontinued:	1991^[1]
Unitsshipped:	estimated 35,000+^[2] ^[3]
Os:	Atari TOS 1.04
Power:	NiCad pack, 12 standard C cell alkaline batteries, DC18V 2.0A 36W AC Adaptor
Cpu:	Motorola 68HC000 @ 8 MHz
Memory:	RAM 1 MiB (expandable to 4 MiB^[4]) ROM: 192 KiB
Storage:	3.5" floppy drive, 3.5" SCSI 20MB-40MB harddrive Conner Peripherals Inc.^[5] ^[6]
Display:	10.4" EPSON LCD passive matrix backlight
Graphics:	320x200 (16), 640x200 (4), 640x400 (2)
Sound:	Yamaha YM-2149, three channels, 8 octaves
Input:	95 keys, QWERTY, 2 Joysticks, RS 232C, Centronics, external Floppy, ROM-Cartridge, DMA for Printer/HD, MIDI In/Out, Monitor
Dimensions:	13.3 x 15 x 13.3 inches
Weight:	15.2 lb (6,9 Kg)
Successor:	ST BOOK

The STacy is a portable computer version of the Atari ST.^{[7] [8] [9]}

The computer was originally designed to operate on 12 standard C cell flashlight batteries for portability. When Atari realized how quickly the machine would use up a set of batteries (especially when rechargeable batteries of the time supplied insufficient power compared to the intended alkalines), they simply glued the lid of the battery compartment shut.

The STacy has features similar to the Macintosh Portable, a version of Apple's Macintosh computer which contained a built in keyboard and monitor.

With built-in MIDI, the STacy enjoyed success for running music-sequencer software and as a controller of musical instruments among both amateurs and well-known musicians.^{[10] [11] [12] [13]}

History

The Stacy was a global project, design work was carried out in the Sunnyvale HQ, Cambridge UK, final PCB layouts were produced by Atari in Japan, which is where the first units were manufactured, with final manufacturing occurring in Taiwan.

The distinctive sculptured charcoal-gray case was designed by Ira Velinsky, Atari's chief Industrial Designer.^[14]

Models

There are four STacy models:^{[15] [16] [17]}

• Stacy : 1 MB RAM, 1× 3.5" internal floppy (Model code: LST-1141)
• Stacy 2: 2 MB RAM, 1× 3.5" internal floppy, 20 MB HD (Model code: LST-2144)
• Stacy 2: 2 MB RAM, 2× 3.5" internal floppy (Model code: LST-2124)
• Stacy 4: 4 MB RAM, 1× 3.5" internal floppy, 40 MB HD (Model code: LST-4144)

Specifications

• Atari TOS 1.04 (Rainbow TOS)
• Blitter
• Character set: Atari ST character set (based on code page 437)
• Real-time clock lithium battery
• Hard disk: ACSI-SCSI 20-40 MB
• Floppy disk
• ACSI, ACSI internal (same as in Mega STE)
• Trackball

Ports

• Parallel: 1 port
• Serial: 1 port
• FDD: 1 port
• MIDI: 2 ports

Optional

• Modem

In pop culture

The STacy appears in the 1991 films Nothing but Trouble and Delusion.^[18]

Gallery

^[19]

External links

• Atari History Museum
• Atari Stacy computer
• A Stacy user page Overview, screen captures, photos.
• STacy Owners Manual - Addendum(1990)

Notes and References

1. http://ftp.pigwa.net/stuff/mirror/www.atari-explorer.com/stacy.html Atari Stacy
2. http://www.atarimagazines.com/startv4n2/ovaloffice.html From Atari's Oval Office:Stacy and the Portfolio
3. http://www.atarimagazines.com/startv4n12/dialogbox.html Shipping Stacy Dialog Box:Shipping Stacy
4. Web site: 4Mb Memory Upgrade . 2015-12-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20151208073957/http://atari.nvg.org/stacyram/ . 2015-12-08 . dead .
5. http://www.atariarchives.org/cfn/12/03/0015.php Atari to purchase Conner hard disk drives for the STacy
6. News: Conner Peripherals Gets Atari Contract . https://web.archive.org/web/20151208055459/http://articles.latimes.com/1989-08-05/business/fi-627_1_conner-peripherals . 8 December 2015 . 5 August 1989 . United Press International. live . Los Angeles Times.
7. http://www.atarimagazines.com/st-log/issue35/15_1_ST_GOSSIP_FROM_HOLLYWOOD_USA.php ST Gossip from Hollywood: A Date With Stacy
8. http://www.atarimagazines.com/startv4n2/ovaloffice.html From Atari's Oval Office:Stacy and the Portfolio
9. http://www.atarimagazines.com/startv4n10/namm_report.html ST/MIDI Connection: Winter NAMM Show Report
10. http://www.atarimagazines.com/startv4n4/donnyosmond.html On The Road Back:
11. http://www.atarimagazines.com/startv4n12/musicmakers.html The Music Makers:When It Comes to MIDI, the Pros Go ATARI
12. http://www.atariarchives.org/cfn/12/03/0022.php Time Capsule: The Atari Report - Spring 1990
13. https://www.soundonsound.com/people/mark-tinley-working-duran-duran Mark Tinley: Working With Duran Duran(Interview | Engineer)
14. http://www.atarimagazines.com/startv4n3/taveling_computers.html The Traveling Computers: Hands-On Preview of Atari's STACY and Portfolio
15. http://www.atarimagazines.com/startv4n9/newsnotesquotes.html News, Notes & Quotes
16. http://www.atarimagazines.com/startv5n7/bob_brodie.html Introducing Bob Brodie
17. http://www.computerhistory.org/collections/catalog/102718486 ATARI STACY4 Computer
18. http://www.starringthecomputer.com/computer.html?c=125 Atari STacy
19. C-Lab Unitor (SOS Feb 1989) . Sound on Sound . February 1989 . Feb 1989 . 42–45 . Mellor . David .