relatively expensive, however, and
offer
no
real
advantage over combination color TV/monitors.
The
quality
of
the
picture on a color
monitor
is
definitely better than
that
of
a regular TV set. A
color
monitor
can be used
with
an Atari
SOO
or
1200XL,
but
not
with
all Atari
400
. The Atari
400
has the capability
to
be used
only
with
a
TV;
it
cannot be used
with
any
type
of
monitor
or TV/monitor combination.
Black-and-White
TV
Sets
If
you
have a black-and-white TV
hooked
up
to
your
computer,
you
will
not
be able
to
use the
color capabilities
of
the Atari. However, black-
and-
white
TV sets offer one advantage:
you
can
buy
an additional peripheral
that
will
produce
an
SO-column-wide display, rather than
the
standard display
of
40 columns
on
a color
TV
or
monitor
. A company called Bit3 makes a special
board
which,
when
used
with
a black-and-
white
TV and
with
certain software programs,
produces the
SO-column screen. Software
that
is
written
to
make
use
of
the Bit3 board
is
avail-
able
for
word
processing and data base
applications.
Monochrome
Monitors
One-color monitors, called monochrome moni-
tors, are also available for the Atari. Like a black-
and-white
TV
you
can
use
the Bit3 board
with
a
monochrome
monitor
to
produce an SO-column
display
Monochrome monitors are available
with
black-
and-white
screens or amber or green letters
on
a
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