Machine of the Month: Texas Instruments TI-99/4A (1981)
THIS MONTH we feature a cult computer that could have dominated the early 1980s but fell short of fame due to bad management decisions. Instead, machines such as Sinclair’s ZX80 and ZX81 and the Commodore VIC-20 became the standard-bearers for a new era of home computing. Nevertheless, the TI-99/4A had a sizeable following, offering retro computing fans a combination of features not found elsewhere and some interesting arcade action.
JOHN KNIGHT
YOU’LL NEED THIS
A COPY OF CLASSIC99
http://harmlesslion.com/ software/classic99
1 DEVELOPMENT & RELEASE
Before the TI-99/4A came 1979’s TI-99/4. When 8-bit microcomputers were just becoming mainstream, Texas Instruments (TI) had the ambition of releasing a 16-bit home computer, based on its own TMS9900 CPU.
» As the first 16-bit home computer, this machine had the potential to dominate the home computing scene, with a 3MHz CPU, 16KB of RAM, 15 colors, 32 single-color sprites, and 4-channel audio, powered by Texas Instruments’ own chipsets.
» However, the TI-99/4 had a botched launch. The TI-99/4 only received a chiclet keyboard. Wanting to keep tight control over software licensing, TI only gave developer information to a few software houses. To get around strict requirements from the FCC, TI simply bundled a modified color television with their computer, greatly increasing its price.