In a message dated 97-03-17 10:57:55 EST, you write:
<< Talking of TI's I have a 99/4A that has an all silver case, not to be
confused with the beige case.) The serial number is "R 047012 40 83 RC1"
and the model number is "PHC004A". You can find a picture of it at this
URL:
http://staff.motiv.co.uk/~kevan/old_collection/manufacturer-ti.html
I have been searching for information about this machine for some time.
I would like to know if it was a production version or some sort of
custom job.
Regards
--
Kevan
Kevan,
If there is a serial number such as this, it was probably a limited-edition
production version. I wouldn't envision it as a custom job.
In fact it is probably worth lots of money, because it's the only one I've
seen in my lifetime!
Bryan
bnicalek(a)aol.com
In a message dated 97-03-17 11:52:10 EST, you write:
<< The 99/2 did make it out the door - I bought one in a MSP Target. The hex
bus peripherals also were produced, and worked with the CC40 (handheld from
TI). >>
Interesting, I thought it never did. But, they were extremely rare to find.
Bryan
bnicalek(a)aol.com
In a message dated 97-03-17 05:36:45 EST, you write:
<< Actually, if you can find the May 1983 issue of Popular Science, there's
a two-page ad for the 99/2 inside the front cover. The first of these
pages is a photograph of Bill Cosby holding the 99/2 in front of him.
The advertising text starts with "Under $100. Meet the lowest priced,
16-bit computer available."
The machine was supposed to come with 4K, had a 48-key keyboard, and had
a "Quality, flicker-free black and white display".
One of these days I'll have the guts to cut up some magazines and have
some of these cool old ads laminated. Too bad I have so little wall space.
>>
I'm going to research that Popular Science ad on a microfiche at our local
library! Funny how TI can advertise and not actually get the product out
there!
Bryan
bnicalek(a)aol.com
Hello,
I just picked up a Mac 128 on Sunday. With an Imagewriter I, external
drive, carrying case and manuals, etc. Had the manuals and the original
Macwrite/Macpaint disks & manuals.
Anybody know what the going price for one of these might be? I'd like to
keep it but being a student forces me to sell off the valuable stuff and
keep the cheapies. In other words, I need the money. I've seen 512's
listed on auctionweb go for $60 and up but 128's are few and far
between. None listed in Dejanews either.
Any comments appreciated. I will probably put it in the auction in a few
weeks, once I play with it a little.
--
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Thanks, Greg
_________________________________________
In a message dated 97-03-16 14:37:42 EST, Roger Merchberger writes:
> At 01:23 PM 3/16/97 -0500, you wrote:
>>> 4: TI's first model computer - #4 - sounds cool, heh?
>> If it was their first, why #4? What happened to 1-3?
> Ummm... If y'all don't mind the extra added crazyness, The TI-99/4 was
> *not* the first model! There was a TI-99/2!
The 99/4 & 99/4A were the first computers from TI.
The 99/2 came out as a low end ($100) computer to compete with the Vic 20.
There was a 99/8 planned (less than a 100 were built - a high end home
machine) that never made it to the stores.
Commodore's price wars (and TI's arrogance) killed the 99 line.
Kind of ironic since it was TI that nearly killed Commodore years before in
the calculator market!
John Hamilton
hamijohn(a)aol.com
"Old computers never die, they just fade away bit by bit!"
You all should have heard from me already - but let me say
once again - Welcome to the list.
We've got around 50 subscribers at the moment which is far
better than I thought we'd get for weeks.
Couple things:
1. I'll be setting up the classiccmp web site this weekend. If you
have any ideas for what should be there let me know. Currently, I'm
planning on putting together a list of all computers that meet the
"classic" criteria, copies of the various old computers FAQs, and
hopefully some .PDF (acrobat reader) files of articles from old
computer rags. It probably wouldn't be a bad idea to maintain
a list of resources but I know of relatively few.
2. I'm going to a Salvation Army computer sale this weekend. If
any of you have really big wants - I'll look around. I'm always
hoping to find that elusive LISA-1 :).
-Bill
In a message dated 97-03-16 16:44:26 EST, you write:
<< Yes, there was a 99/2 but it came AFTER the 99/4! (Don't try to make
sense of anything TI did related to computers)
>>
The TI-99/2 was never actually produced. Only pre-production units were ever
made. This was after the TI-99/4A, back in 1983. A whole line of
peripherals were planned to be offered, including the new HEX-BUS interface.
The 99/2 was black and white only, 40 columns, and limited but a very
portable computer. Only rare photos have ever been seen.
And to make things even more "crazier", the TI-99/8 was trailed by the
TI-99/2. The 99/8 was also pre-production units only, about 150 only were
ever made. More information on the 99/8 is available on the TI web sites.
Bryan Nicalek
bnicalek(a)aol.com
On 18-Mar-97, classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu wrote:
>Also an Aquarius Personal Computer Model 5931R from Radofin Electronics
>(Far East) Ltd. Has anybody ever heard of this thing? I sure haven't.
>It has small blue rubber keys and a template with basic commands
>written all over it. It's about 30cm x 18cm x 4cm. On the back
>there are three ports labelled Print, Cass, and TV. It has a big
>cartridge slot (but came with no cartridge :(. I cracked it open
>to see what's on the board but it has a big shielding cage soldered
>all the way around the board edge and I just didn't have the time
>to tackle that. Plugged it in and attached it to a composite
>monitor but got nothing. The power light did come on. I'm guessing
>it probably doesn't operate without a cartridge. Any info on the
>thing would be much appreciated.
Bill,
It is a Mattel Aquarius, which was always produced by Radofin Elec. It
boots into a subset of BASIC and plugs directly to a TV, generally through one
of the game switch boxes most people used so they could switch between the
input for the game and that of the antenna.
Related to this, a company called 'The Aquarius Group', parent company
Bentley Electronics out of Los Angeles, CA, marketed quite a few things for
this little system. A thermal printer, data recorder, 16k and 32k RAM
cartridges, and a miniexpander to allow you to have multiple cartridge ports,
since both memory and software cartridges used this port. From the looks of
thier little brochure, which is the only documentation I have with mine, it
looks like most of thier software was written in LOGO, though there was an
extended Basic available as well.
Jeff jeffh(a)eleventh.com
--
---------------------------------------------------------------------
// Amiga: The computer for the creative mind...since 1985!
// -------------------------------------------------------
\// True 32bit pre-emptive multitasking GUI, plug&play hardware,
\/ stereo sound, and 4096 color video modes since day #1
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Collector of classic home computers:
Amiga 1000, Atari 800, Atari 800XL, Atari Mega-ST/2, Commodore
C-128, Commodore Plus/4, Commodore VIC-20, Kaypro 2X, Mattel
Aquarius, Osbourne Executive, Sinclair ZX-81, TI-99/4A, Timex-
Sinclair 1000, TRS-80 Color Computer-3, and a TRS-80 Model 4.
Plus Atari SuperPong and Atari 2600VCS game consoles.
Following up to my own message; I don't know where my brain is tonight :-)
You have to LOAD the program not RUN with the instructions below for
running a single file. Then type RUN. I'm so used to the FastLoad
cartridge. :-)
Tony
---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Sun, 16 Mar 1997 23:01:22 -0400
From: Tony Cianfaglione <ab616(a)chebucto.ns.ca>
To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers <classiccmp@u.>
Subject: Re: Where does the software go?
People usually keep the disks and reformat them to be used on the newer
system. In the cases of those upgrading to 3.5" from 5.25", the disks
usually get thrown out and the computer stuck in a closet. When the
computer is later sold, there is no software left to go with.
You don't need a boot disk for a C64; its OS is right in ROM. To run
the first program on a disk, press the RUN-STOP key and the C= key at the
same time. To run another program on the disk, move the cursor to that
program (PRG file) and type RUN in front of the name of the file. Delete
^^^ type LOAD not RUN here.
any numbers or characters not in the name of the file and put ,8,1 or
just ,8 (in some instances) after the filename and press Return. The
program will run.
Tony
------------------------
On Sun, 16 Mar 1997 BigLouS(a)aol.com wrote:
> I have always wondered what happens to the software that was used on the
> computers that show up at thrift stores. I understand that someone who is
> just upgrading from a 8088 to a pentium will keep his software but what about
> Atari's, Applle II's and Commodore 64's? Why keep the software if you are
> getting rid of the hardware? Can anybody explain this to me? This came to
> mind again because I just picked up a C64 at a thrift shop with a 1541 and a
> BusLogic card (??) but there was nary a disk or cartridge.
>
> BTW, can anybody tell me where I can get a boot disk for the C64?:-)
>
> Lou
>
