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---
title: Texas Instruments TI 99 / 2
categories:
- Computers
types:
- Home Computer
origins:
- U.S.A.
years:
- '1983'
cpus:
- Texas Instruments TMS 9995
params:
name: TI 99 / 2
company: /companies/texas-instruments
company_name: Texas Instruments
specs:
- label: NAME
value: TI 99 / 2
- label: MANUFACTURER
value: Texas Instruments
- label: TYPE
value: Home Computer
- label: ORIGIN
value: U.S.A.
- label: YEAR
value: April 1983
- label: BUILT IN LANGUAGE
value: Lighted TI Basic
- label: KEYBOARD
value: QWERTY calculator type, 48 keys
- label: CPU
value: Texas Instruments TMS 9995
- label: SPEED
value: 10.7 Mhz
- label: CO-PROCESSOR
value: Unknown
- label: RAM
value: 4 up (up to 36 kb)
- label: ROM
value: 32 KB
- label: TEXT MODES
value: 32 x 24
- label: GRAPHIC MODES
value: Unknown
- label: COLORS
value: Monochrome
- label: SOUND
value: No !
- label: I/O PORTS
value: Expansion port, Hex-Bus port, NTSC video out, tape-recorder
- label: POWER SUPPLY
value: External AC adaptor
- label: PRICE
value: $99.95 (1983)
tabs:
- photos
- emulators
- links
- docs
- videos
photos:
- title: B&W PICTURE
subtitle: ''
text: ''
image: null
emulators:
- title: Mess emulator
url: http://www.mess.org
platform: MS DOS
text: Emulates all of the TI-99 versions, including the Geneve card
- title: PC99
url: http://pw2.netcom.com/~mjmw/index.html
platform: MS DOS
text: Quality emulator for the TI 99/4A
- title: Classic99
url: http://www.harmlesslion.com/software/Classic99
platform: Windows
text: Open Source & freeware TI-99/4A emulator for Windows 9x
- title: Win994a
url: http://www.99er.net/win994a.shtml
platform: Windows
text: Win994a is a TI-99/4A simulator written by Cory Burr that installs and runs in Windows
- title: MacV9T9 official homepage
url: http://perso.club-internet.fr/pytheas/english/MacV9T9.html
platform: Apple
text: MacV9T9 is a TI99 emulator for the Macintosh
links:
- title: planet-99.net
url: http://www.planet-99.net/
text: Lots and Lots of 4A software on this site. Disks, Cartridges, Articles - the lot!
- title: Somtimes
url: http://sometimes.99er.net/
text: Demo cartridges
- title: The TI-99/4A Home Computer Page
url: http://www.99er.net
text: THE U.S. site to visit for TI stuff !
- title: TI-99 4/A Webring
url: http://e.webring.com/hub?ring=ti994a
text: You know what it is ;-)
- title: TI-99 Forever !
url: http://www.ti99.com/
text: Excellent site, full of infos
- title: TI-99 Forever !
url: http://www.ti99.com
text: Excellent site by Fabrice Montupet
- title: TI-99/4 Home Page at 99er.Net
url: http://www.99er.net/
text: THE us site to visit !
- title: TI-99/4A SHRINE
url: http://www.geocities.com/Athens/7374/ti.html
text: Complete site full of infos
- title: TI99-4a
url: http://www.netten.net/~garycox/ti99idx.htm
text: Some infos and reviews of Chicago TI Fairs
- title: Web Wiz CAPTCHA
url: http://www.webwizcaptcha.com
text: Discussion about Texas Instruments computers
docs:
- title: USER'S REFERENCE GUIDE
url: http://www.classiccmp.org/dunfield/ti/index.htm
cover: null
text: |-
[**USER'S REFERENCE GUIDE**](http://www.classiccmp.org/dunfield/ti/index.htm)written by Texas Instruments
 compiled/archived by Dave Dunfield\
 type of document : PDF\
 source : [Daves Old Computers](http://www.classiccmp.org/dunfield/)
- title: BEGINNER'S BASIC
url: http://www.classiccmp.org/dunfield/ti/index.htm
cover: null
text: |-
[**BEGINNER'S BASIC**](http://www.classiccmp.org/dunfield/ti/index.htm)written by Texas Instruments
 compiled/archived by Dave Dunfield\
 type of document : PDF\
 source : [Daves Old Computers](http://www.classiccmp.org/dunfield/)
- title: BASIC REFERENCE CARD
url: http://www.classiccmp.org/dunfield/ti/index.htm
cover: null
text: |-
[**BASIC REFERENCE CARD**](http://www.classiccmp.org/dunfield/ti/index.htm)written by Texas Instruments
 compiled/archived by Dave Dunfield\
 type of document : PDF\
 source : [Daves Old Computers](http://www.classiccmp.org/dunfield/)
- title: GETTING STARTED WITH THE TEXAS INSTRUMENTS TI99/4A
url: http://shawweb.myzen.co.uk/stephen/book.htm
cover: /media/museum/docs/couvs/vide.gif
text: |-
[**GETTING STARTED WITH THE TEXAS INSTRUMENTS TI99/4A**](http://shawweb.myzen.co.uk/stephen/book.htm)written by Stephen Shaw
 compiled/archived by Stephen Shaw\
 type of document : HTML\
 source : [Stephen's Main Web Page](http://shawweb.myzen.co.uk/stephen)
- title: PROGRAMMING DISCOVERY IN TI BASIC STUDENT GUIDE
url: http://www.99er.net/docs.html
cover: null
text: |-
[**PROGRAMMING DISCOVERY IN TI BASIC STUDENT GUIDE**](http://www.99er.net/docs.html)written by Texas Instruments Computer Advantage Club
 compiled/archived by Rich at www.99er.net\
 type of document : Unknown\
 source : [TI-99/4A Home Computer Page](http://www.99er.net/)
- title: TI-99/4A CONSOLE & PERIPHERAL EXPANSION SYSTEM TECHNICAL DATA
url: http://www.99er.net/docs.html
cover: null
text: |-
[**TI-99/4A CONSOLE & PERIPHERAL EXPANSION SYSTEM TECHNICAL DATA**](http://www.99er.net/docs.html)written by Texas Instruments
 type of document : PDF\
 source : [TI-99/4A Home Computer Page](http://www.99er.net/)
- title: SPEECH SYNTHESIZER MANUAL
url: http://www.99er.net/docs.html
cover: null
text: |-
[**SPEECH SYNTHESIZER MANUAL**](http://www.99er.net/docs.html)written by Texas Instruments
 type of document : PDF\
 source : [TI-99/4A Home Computer Page](http://www.99er.net/)
- title: DISK MEMORY SYSTEM MANUAL
url: http://www.99er.net/docs.html
cover: null
text: |-
[**DISK MEMORY SYSTEM MANUAL**](http://www.99er.net/docs.html)written by Texas Instruments
 compiled/archived by Rich at www.99er.net\
 type of document : Unknown\
 source : [TI-99/4A Home Computer Page](http://www.99er.net/)
- title: RS232 INTERFACE CARD MANUAL
url: http://www.99er.net/docs.html
cover: null
text: |-
[**RS232 INTERFACE CARD MANUAL**](http://www.99er.net/docs.html)written by Texas Instruments
 compiled/archived by Rich at www.99er.net\
 type of document : Unknown\
 source : [TI-99/4A Home Computer Page](http://www.99er.net/)
- title: DATA RECORDER MANUAL
url: http://www.99er.net/docs.html
cover: null
text: |-
[**DATA RECORDER MANUAL**](http://www.99er.net/docs.html)written by Texas Instruments
 compiled/archived by Rich at www.99er.net\
 type of document : PDF\
 source : [TI-99/4A Home Computer Page](http://www.99er.net/)
videos:
- title: TV commercial featuring Bill Cosby
url: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhsgvW9P7tI
text: 'Length: 30 s'
comments:
- author: Jeremy Benisek (United States)
date: Saturday 27th October 2018
text: |-
I have one of these and would like to sell it. Any one interested?
Please contact JB@dontpanic.biz
- author: Mark (USA)
date: Friday 18th July 2014
text: |-
There''s an interesting site about TMS99xx stuff :
http://www.avjd51.dsl.pipex.com/
Has quite a lot of stuff on the TI TMS9900/TMS9995 hardware including a breadboard self-build computer based on the TMS9995
Well worth a look !
- author: John Creviston (Texas)
date: Wednesday 19th February 2003
text: |-
I am in posession of a TI99/2. I am looking for an original power supply/wall transformer.\
I do not own this machine, but am acting on behalf of the owner.\
It might possibly be available for auction if there is enough interest. Please write for pictures for if you have questions. john creviston
related:
- /museum/texas-instruments-computer-99-8
- /museum/texas-instruments-ti-99-4a
- /museum/texas-instruments-ti-99-4a-beige
oc_id: 267
source:
url: https://web.archive.org/web/20230608160518/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=267
date: '2023-06-08'
---
The Texas Instruments TI 99 / 2 (in-house named "Ground Squirrel") was intended to compete in a lower price range than the TI 99/4A (i.e. in the same range that the Sinclair Spectrum). But when the price war with Commodore forced TI to slash the price of a 99/4A to that level, there was no market for the 99/2 anymore.\
Therefore, this prototype never made it to the shelves of the computer shops.
**Harry LittleJohn** and **Mark Jander**, the designers of the TI-99/2, explained its concept in a Byte magazine article:\
We beleived a major portion of our market would be first-time computer buyers looking for a minimal investment in the world of computers. We kept the price low to compete directly with low-priced computers such as the Timex/Sinclair 1000.
We felt strongly that the first-time buyer must not be intimidated by the product. The console, we decided, must be simple and the keyboard must be no more complicated than a typewriter keyboard.
To ease the upward migration to more sophisticated computers, we decided to make our computer part of an integrated proct line basec on the 99/4A.\
Having identified these requirements, we selected the following characteristics for the TI-99/2:\
**1** - A computer system for less than $100 including a minimum of 2 KB of RAM and 16 KB of ROM.\
**2** - A built-in, two-channel black-and-white RF modulator for connecting the system to a standard TV.\
**3** - A built-in interface for a standard audio-cassette recorder to provide economical mass-storage capability.\
**4** - A built-in Hex-bus interface to provide compatibility with the line of low-cost peripherals.\
**5** - An operating system that would be a subset of TI_99/4A TI-BASIC. For cost reasons, the 99/2 would not use the Graphic GROM of the 99/4A and, therefore, 99/4A cartridges would not be compatible with the 99/2.\
**6** - No sound, color, or joystick capability would be supported again because of cost constraints.\
**7** - The full system bus structure would be available at an expansion port. This would facilitate memory-expanding Solid State Software cartridges or any other future system expansion.\
**8** - A nonintimidating 48-key typewriter-like keyboard with only two legends per key top. Lowercase letters would not be supported.