old-computers.com/website
1
0
Fork 0
Code Issues Pull Requests Actions Packages Projects Releases Wiki Activity
Files
be4536ac461ab439bcc3e563f26027232640b263
website/content/museum/texas-instruments-ti-99-4a-beige.md
T

342 lines
17 KiB
Markdown
Raw Blame History

This file contains invisible Unicode characters
This file contains invisible Unicode characters that are indistinguishable to humans but may be processed differently by a computer. If you think that this is intentional, you can safely ignore this warning. Use the Escape button to reveal them.
---
title: Texas Instruments TI 99 / 4A Beige
categories:
- Computers
types:
- Home Computer
origins:
- U.S.A.
years:
- '1983'
cpus:
- TI TMS 9900
params:
name: TI 99 / 4A Beige
company: /companies/texas-instruments
company_name: Texas Instruments
specs:
- label: NAME
value: TI 99 / 4A Beige
- label: MANUFACTURER
value: Texas Instruments
- label: TYPE
value: Home Computer
- label: ORIGIN
value: U.S.A.
- label: YEAR
value: June 1983
- label: END OF PRODUCTION
value: '1983'
- label: BUILT IN LANGUAGE
value: TI Basic
- label: KEYBOARD
value: |-
QWERTY full-stroke keyboard, 48 keys\
2 x SHIFT, CTRL, ALPHA LOCK, FCTN
- label: CPU
value: TI TMS 9900 (with 256 bytes 'cache', actually it accesses to 256 bytes of RAM)
- label: SPEED
value: 3,3 MHz
- label: CO-PROCESSOR
value: TMS 9918 (TMS 9929 in Europe) - Video / Sprite
- label: RAM
value: '256 bytes - Memory expansion card can be added : 4 KB or 32 KB (up to 52 KB)'
- label: VRAM
value: 16 kb
- label: ROM
value: '26 KB  : 8 KB ROM connected to the CPU + 18 KB ROM in byte-serial bit-mapped circuits (usually known as GROM, Graphic Only Memory)'
- label: TEXT MODES
value: 32 x 24 (16 colors), 40 x 24 (2 colors)
- label: GRAPHIC MODES
value: |-
Multicolor mode : 48 x 64 with 16 colors\
256 x 192 with 16 colors (only accesed via machine code)\
Sprites (only with TI-Extended Basic)
- label: COLORS
value: '16'
- label: SOUND
value: 3 channels, 5 octaves (110hz to 55khz) and 1 noise channel (periodic and white)
- label: SIZE / WEIGHT
value: 38 (W) x 25,5 (D) x 6 (H) cm / 2,15 kg
- label: I/O PORTS
value: Tape interface, RGB video, Joystick (2), cartridge slot (Solid State Cartridge)
- label: OS
value: TI's own system, but a p-code card could be added, which gave access to the UCSD p-system and a Pascal compiler.
- label: POWER SUPPLY
value: |-
Special TI external PSU\
(pins 1,2 : 16v / 1,6A -- pins 2,4 : 8v / 0,15A)
- label: PRICE
value: AU $200
tabs:
- photos
- emulators
- links
- docs
- videos
photos:
- title: LARGER VIEW
subtitle: ''
text: ''
image: null
- title: LEFT SIDE
subtitle: ''
text: ''
image: null
- title: RIGHT SIDE
subtitle: ''
text: A StarTrek game cartridge is inserted.
image: null
- title: KEYBOARD CLOSE-UP
subtitle: ''
text: ''
image: null
- title: OPENED
subtitle: ''
text: |-
Opened system seen from the bottom side.\
A metallic magnetic shield covers the motherboard.\
At least two different power regulator circuits **(1)** and keyboards **(2)** were used. Some of them came from Japan.
image: null
- title: MOTHERBOARD
subtitle: ''
text: |-
**(1)** RGB video output DIN plug\
**(2)** TMS 9918A video processor\
**(3)** TMS 9901 I/O management chip\
**(4)** TMS 9900 16-bit processor\
**(5)** 3 x GROM 6 KB chips\
**(6)** Sound generator chip (Texas 76494)\
**(7)** ROM cartridges connector\
**(8)** Tape recorder DB9 connector\
**(9)** Extension connector\
**(10)** 256 bytes Static RAM chips (2 x Motorola 6810)\
**(11)** 8 KB system ROM chip (Texas CD3227)\
**(12)** Power leads\
**(13)** Keyboard connector\
**(14)** 16 KB RAM chips (8 x 4116)\
**(15)** Joystick DB9 connector
image: null
- title: BACK SIDE
subtitle: ''
text: |-
From left to right:\
• Extension connector\
• Tape recorder DB9 plug\
• Power plug. Power is supplied by and external mono or dual voltage PSU, depending on versions\
• RGB video out DIN plug
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: 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 by Fabrice Montupet
- title: TI-99/4 Home Page at 99er.Net
url: http://www.99er.net/
text: THE us site to visit !
- title: Web Wiz CAPTCHA
url: http://www.webwizcaptcha.com
text: Tons of things here !
docs:
- title: USER'S REFERENCE GUIDE
url: http://www.classiccmp.org/dunfield/ti/index.htm
cover: /media/museum/docs/couvs/texas-instruments_ti99-4a_user-reference-guide.jpg
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: /media/museum/docs/couvs/texas-instruments_ti99-4a_beginners-basic.jpg
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: /media/museum/docs/couvs/texas-instruments_ti99-4a_basic-reference-card.jpg
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: /media/museum/docs/couvs/texas-instruments_ti99-4a_programming_discovery.jpg
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: /media/museum/docs/couvs/texas-instruments_ti99-4a_technical_data.jpg
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: /media/museum/docs/couvs/texas-instruments_ti99-4a_speech-module-manual.jpg
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: /media/museum/docs/couvs/texas-instruments_ti99-4a_disk-memory-system.jpg
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: /media/museum/docs/couvs/texas-instruments_ti99-4a_rs232.jpg
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: /media/museum/docs/couvs/texas-instruments_ti99-4a_data-recorder.jpg
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: Virgil
date: Tuesday 13rd October 2020
text: I am 13 and I have found one of these in a building my family owns. I am interested in it and how it has the same controller ports on it as a sega genesis does. Really neat.
- author: ChrisGrillo (Malta)
date: Tuesday 24th April 2018
text: I cut my teeth on this machine, learning program literally by copying the listings from magazines, and then figuring out which part did what action or sequence. My dad bought this machine for me when it was already discontinued, but as a poor family, we didn''t care. I love this machine to this day, and it is still connected to my tv.
- author: Nathaniel (Texas)
date: Monday 19th June 2017
text: I have a beige 99/4A that my Grandma bought at Sears on clearance. It came with the original version of the system ROM and will run all third party carts. Guess TI was trying to just make everything they could and mixed and matched surplus part stock to get rid of it at the EOL of the machines. Even though the computer is almost a decade older than I am I have enjoyed it and still break it out every now and then to play Zero Zap or Parsec on.
- author: Gilmoure (New Mexico, United States)
date: Wednesday 5th April 2017
text: I still have my beige TI-99/4a (16k of RAM!) and it still works (except I no longer have a tube tv for display. :-( ). I also have the cassette player I used with it and there''s a tape in there but I''m afraid to even plug it in or try and open the player. Figure the tape has welded itself to the read head or something. For what it''s worth, I now admin super computers. Great way to start.
- author: Mark (United States)
date: Saturday 1st April 2017
text: |-
My farther purchased one for me when I was around 14 or 15. I lived in a little town called Newport Pagnell (where Aston Martins are made) just outside Milton Keynes. My first computer.
Remember learning BASIC, copying programs from magazines with the thinnest paper. Loved it. Learned to debug because I would never copy correctly, still use those same techniques today...
Pretty sure having this computer and loving it helped me get my apprenticeship at Allen-Bradley in 1981 and career in tech ever since...
- author: Scott (USA)
date: Saturday 26th September 2015
text: |-
Got one for my 9th birthday, love the look of the black/silver but just for nostalgic purposes I want to get a the beige because that is what I had.\
I also remember well using a random cassette recorder for saving basic programs. I have very fond memories of these books I use to order from the monthly scholastic brochure thing, they were called "Micro-Adventure" and it was like sliced-bread to me at 9. You went through the fiction Sci-Fi type stories but at the part where the team was looking at a bomb you would type in a program that would have a countdown timer or something like that. LOVED it.\
My favorite game was "MicroSurgeon" by far. A really impressive game actually for that small system, it had three windows on-scree showing verious things. One was the inside of the person you were working on, another was the hospital room and another had the heartbeat and vitals monitor. Really great stuff.
P.S. Speaking of Schoolastic does anybody else remember a magazine you could get through them called "K-Power"? I''ve never seen one since but they were full sized fun 8 bit mags. Wish I could look through one now.
- 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: etownAndy (USA)
date: Tuesday 4th January 2011
text: |-
Actually, some versions of the beige console could use third-party cartridges with no problem.
The version that can''t displays "(c)1983 v2.2" on the startup screen.
The QI (Quality Improved) motherboard differed in many ways. For one, the side expansion port lost the brass-colored "fingers". Second, the tranformer plug only contains two pins because only 5 and 16 volts are needed whereas the original also supplied 8v. Finally, there is no top shield, and a heat sink is placed on the TMS9918A video chip.
- author: Beachbumb
date: Saturday 10th April 2010
text: I had this when I was a kid. Burgertime and Star trek games and a radioshack cassette recorder to record my programsI made in Basic. Also had the voice simulator plugin pack. Drempt about getting the big floppy disc box.
- author: andy (sydney)
date: Sunday 23rd July 2006
text: 'My step dad gave me a ti 994a beige when i was 13. immediately i taught myself basic from the excellent manual that came with it. I got caught a couple of times with the function key reseting issue. Funny story: my brother accidentaly spilt an entire cup of coffee into it while it was turned on. we powered it off, turned it upside down to let the coffee drain, and let it rest standing up against the back fence outside for a week. then bought it in, turned it on, it was as if nothing had happened. They dont make electronics like they used to...... I loved that computer. sigh.'
- author: CodeBoy061269 (Saint Petersburg, Florida)
date: Sunday 12th September 2004
text: I was given a TI-99/4A for my 14th. birthday, in 1983. I had been taking continuing education courses at The University Of South Florida during Summer break from junior high school. Eventually, all my computer equipment stopped working. You can go to ebay and buy a lot of that stuff, though. That's what I did, and now, when I'm not working with my PC, I can relive the old days. Also, free emulators are available on line that, for all intents and purposes, temporarily turn your PC or Mac into a TI-99/4A.
- author: Lyn (USA)
date: Sunday 3rd August 2003
text: I recall purchasing the TI99 back around 1982 or 83 at Toys R Us for $50.00. The model was being discontinued. There were a few good games for it, can't remember all, but one comes to mind. It was "Alpiner," a mountain main trying to make his way to the top and had to watch out for skunk slime! I also remember the manual with the basic instructions. My first screen saver was "random dots."
related:
- /museum/texas-instruments-computer-99-8
- /museum/texas-instruments-ti-99-2
- /museum/texas-instruments-ti-99-4a
oc_id: 929
source:
url: https://web.archive.org/web/20230608092647/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=929
date: '2023-06-08'
---
This TI99/4A all plastic beige version was launched in June 1983, five months before Texas Instruments decide to definitely get out of the home computers market.
The goal was to reduce the production costs and offer a better price front of the Commodore [VIC-20](/museum/commodore-vic-20/) competition. T.I. also thought of standardizing colours and peripherals of its future line of home computers, the [TI99/2](/museum/texas-instruments-ti-99-2/) and [TI99/8](/museum/texas-instruments-computer-99-8/).
Internal hardware of the beige version was quite the same as the [TI99/4](/museum/texas-instruments-ti-99-4a/) black and silver model. All of the TI99 peripherals could run on the new version. Some minor change were made though:\
• New power supply unit\
• New power switch moved to to right of the keyboard\
• The power Led was replaced with a blue colored area on the power switch\
• Only the T.I. licencied ROM cartridges could run on this version.
Despite its short life, several tens of thousands system were sold, in American continent and Australia.
Reference in New Issue View Git Blame Copy Permalink