Atari 130XE vs. Commodore 128
In 1985, things were starting to change in the home computer world. The 8-bit computers that had so dominated the early years of home computing were starting to feel dated as newer 16-bit computers with graphical user interfaces were being announced. For Atari, it was the Atari ST and for Commodore, it was the Amiga.
For Apple, it was the Macintosh, but I’m not covering Apple here.
In an effort to keep selling their 8-bit computers to those that would not or did not want to upgrade to 16-bit, both companies took different approaches.
Atari basically took the easy way out. They simply created a 128K version of the venerable Atari 800XL, restyled into a case that resembled the Atari ST and called it a day. This computer became the 130XE and was introduced in the spring of 1985 at a price of $1501, which is about $440 in 2024.
Commodore did something grander and much weirder. Rather than come out with a 128K version of the insanely popular Commodore 64, they did two things.
First, in an attempt to create a computer that would allow people to transition from the 8-bit world to the 16-bit world, they created the Commodore 128, which is essentially three computers in one!
Second, in 1986, Commodore introduced the updated Commodore 64C which was essentially the same old Commodore 64, but in a new case designed to be similar to the Commodore 128.
The Atari 130XE and Commodore 128 are both 128K 8-bit computers, but that is really where the similarities end. Let’s take a look at these 8-bit, 128K “last hurrah” computers.