In a message dated 98-07-15 05:19:21 EDT, thomas pfaff put forth: << What always amazed me was this huge aluminum casting at the center of the machine where you inserted the BASIC and game cartridges. That casting must have added significant cost to manufacturing the >> well, my atari 400 is the same way. ive never seen a computer with so much metal in it like that. perhaps it was for emissions issues? the 400 had that dreadful keypad too so i can imagine even the best typist could only type about 1-2cps. david