Computers · home computer
Atari Falcon
People praise its 56k DSP, eye-catching design and GEM-based computing, and find it fun to use. Its one critic says it arrived too late, after faster clockspeeds made it unnecessary.
Summarized from 9 comments.
People praise its 56k DSP, eye-catching design and GEM-based computing, and find it fun to use. Its one critic says it arrived too late, after faster clockspeeds made it unnecessary.
- recommend
- 8
- criticize
- 0
- months recommended
- 4 of 13
Why people love it
Powerful 56k DSP for its time · 2
that DSP made the Falcon an insane piece of hardware for its time
Dec 2025 · commentthe Falcon was so cool when it came out, especially the 56k DSP
Oct 2026 · commentEye-catching GEM-based computer · 2
Falcon030 was an eye popping machine.
Oct 2026 · commentan awesome GEM-based computer
Oct 2026 · comment
What hackers pick instead
- Commodore 64Remembered as an affordable home computer whose built-in BASIC, manual, graphics and sound got a generation programming and gaming; critics note a weak CPU and new-model firmware lock-down attempts.121recommend
- Commodore AmigaLoved for its graphics, multitasking and video features; critics say it cost too much at launch and its custom chips limited it.60recommend
- ZX SpectrumA 1980s home computer many people learned BASIC programming and games on, praised for its quirks and repairable boards. Critics point to rubber keys and colour clash.31recommend
- TI-99/4ARecommended for nostalgia, a well-written BASIC manual and a first taste of programming; critics say its cost-optimised design hobbled performance and its 16KB of memory is very limiting.26recommend
- Commodore Amiga 500Recommended for responsive multitasking, a large software library and good value in its era, with many fond memories. Critics say windows redraw slowly and the 50Hz display flickers.20recommend
Every quote
The 9 most detailed of 9 comments. Each links to the original.
that DSP made the Falcon an insane piece of hardware for its time
Recommends · Dec 2025 · in “Super Mario 64 for the PS1”
the Falcon was so cool when it came out, especially the 56k DSP
Recommends · Oct 2026 · in “Atari Falcon”
Falcon030 was an eye popping machine.
Recommends · Oct 2026 · in “Atari Falcon”
an awesome GEM-based computer
Recommends · Oct 2026 · in “Atari Falcon”
Once clockspeeds got up to what the Falcon could do, it was unnecessary. But again, too late.
Mixed · Sep 2026 · in “Amiga Screens: A Primer”
Someone rebuilt the Falcon from scratch, seen recently at the VCF West. Pretty insane.
Recommends · Oct 2026 · in “Atari Falcon”
The Falcon was the only Atari ST model which would turn my head as an Amiga user
Recommends · Oct 2026 · in “Atari Falcon”
allowed 8-track digital recording in essentially CD quality
Recommends · Oct 2026 · in “Atari Falcon”
they're a compelling machine and still fun to play with
Recommends · Mar 2026 · in “What Happened to Gem?”
Counts from 1,795,640 Hacker News comments, Nov 2025 to Nov 2026. How we count · Report a mistake