Atari 1020

The 1020 is capable of 20-, 40- and 80-column text[1] and graphics using a friction-fed roll of paper approximately 11.5 cm (4.5 inches) in width.

Graphics are generated using one of four coloured pens[2] to draw lines, using a combination of the horizontally moving pen barrel and the vertically scrolling paper to create diagonal lines.

The 1020 is based on a plotter mechanism manufactured by ALPS.

The same mechanism formed the basis of several other low-cost plotters produced around the same time, including the Commodore 1520, the Oric MCP40, the Tandy/Radio Shack CGP-115,[1] the Texas Instruments HX-1000, and the Mattel Aquarius 4615.

[3] However, the 1020 connected via the Atari 8-bit's proprietary SIO interface,[4] eliminating the need for an 850 serial/parallel interface module, but limiting its use to Atari 8-bit computers.