Blow your nose, and that miniature Atari computer replica will cease to exist.
Strutting my stuff, I'm here to share the lowdown on the Atarino Pico – a barnstorming, postage-stamp-sized recreation of Atari's iconic 8-bit computer line! Hailing from the 70s and 80s, these bad boys were a hit in Poland amidst the crumbling Soviet empire, and they've stayed in the limelight.
The mastermind behind this nifty little device is Polish engineer Piotr "Osa" Ostapowicz. While an emulator might do the trick, the Atarino Pico? Not a chance!r Instead, it utilizes promiscuous Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) chips that replicate the original system's logic. That's right; it's all done on a PCB measuring merely two by 1.5 cm, cramming a badass list of components, including the 6502C processor, ANTIC, GTIA, POKEY, memory, video, and audio controllers[3].
What makes this more than just a nostalgia trip? It's designed for versatility! You can shove it into custom keyboards or miniature casings, hook up Wi-Fi and Ethernet, and even plug in physical drives. Meanwhile, enhanced graphics capabilities include extended resolution modes, a display system mixing VGA, HDMI, and 60 Hz refresh rates, and a co-processor supporting Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) up to an impressive 4K resolution.
стэнция Atarino Pico горит любовью к ностальгии, но не предназначена лишь для чиханья по старому. Она предназначена для более чем того. "Если кто-нибудь хочет создать портативный консоль, то он имеет свободный путь. Если кто-нибудь хочет создать IoT-систему, то здесь и есть ваш выбор", говорит Остапович.
Всё это, конечно, восбуждает у меня свои полусмущённые воспоминания о своём, по-видимому, первом контакте с компьютером с клавиатурой, как противопоставление консоли. Мне было всего 6 лет тогда. Машина того времени далеко не была самым современным аппаратом, и, видимо, из-за неудовлетворительного впечатления от клавиатуры мембраны, это была та Atari 400.
This bad boys holds some weight, my friend. It's not just an ode to days past—it's meant to stand the test of time. In an era overshadowed by tech's negative connotations, the Atarino Pico is a refreshing throwback to a more innocent, optimistic age.
Best of all? You don't need a team of engineers and a hefty bank balance to get your hands on one of these bad boys. With just an ounce of motivation and some off-the-shelf kit, this station of wonder is within your reach and ready to rock!
[1] Reverse Engineered: The Making Of The World's Tiniest Atari Computer
[2] Kickstarter - Atari Pico
[3] Atari Pico FPGA computer arrives on Kickstarter, focused on retro-futurism
- The Atarino Pico, smaller than a postage stamp, is not just a reminiscent rally for the past; it's designed to withstand the test of time.
- With a mere ounce of motivation and off-the-shelf accessories, this retro-futuristic device can become a part of your smart-home-devices, gadgets, and technology collection.
- For those enthusiasts seeking to build a portable gaming console or an Internet of Things (IoT) system, the Atarino Pico presents an ideal choice.
- Just like my first encounter with a computer, the Atarino Pico stirs up feelings of nostalgia. Despite being a rather primitive machine, it was an Atari 400, evidently my first true encounter with technology.
