yann64andClaude Opus 5.5
b274874139
1,289 discussions, 9,527 archived comments; pages no longer carry the comments themselves. Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 5.5 <noreply@anthropic.com> Claude-Session: https://claude.ai/code/session_01YDRjtmAiNpo5mK5N3d7QwZ
234 lines
9.4 KiB
Markdown
234 lines
9.4 KiB
Markdown
---
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title: Texas Instruments Computer 99/8
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categories:
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- Computers
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types:
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- Home Computer
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origins:
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- U.S.A.
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years:
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- '1983'
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cpus:
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- TI TMS 9995
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params:
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name: Computer 99/8
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image: /media/museum/photos/texas_instrument_ti99-8_1.jpg
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company: /companies/texas-instruments
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company_name: Texas Instruments
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specs:
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- label: NAME
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value: Computer 99/8
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- label: MANUFACTURER
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value: Texas Instruments
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- label: TYPE
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value: Home Computer
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- label: ORIGIN
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value: U.S.A.
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- label: YEAR
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value: '1983'
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- label: END OF PRODUCTION
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value: '1983'
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- label: BUILT IN LANGUAGE
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value: TI Extended Basic II
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- label: KEYBOARD
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value: QWERTY full-stroke keyboard, 54 keys
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- label: CPU
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value: TI TMS 9995
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- label: SPEED
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value: 10,7 MHZ
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- label: CO-PROCESSOR
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value: TMS 9918A (Video Generator)
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- label: RAM
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value: |-
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64 kb (up to 15Mb !)\
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61 kb free with Basic
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- label: VRAM
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value: 16 kb
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- label: ROM
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value: 220 Kb
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- label: TEXT MODES
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value: 32 x 24 (16 colors) / 40 x 24 (2 colors)
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- label: GRAPHIC MODES
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value: 64 x 48 (with 4x4 graphic symbols), 256 x 128 (16 colors), 256 x 192 (16 colors)
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- label: COLORS
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value: '16'
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- label: SOUND
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value: 3 channels & 5 octaves, speech synthesizer built-in
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- label: I/O PORTS
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value: Tape, RGB video out (DIN), Joystick, HexBus connector, Expansion port (16 bits), Cartridge slot (GROM port)
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- label: OS
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value: P-System
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- label: PRICE
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value: planned for 600$
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tabs:
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- photos
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- emulators
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- links
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- docs
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- videos
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forum_thread: 278
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photos:
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- title: KEYBOARD/LABEL
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subtitle: ''
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text: ''
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image: /media/museum/photos/texas_ti99_8_closeup_1.jpg
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emulators:
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- title: Mess emulator
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url: http://www.mess.org
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platform: MS DOS
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text: Emulates all of the TI-99 versions, including the Geneve card
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- title: PC99
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url: http://pw2.netcom.com/~mjmw/index.html
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platform: MS DOS
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text: Quality emulator for the TI 99/4A
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- title: Classic99
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url: http://www.harmlesslion.com/software/Classic99
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platform: Windows
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text: Open Source & freeware TI-99/4A emulator for Windows 9x
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- title: Win994a
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url: http://www.99er.net/win994a.shtml
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platform: Windows
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text: Win994a is a TI-99/4A simulator written by Cory Burr that installs and runs in Windows
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- title: MacV9T9 official homepage
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url: http://perso.club-internet.fr/pytheas/english/MacV9T9.html
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platform: Apple
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text: MacV9T9 is a TI99 emulator for the Macintosh
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links:
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- title: planet-99.net
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url: http://www.planet-99.net/
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text: Lots and Lots of 4A software on this site. Disks, Cartridges, Articles - the lot!
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- title: Somtimes
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url: http://sometimes.99er.net/
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text: Demo cartridges
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- title: TI-99 4/A Forever !
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url: http://www.ti99.com
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text: Excellent site with special pages about the Computer 99/8
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- title: TI-99 4/A Webring
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url: http://e.webring.com/hub?ring=ti994a
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text: You know what it is ;-)
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- title: TI-99 Forever !
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url: http://www.ti99.com
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text: Excellent site by Fabrice Montupet
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- title: TI-99/4 Home Page at 99er.Net
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url: http://www.99er.net/
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text: THE us site to visit !
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- title: Web Wiz CAPTCHA
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url: http://www.webwizcaptcha.com
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text: Discussion about Texas Instruments computers
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docs:
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- title: USER'S REFERENCE GUIDE
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url: http://www.classiccmp.org/dunfield/ti/index.htm
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cover: /media/museum/docs/couvs/texas-instruments_ti99-4a_user-reference-guide.jpg
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text: |-
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[**USER'S REFERENCE GUIDE**](http://www.classiccmp.org/dunfield/ti/index.htm)written by Texas Instruments
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compiled/archived by Dave Dunfield\
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type of document : PDF\
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source : [Daves Old Computers](http://www.classiccmp.org/dunfield/)
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- title: BEGINNER'S BASIC
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url: http://www.classiccmp.org/dunfield/ti/index.htm
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cover: /media/museum/docs/couvs/texas-instruments_ti99-4a_beginners-basic.jpg
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text: |-
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[**BEGINNER'S BASIC**](http://www.classiccmp.org/dunfield/ti/index.htm)written by Texas Instruments
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compiled/archived by Dave Dunfield\
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type of document : PDF\
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source : [Daves Old Computers](http://www.classiccmp.org/dunfield/)
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- title: BASIC REFERENCE CARD
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url: http://www.classiccmp.org/dunfield/ti/index.htm
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cover: /media/museum/docs/couvs/texas-instruments_ti99-4a_basic-reference-card.jpg
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text: |-
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[**BASIC REFERENCE CARD**](http://www.classiccmp.org/dunfield/ti/index.htm)written by Texas Instruments
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compiled/archived by Dave Dunfield\
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type of document : PDF\
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source : [Daves Old Computers](http://www.classiccmp.org/dunfield/)
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- title: GETTING STARTED WITH THE TEXAS INSTRUMENTS TI99/4A
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url: http://shawweb.myzen.co.uk/stephen/book.htm
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cover: /media/museum/docs/couvs/vide.gif
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text: |-
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[**GETTING STARTED WITH THE TEXAS INSTRUMENTS TI99/4A**](http://shawweb.myzen.co.uk/stephen/book.htm)written by Stephen Shaw
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compiled/archived by Stephen Shaw\
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type of document : HTML\
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source : [Stephen's Main Web Page](http://shawweb.myzen.co.uk/stephen)
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- title: PROGRAMMING DISCOVERY IN TI BASIC STUDENT GUIDE
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url: http://www.99er.net/docs.html
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cover: /media/museum/docs/couvs/texas-instruments_ti99-4a_programming_discovery.jpg
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text: |-
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[**PROGRAMMING DISCOVERY IN TI BASIC STUDENT GUIDE**](http://www.99er.net/docs.html)written by Texas Instruments Computer Advantage Club
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compiled/archived by Rich at www.99er.net\
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type of document : Unknown\
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source : [TI-99/4A Home Computer Page](http://www.99er.net/)
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- title: TI-99/4A CONSOLE & PERIPHERAL EXPANSION SYSTEM TECHNICAL DATA
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url: http://www.99er.net/docs.html
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cover: /media/museum/docs/couvs/texas-instruments_ti99-4a_technical_data.jpg
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text: |-
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[**TI-99/4A CONSOLE & PERIPHERAL EXPANSION SYSTEM TECHNICAL DATA**](http://www.99er.net/docs.html)written by Texas Instruments
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type of document : PDF\
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source : [TI-99/4A Home Computer Page](http://www.99er.net/)
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- title: SPEECH SYNTHESIZER MANUAL
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url: http://www.99er.net/docs.html
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cover: /media/museum/docs/couvs/texas-instruments_ti99-4a_speech-module-manual.jpg
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text: |-
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[**SPEECH SYNTHESIZER MANUAL**](http://www.99er.net/docs.html)written by Texas Instruments
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type of document : PDF\
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source : [TI-99/4A Home Computer Page](http://www.99er.net/)
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- title: DISK MEMORY SYSTEM MANUAL
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url: http://www.99er.net/docs.html
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cover: /media/museum/docs/couvs/texas-instruments_ti99-4a_disk-memory-system.jpg
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text: |-
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[**DISK MEMORY SYSTEM MANUAL**](http://www.99er.net/docs.html)written by Texas Instruments
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compiled/archived by Rich at www.99er.net\
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type of document : Unknown\
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source : [TI-99/4A Home Computer Page](http://www.99er.net/)
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- title: RS232 INTERFACE CARD MANUAL
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url: http://www.99er.net/docs.html
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cover: /media/museum/docs/couvs/texas-instruments_ti99-4a_rs232.jpg
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text: |-
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[**RS232 INTERFACE CARD MANUAL**](http://www.99er.net/docs.html)written by Texas Instruments
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compiled/archived by Rich at www.99er.net\
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type of document : Unknown\
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source : [TI-99/4A Home Computer Page](http://www.99er.net/)
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- title: DATA RECORDER MANUAL
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url: http://www.99er.net/docs.html
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cover: /media/museum/docs/couvs/texas-instruments_ti99-4a_data-recorder.jpg
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text: |-
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[**DATA RECORDER MANUAL**](http://www.99er.net/docs.html)written by Texas Instruments
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compiled/archived by Rich at www.99er.net\
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type of document : PDF\
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source : [TI-99/4A Home Computer Page](http://www.99er.net/)
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videos:
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- title: TV commercial featuring Bill Cosby
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url: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhsgvW9P7tI
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text: 'Length: 30 s'
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related:
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- /museum/texas-instruments-ti-99-2
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- /museum/texas-instruments-ti-99-4a
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- /museum/texas-instruments-ti-99-4a-beige
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oc_id: 268
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source:
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url: https://web.archive.org/web/20230606203013/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=268
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date: '2023-06-06'
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---
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The 99/8 was intended as an upmarket companion to the [TI 99/4A](/museum/texas-instruments-ti-99-4a/) . Something like a small business computer. However, at TI they didn't think it would generate any income, so it was never released.
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It has built-in features which were optional in the 4A : The speech synthesiser and the Pascal UCSD ROM card. It is a prototype computer and was never marketed.
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---
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Very interesting information from **CC Clarke**\
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As a young electronic technician at TI, I labored in the "trenches" during the Home Computer Wars of the early eighties. It was brutal. Our 99/4A was technologically superior to the Comodore 64, but was marketed against the VIC 20 in price.\
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The 99/8 (codenamed: **Roadrunner**) was supposed to remedy that situation. It was more advanced, cheaper to produce, (the bottom line was ALWAYs the decisive factor in corporate decision-making) and used the existing TI HexBus interface, touted as the emerging interface standard at TI.\
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Unfortunately, TI got a very bloody nose when it voluntarily recalled thousands of 99/4A AC transformers due to a perceived fusing issue.
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Thousands of 99/8s were built and warehoused (before being destroyed) after it was discovered they couldn't meet FCC EMI specs without expensive design changes.\
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In 1982/83, TI was losing more money in their Lubbock Consumer Products Division than they could justify. and the 99/8's problems made it cheaper to bury than bring to market. A few escaped and are considered collector's items.
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