Atari STacy

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

STacy

Atari Stacy 2 portable computer with professional MIDI extension
Manufacturer	Atari Corporation
Release date	September 1989; 35 years ago (1989-09)
Introductory price	US$2,299 (equivalent to $5,830 in 2024)
Discontinued	1991[1]
Units shipped	estimated 35,000+[2][3]
Operating system	Atari TOS 1.04
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
Power	NiCad pack, 12 standard C cell alkaline batteries, DC18V 2.0A 36W AC Adaptor
Dimensions	13.3 x 15 x 13.3 inches
Weight	15.2 lb (6,9 Kg)
Successor	ST BOOK

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.^{[citation needed]}

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.^[1]

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 0: 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

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