In a message dated 98-08-24 14:50:19 EDT, you write: << Today I saw an Atari 5?0ST and an 800XL. As I understand, the ST ran GEM. Is this an interesting computer at all? What about the XL? Was this one of the BASIC computers? >> 800xl is just a 8bit atari machine. nothing really special about it although it did have some pretty good sound and graphics similar to the 2600. the 520st would be worth getting. supposedly ran a pretty good gui and is still used elsewhere.