TI 99/4A Computer

Although The Texas Instruments TI 99/4a was a contemporary of the Apple ][, Atari 800 and much of the Radio Shack line it wasn't nearly as successful as those computers. One reason may have been its price, which was initially far higher then its competitors, when compared as equally capable systems.

I have two TIs in my collection. One is a nearly brand new, almost never used unit with its original box and documentation. The other is in less pristine shape but came with a TI expansion unit with with a floppy drive.

(Submitted March 6, 2008 13:14:12 by Joe Franza)

Where can i purchase the TJ video game Parsec on cd or downloadit from the web. Thankyou for your help Joe

(Submitted January 14, 2008 15:00:51 by Chris)

i love this system, my parents werent that rich, and the school they worked for was tossing one of these, they picked it up, and i grew up programming it and plyaing games bought at a resale shop. we still have it, most of the packaging was lost, although we still have the foam and part of the box. we still use it on occasion. glad there are still people who appreciate old electronics. i still own a apple ][ gs, and a ][ e, along with other old systems

(Submitted November 21, 2007 07:30:48 by Dave)

This was my first home machine. I learned about computers on it and its lack of software meant I learnt to program on it rather than just play games like my Commodore and Sinclair owning friends! It even has its own wikipedia article! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas_Instruments_TI-99/4A

(Submitted October 5, 2007 15:27:19 by te)

I have a TI 99 in good shape and a Model 33 teletype machine that had the electronics up- graded just prior to the increase in line charges when I discontinued using the machine. For sale both items for whatever the offers, plus shipping charges.

(Submitted September 19, 2007 13:24:55 by Bob Siefker)

In the mid-80's, my wife decided she needed to learn about PC's and went to the local High School to inquire about a course. They had one but it was $250! I suggested instead we buy a TI-99/4A, since it was available then for $299. Reading from and writing to a cassette tape deck lasted for about a year before we could afford the expansion box with the floppy drive! What heaven! The TI-99/4A was a difficult machine to use (I joke that the machine was user antagonistic - the opposite of user friendly), but as a result, she became quite adept at using a PC and eventually was placed into a job using those skills in her lab. But when Radio Shack bought a shipment of IBM-XT clones and sold them cheap, we felt like we’d died and gone to heaven. I still have the TI-99/4A if anyone is interested. I still think the games on the TI-99/4A were very good - I was a Munch Man junkie!

(Submitted September 19, 2007 14:07:32 by Dan)

This was my first computer and I was pretty proud of it. My first exposure to dot pixel graphics..... But you all are right about the pricing. It did start out around $1200 initially, but fell to a mere $149.99 far too fast for the company to handle. It's supply chain and marketing model was not set up to turn a profit at that level.

The company was taking a loss when it dipped below $199....and it was never able to regain market share on the C64.

It's hard to believe people are still using 25 year old technology though..... especially for business purposes.

I loved the TI 99/4a - but I can't imagine why anyone would want to fiddle with one for running a business. To each their own I suppose.

Thanks for bringing back some great memories though. =)

(Submitted September 17, 2007 05:50:48 by Tom W)

The TI-99/4A was my first computer. It came with manuals to teach basic. It came with a voice senisizer and taught my 3 year old the alphabet. I was told the TI-99 (fisrt Issue) had a membrain keyboard but dd not sell and YI re- markedted it as the /4A with a real but small keyboard.

(Submitted August 28, 2007 05:25:29 by F.Baube)

One mustn't forget to mention that the CPU had a pretty freaky architecture!

(Submitted August 7, 2007 15:40:22 by Mark Wills)

Just thought I would say, if you guys are still interested in your good old 4A's, come and join up to the 4a users group - there are LOADS of members, all very friendly, tons of software and emulators available. Yes, you CAN play Parsec and Alpiner on your PC! Complete with SPEECH!!! Come visit us at: http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/ti99-4a/

(Submitted June 24, 2007 14:35:23 by john bearden)

i have some old computers including TI 99, Atari, Timex, and some other computers with eight inch drives i would like to sell.

(Submitted May 24, 2007 10:09:04 by John)

Recently some employees from TI visited my company, and I asked if they ever heard of the 99/4A. They said that every employee has one at their desk! (for display only)

(Submitted May 11, 2007 13:50:41 by mj nurney)

I had a ti99 in the UK in about 1983, sales were poor and they were too expensive but i still had great fun with the games and trying to program the thing!! fond memories of the 80's and racing home from school to play the games!! Parsec, alpiner - starship supernova !!

Sorry to hear about your brother kim (earlier post) try this web site for archives.

ftp://ftp.whtech.com/

(Submitted April 16, 2007 09:38:35 by Rick)

I programmed Microsurgeon for the TI 99/4a. It was actually a reasonable machine to program for in assembly language. I wrote a sprite and graphics engine and translated my implementation of Microsurgeon for the Mattel Intellivision over to the TI 99/4a. Pretty fun to work on, actually, especially since I got to add voice.

(Submitted April 13, 2007 20:36:10 by Ed Brady)

I have a couple of the old consoles, two expansion boxes (one with almost nothing in it), one of which has the extended memory card, two floppy drives, modules all over the place and some floppy software. I don't even know what's there any longer. Just gathering dust.

(Submitted April 12, 2007 13:35:02 by Steve Chan)

I got my 99/4A in 84 for $300 (on sale from $450) and they had just shipped out the new units with modified power connectors (smaller adapter with fuse on cord).

A few months, it was discontinued and was selling in Canada for $29.99 CDN on clearance. I was able to buy the much needed Extended Basic Module (without it you couldnt do much), it cost about $150 at the time.

(Submitted April 12, 2007 11:35:40 by (a href=mailto:)Stev(/a))

My folks bought the TI-99/4A the second year they were out. The price was somewhat affordable back then. I had two years of TRS-DOS and quickly adapted to the TI programming. Within days, I had an extensive program that took phone numbers in and compared them to a database of phone numbers. Running a business out of the home with one line proved challenging and took hours to read the sheets of paper to run the totals. The TI made life easy at 15 minutes per month. This was a big help since toll calls back then were very expensive. The games were fun and speech box was neat too. It took many years later for any real computer company to make a speech unit so real like the TI. The Radio Shack TX 1000 and HX 1000 machines were the first to achieve this quality.

(Submitted April 11, 2007 13:30:36 by mike smith)

I bought every game and expansion module availible when I got my first Ti99. My wife and I bought eight of them (when they were 150 each) for my daughters catholic grade school. The kids loved them and learn to program one line at a time. This was the first computer lab in a geade school in columbus Ohio. Many fond memories except when tape got eaten and lost data

(Submitted April 4, 2007 23:38:08 by Thor Rasmussen)

When I was in high school a friend of mine and I had TI 99/4A computers. I got mine when they had a $100.00 rebate offer. Somehow we got lucky and they sent us two separate checks for $100.00! There was some other kind of deal where you could get a free speech synthesizer if you bought a couple of programs. We got the Parsec cartridge which was a space shoot-em-up game. It was so awsome as it used the speech synthezier to make voice sounds! I eventually got the text-to-speech cartridge which allowed you to have the computer say what you typed. I think this was a result of the Speak and Spell unit (Remember E.T.?) Once armed with the text-to-speech capability, it was cool to make prank phone calls and try to get people to talk to the computer voice. Unfortunatly, we weren't able to type fast enough to be very effective!

(Submitted January 13, 2007 11:51:24 by Mike Dudeck)

Just wanted to thank Erik for having this TI- 99/4A page!! I am also an ardent Texas Instruments Home Computer fan....so much so that when I couldn't find the old software on the internet, I purchased all the NOS inventory from some oldtime vendors and started an ecommerce website. It is located at www.texintreasures.com. LONG LIVE THE TI-99/4A!!!

(Submitted January 10, 2007 11:40:12 by (a href=mailto:)Frank D.(/a))

I actually dreamt of having a computer I wanted this one so badly. I could almost taste it!

In my first dream, I actually was sitting in front of a computer, but the keyboard had this weird plastic sheath that kept me from touching the keyboard. It actually made it impossible to lay your wrists down to type.

In another dream, I was playing a side scrolling shooter game that I wrote. Lots of Defender- like action but I could never die. {:-p This was BEFORE I ever heard of Parsec.

I spent countless hours programming on that thing. The story is almost too long to tell here. If you ever come across a BASIC program graphic of the Star Ship Enterprize with a bunch of stars and firing phasers, that was me. {:-D

(Submitted October 22, 2006 08:50:44 by Kim)

My parents got the TI and later the Geneve for us around '81 or '82. I remember thinking the movie War Games was SOOOOOOOO possible. Anyway. we played all the games for hours on end. While I have found myself technology saavy due to my early experience, my brother began a lifelong addiction/love for computers and gaming. He told me that he found a place to download the old games, and he was going to burn them for me for my birthday. Unfortunately, he passed away away 2 years ago and he died before my birthday that year. I have been looking for the treasre trove site he found to no avail. If anyone knows where I can download the old games for the TI, I'd really appreciate it. It would be one small piece of very fond memories with my brother.

(Submitted October 11, 2006 14:53:08 by Gavin)

The TI994A was my second computer that I bought in 1981. My first was a ZX80 bought in 1980.

(Submitted October 2, 2006 14:14:12 by Dan P)

Fantastic.... wow ... i never thought i would find anybody who loved their TI 99/4A as much as i did/do .... my parents bought it for me in 1981/82 , my very first computer.a seed was planted for a (so far) life long passion for computers.I would love to find some of the old games for the 99. I still remember the long days and nights of programming basic....this is a nice walk down memorylane :-)..... thumbs up for all you TI 99/4A freaks outthere....

(Submitted September 26, 2006 14:58:49 by Oddemann)

WOW, i found a web sight for my OLD and great TI-99/4A computer, I still have my old friend. I think i need to fire it up one day soon. My TI-99/4A computer was my road into the computer world. A love realtionship was started back then ;-)

Is it possible to use some modern floppy disk system to get games and stuff into the old guy?

All the best to you all.

(Submitted September 24, 2006 12:48:06 by Russell)

The ti994a was the first computer/video game system my family ever had i believe we bought it around 1983 or so it tought be how to use basic and founded my love for video games such as parsec, Blasto, and munch-man, I also rember downloading games off of a cassette that you had to put like 3 tapes in and it took about an hour :-) I still have the unit in my basement and every 5 years or so i pull it out and play a little parsec and blasto, I hope to hook it up soon and let me little daughter play some of the many educational games. This is still a sytem little kids can enjoy. Like wise if anyone knows where i can download some of the old games i would appericate it.

(Submitted September 23, 2006 11:15:23 by Andy)

I still have mine. My first PC. Got me into programming basic and debugging the damb typos. Now I program system for airports!

(Submitted August 12, 2006 07:51:24 by Eric Bray)

The Company's Shortsightedness

Later, there was software developed to allow the machine to used digitalized sound files in its programming.

One of the ‘best’ software packages that prolonged the use of the TI99/4A was the “Funnel Web” program that integrated all the significant software into a single program that allowed the machine to have a quasi operating system instead of a computer that could only utilize one category of program at a time.

Texas Instruments NEVER realized the full potential of their little home computer!

(Submitted August 12, 2006 07:47:28 by Eric Bray)

Just as TI was leaving the home computer market the company stated that its TI99/4A home computer could not and would never be able to run a BBS system, have a mouse as a system interface, and connect to and control a MIDI device. Of course the hardware ‘Hackers’ out there proved the company to be very wrong by developing all of those very things.

Independent parties later developed a MFM hard drive controller, a SCSI interface, and an IDE interface along with memory expansion systems, ram disks systems, and a sound card that had the ability to play 12 different channels at once.

The software developers proved to be just as resourceful by developing programs like several BBS system software packages, software to use with the mouse interface, MIDI software, a standard for archiving file storage and transmitting programs over a BBS, and several, superior to TI’s own modules, disk management systems.

(Submitted August 12, 2006 07:43:57 by Eric Bray)

TI responded to competition in the home computer market by dropping its price on the TI99/4A, but it made critical mistakes in strategy and evaluation of the consumer computer market.

As the TI99/4A began to sell, the company still refused to release the secrets of how it worked, making it impossible for third-party vendors to support the machine with software and peripherals. Instead, TI chose to protect its secrets and gluttonously to keep the software and peripheral business to itself [Complete Vertical Control]. (A lesson later learned by IBM and exploited by Microsoft) But the Peripheral Expansion System TI offered was not priced in line with its reduced-price TI99/4A. The expansion system was difficult to understand, confusing to many retailers and consumers, and deemed too expensive.

In the hard-fought sales battle, TI suffered and serious grievous damage and gave up on home computers.

(Submitted August 4, 2006 13:21:34 by Robert)

I am looking for the printer interface that goes from the side port of the TI 99/4A to the printer. I know of an axiom and a PIO but can not find an interface, if you know of one let me know. Thanks

(Submitted July 23, 2006 12:19:36 by HenryW)

Hi, I'm new to this site but have come on becuse I have a complete Texas TI 99/4A with accessories (disc drive etc) and a wide range of cartridges plus lots of documentation and old TI magazines. Having just moved home I'm planning to dispose of this if anyone is willing to make a reasonable offer. Is anyone interested? When last tested it was operational. Henry (London)

(Submitted June 4, 2006 18:34:46 by frank)

The Ti-99-4a was my first computer and believe it or not still has a basic funtion in my medical office and is used everyday and has done so without fail since 1986 however I tried to format disk useing disk manager cart. for the first time in many years and it would not format does anyone know why???? PLEASE HELP!!!

(Submitted March 8, 2006 22:40:00 by Esther)

Does anybody here know what would cause a TI not to start. I just bought 1 and when I plug it in, etc... all I get is 1 long beeeeeeeeeeep. Any help would be appreciated. I learned how to use a computer with a TI back when they first came out and I loved it!

(Submitted March 8, 2006 14:30:38 by Richard Twyning)

I'm currently the General Secretary of the TI- 99/4A user group UK. Our web page is www.ti99ug.co.uk I've owned a 99/4A since being at school in 1982. Today I help to keep the machine alive and attend international faires when I can. The 99/4A has expanded beyond all recognition, we've got SCSI cards, IDE cards, and Compact Flash drives! I've got two Geneve's, although I don't have the space to have a full system up and running :-( Buying the 99/4A was the wisest purchase I ever made as I've made some good friends through the use of this amazing computer.

:-)

(Submitted February 14, 2006 14:14:43 by David)

I am looking to buy a working TI994A home computer if anyone has one emial me please

(Submitted January 27, 2006 13:02:18 by mini itx)

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(Submitted January 13, 2006 07:41:20 by Tim Byrnes)

Does anybody know where I can download any of these old TI games (Alpine, Munch Man, Parsec)...I know that might be a tall order, but those games were so fun!

TIM

(Submitted January 4, 2006 14:44:05 by Phil Lam)

wow... when i was a kid prolly 5 yrs old (1985)... my dad bought me one of these... i think i was even able to play some atari games on it too... classic.. i wonder if my dad still has it in storage somewhere... love this site... takes me way back :P

(Submitted January 3, 2006 15:20:08 by Bud Goldstone)

As 'secretary' of the Technology Transfer Society in the 1980-1985 time period, I used a Texas Instruments Pro and printer to correspond with some 2,500-3,500 members vis a newsletter I prepared on the TI Pro. The omputer and printer satisfactorily produced 6-8 page monthly newsletters, printed them out, produced and printed member name labels in zip code order and, after production by me and my wife, were handled by the Los Angeles LAX airport mail station for all those years. As my only 'home' computer it was treasured.

(Submitted January 2, 2006 11:58:12 by steve)

Am I the only person who thought this sucked? Out of the box you were limited to a pathetic version of basic, with no drawing primatives (line, circle, etc.), and had to use 8x8 bit character definitions for drawing. Also (more importantly) it had no peek or poke, and could not execute machine code routines.

(Submitted November 8, 2005 13:29:48 by Mallery Playground)

Win99/4A version 3.006

For those of you that packed your TI 99/4A & GENEVE 9640 away long ago, recently Cory Burr wrote Win99/4A version 3.006, an EXCELLENT simulator of the TI 99/4A with full speech capabilities, sound capabilities, cassette tape simulation, 3 resident disk drives, 3 resident ram disks, and very good module compatibility. You can now get back to writing programs with the TI Extended Basic Cartridge(s) and writing programs in Basic using the Super Cartridge and the Mini Memory Cartridge; using the 'Funnel Web' quasi operating system and using the good educational & game modules for your nieces, nephews, and other children; all this on the PC.

http://www.99er.net/download/files.php?cat=15

(Submitted October 6, 2005 20:10:20 by Eric Hord)

Hello everyone, it is great to see a web blog dedicated to the TI-99/4(a) system. This was my second computer. My first being the Radio Shack Tandy Color Computer. The TI was my favoriate of the two machines. I really loved the graphics engine and have programmed many games and other software for the system. Man that was so long ago. They just dont make them like they used to. I remember taking an Atari Joystick and re-mapping the wires so it would work on the system. The tape drive was a great idea in-expensive storage media. I remember loading some of my games that too forever to load.

(Submitted September 20, 2005 09:17:59 by Neil)

I bought one of these when I worked at Child World in New Hampshire while in college. I paid $50 - I'm sure it was one of the last ones and that probably reflected an employee discount. I programmed a dice tosser that I used when we played D&D, complete with Charge! and BEEEEOOOOOO sound effects when I hit a max or zero on the dice! Mine used a cassette player to save programs.

(Submitted August 18, 2005 08:49:37 by Tom Lee Mullins)

I have a couple of TI-99/4A computers. It was my first computer. One is just a shell which I plan to install a mini-itx into (plus other parts). It will be a retro computer (old outside, new inside). I also have the PEBox and some other accesories for the TI-99/4A. http://www.99er.net

(Submitted April 15, 2005 13:13:14 by Sam Ly)

What Lyndon and Roger said could be a little off because my sister bought one around 1981 for $600 at JCPennney. $200? it could be the last batch of 99/4A the retailers wanted to get rid of. And I bought a total of over 20 game cartridges for it. I subscribed to several magazines for the TI 99/4A (also for the Commodore 64 which I myself still own - sitting inside the crawlspace). The Parsec was the best game I used to play with the Voice Synthesizer cartridge. Those are the good old days.

(Submitted March 23, 2005 19:08:54 by Gary)

I learned Basic on this computer, played hunt the wompas or something like that. I think I payed 50.00 for it new from Kmart, I still have it here somewhere.

(Submitted February 28, 2005 02:48:28 by Mark Hills)

I thought the 4A had 16K of RAM, not 4. I got mine in '82 or '83.

(Submitted February 13, 2005 09:10:04 by Manito Mike)

I still have tons of TI stuff (in storage). I even have the Myarc hard drive controller , Horizon Ramdisks AND a couple of Myarc Geneve 9640's. Learned Basic on the TI and even wrote a couple of articles for MicroPendium magazine. The educational cartridges and the Plato software were, and still are, quite good.

(Submitted February 10, 2005 09:39:25 by John)

I have a TI 99/4A that I need a AC adapter for. If anyone has a extra for sale please email me.

(Submitted January 30, 2005 12:34:37 by Roger Lee)

I agree with Lyndon. My mom bought me one in '82 I think and theres no way she paid $1200 for it. I think $200 is what they really sold for. Thats how I learned to program in BASIC and I liked playing Parsec and Stud Poker :D

(Submitted December 5, 2004 12:16:54 by twilitezoner)

Same graphics chip as the Colecovision. Had some pretty good games, ie the Atarisoft titles.

(Submitted November 27, 2004 15:41:59 by Sknupp)

I wanted one of these in the worst way...kept saving and looking at them. The local LOWE's home improvement centers sold the TI's. When it came time to purchase - I went with the C64 and then the TI's were cancelled - guess(?) I made the right decision!

(Submitted November 9, 2004 15:35:34 by Stephen)

My father purchased one of these and put it under the tree for the Christmas of 1980. We were the first on the block to have a computer in the house. my mother was worried that someone would find out that we had one and break in and rob us, so we were instructed not to tell anyone that we had a home computer. Hahaha. Eventually we upgraded to a Timex 64K home computer...wow, was that a step in the wrong direction!!

(Submitted October 23, 2004 01:29:49 by Ronald)

Thanx Eric ! These pictures sure bring back good memories of my first steps into the world of computers with this wonderfull machine!

(Submitted October 21, 2004 06:57:36 by Darius)

For anyone interested, there is a resource in Dallas, TX called Joy Electronics. Here is an outdated webpage: http://www.guidry.org/ti994a/ (scroll all the way to the bottom and you'll find a PDF catalog with contact information.)

I would imagine he still has just about anything you are searching for. I bought two pair of joysticks a few months ago to replace my old ones on my two systems.

Good luck.

(Submitted October 20, 2004 06:27:20 by joe b.)

this was my 1st cpu also. i used the TI basic to write a program to tally the sales of TOM WATT in Boy Scouts. i could enter the number of the item and (qty), and it would give me a scouts tally, then total the whole troops profit and give me a total list of what needed to be ordered all on the Scoutmasters tv. Boy was he impressed. ...... those were the days.....

(Submitted October 18, 2004 23:39:54 by (a href=mailto:)Cyko(/a))

My dad bought one of these systems when i was a kid, maybe 8 or so. He later upgraded to the beige model and we got a Speech Synthesizer to go along with some of the games that were released like Alpine. My sister and I had alot of fun using it and I mostly played games on it. My personal favs were Parsec, Munch Man (Pac Man), and Star Trek(?). Alot of fun times, the dawn of my computer skills. :) Nice to see a site containing and preserving the history of the TI genre. Thanks for sharing.

(Submitted October 18, 2004 20:52:13 by Erik)

You're right, of course, Lyndon. The last of the TI-99/4a's sold for well under their original retail price. When the system was introduced, however, it was much more expensive. I should clarify that in the text with my next update.

Thanks!

(Submitted October 15, 2004 21:33:11 by Lyndon)

My father retailed the TI 99 and it was only $100 to $200 retail. Not $1200

(Submitted October 13, 2004 15:58:03 by don campbell)

I need the documentation for the ti-expansion. Does anyone have any info that could help me? Thanks: Don

(Submitted September 29, 2004 13:46:11 by Ram M.)

This was my first computer. I have a lot of fond memories with this computer. Spent hundreds of hours typing in the various games that was published on Compute! with this. Got to love that tape recorded ;-)

(Submitted September 18, 2004 13:36:58 by Steve)

It`s too bad Texas Instruments timeing and marketing were not better I really beleive this computer would have made it as good or better then Tandys TRS - 80 which I also like I bought one new at Kmart I think in 1979, in many ways sound, graphics and micro proccessor the Ti - 994a was by far the better machine, for some reason it couldnt draw the intrest and support of the public as did Tandys TRS - 80 , I think one reason was it was too hard to learn as compared to Tandys, the 9900 was a good chip and although I myself didnt learn it all that well I liked the TI - Basic and it was learnible and too hard ....

steve white

(Submitted June 28, 2004 13:17:21 by vicente)

I like this computer,,my mom buy one this and been so fun

(Submitted June 18, 2004 09:56:49 by Bill Newkirk)

TI also made minicomputers that were identical to the 9900 processor in the 99/4 (990/10, 990/12, etc.). Operating system was DX10.

Description
Manufacturer	Texas Instruments
Model	99/4A
Date Announced	1979 (shipping in 1980)
Date Canceled	1983
Number Produced	Tens to hundreds of thousands
Country of Origin	USA
Price	Approximately $1,200
Current Value	$5-$50

Specifications
Processor	TMS 9900
Speed	3 MHz
RAM	4K-52K
ROM	8K + ROM cartridges
Storage	External tape drive, external expansion chassis with optional 5.25" floppy drives.
Expansion	External expansion chassis
Bus	Proprietary
Video	Up to 256x192x16 colors
I/O	Parallel, Serial (via optional expansion chassis)
OS Options	Proprietary TI, UCSD-p

Notes	The TI 99/4A was an advanced computer for its day with a 16 bit processor and advanced sound and graphics. Unfortunately it was too expensive to compete with the Atari 800 and, eventually, the Commodore 64. It was also badly marketed and supported by TI.

Related Items in Collection	Box, manuals, etc. The unit is pretty much new-in-box. A second TI 99/4A in poorer condition. Expansion chassis with disk drive, cartridges, etc.
Related Items Wanted	Additional disk drive, expansion options, software on disk, cartridges, TI cassette drive, TI monitor.