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Texas Instruments TI-99/4A

Summarize this topic in 10 paragraphs. Mention its date of invention and inventor, date of introduction, date of founding. List the competition and alternative of that time in history. List its CPU and hardware specifications. List the Operating System it used. List popular software that ran on it. List popular games that ran on it. Make the Wikipedia or other references URLs as raw URLs. Put a section heading for each paragraph. Section headings must start and end with 2 equals signs. Do not put double square brackets around words in section headings. You MUST put double square brackets around EVERY product name, name of a company, name of a person, country, place, years, dates, acronym, computer buzzword, or jargon or technical words.

The Texas Instruments TI-99/4A is a home computer that marks a significant chapter in the history of computing. Developed by Texas Instruments, a notable company in the field of electronics and semiconductor manufacturing, the TI-99/4A was introduced to the market to cater to the burgeoning interest in personal computing during the early 1980s. This device was among the first to bring computing power into the homes of everyday consumers, offering a blend of educational and entertainment capabilities.

The TI-99/4A was a successor to the original TI-99/4, which was launched in 1979. The development of the TI-99/4A was guided by the engineering and product teams at Texas Instruments, although there wasn't a single inventor. Instead, it was the product of collaborative efforts among several individuals at the company. The TI-99/4A itself was officially introduced in 1981, showcasing improvements over its predecessor in terms of usability and functionality.

Texas Instruments introduced the TI-99/4A in June 1981. This launch was a significant event in the computing industry, as it brought forth a machine that was more accessible and user-friendly than its predecessor. The TI-99/4A boasted enhancements such as a better keyboard and additional graphics capabilities, which made it more appealing to the general public and enthusiasts alike.

During the time of its release, the TI-99/4A faced stiff competition from several other home computers. Notable rivals included the Commodore VIC-20, Atari 400/800, and the Apple II. These machines also targeted the consumer market, each with its own set of features and price points. The competition was fierce, with each company vying for a share of the burgeoning personal computer market.

The heart of the TI-99/4A was the TMS9900 microprocessor, which was one of the first 16-bit processors used in a home computer. It operated at a clock speed of 3.0 MHz. The computer came with 16 KB of RAM (expandable through peripherals), a color graphics capability, and a sound chip that supported three voices and one noise channel. It also featured a ROM cartridge slot for software and game expansion, making it versatile for both educational purposes and entertainment.

The primary operating system used by the TI-99/4A was known as TI BASIC, a variant of the BASIC programming language tailored specifically for this computer. This made the TI-99/4A particularly appealing for educational purposes, as BASIC was widely used for teaching programming concepts at the time. Additionally, an optional Peripheral Expansion Box could be used to run the more advanced TI Extended BASIC or even the UCSD p-System, further expanding the computer's capabilities.

The TI-99/4A boasted a wide array of software that catered to different needs, ranging from educational tools to productivity applications. Notable software titles included TI Writer, a word processing program, and Multiplan, a spreadsheet application by Microsoft. These programs leveraged the computer's capabilities, providing valuable tools for both personal and educational use.

The TI-99/4A was also home to a variety of popular games that showcased its graphics and sound capabilities. Some of the most beloved titles included Parsec, a space shooter game; Alpiner, which involved climbing mountains while avoiding obstacles; and Munch Man, a variant of the classic Pac-Man game. These games were not only entertaining but also demonstrated the TI-99/4A's ability to handle complex graphics and sound for its time.

Though the TI-99/4A was eventually discontinued in 1984, its impact on the home computer market and on personal computing cannot be overstated. It helped pave the way for future generations of home computers by introducing many households to computing. The TI-99/4A remains a beloved piece of computing history, remembered fondly by enthusiasts and collectors for its pioneering role in personal computing.

For more detailed information about the Texas Instruments TI-99/4A, including its development history, technical specifications, and impact on the computing industry, please refer to its Wikipedia page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas_Instruments_TI-99/4A. This resource provides a comprehensive overview of the computer, its software ecosystem, and its legacy in the realm of personal computing.

Programming Languages available on the Texas Instruments TI-99/4A

Summarize this topic in 1 paragraph. Do not put double square brackets around words in section headings. You MUST put double square brackets around EVERY programming language, product name, name of a company, name of a person, country, place, years, dates, acronym, computer buzzword, or jargon or technical words.

The Texas Instruments TI-99/4A supported several programming languages, making it a versatile platform for education and software development during its time. The primary language available was TI BASIC, an accessible version of BASIC tailored for beginners and educational use. For users seeking more advanced features, TI Extended BASIC offered expanded capabilities, such as improved graphics and sound control, when used with the optional Peripheral Expansion Box. Additionally, the platform could run Logo, a language designed for educational purposes, especially in teaching the concepts of programming and problem-solving to children. The availability of these languages made the TI-99/4A not only a tool for gaming and personal productivity but also a significant educational resource for learning computer programming.

Peripherals and hardware addons available on the Texas Instruments TI-99/4A

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The Texas Instruments TI-99/4A was supported by a wide array of peripherals and hardware addons that significantly extended its capabilities beyond basic computing tasks. Among the most notable was the Peripheral Expansion Box, which added several expansion slots for additional memory, a RS-232 interface for communication, and disk drive controllers for external storage. Users could also enhance their experience with the Speech Synthesizer, which enabled voice output for games and educational software, and a variety of storage solutions, including the Cassette Tape Recorder for data storage and retrieval, and the 5.25-inch Floppy Disk Drive for more substantial storage needs. Input devices such as the Joystick Controller and the Graphics Tablet allowed for interactive gaming and creative applications, respectively. These peripherals not only showcased the expandability of the TI-99/4A but also its versatility in catering to both entertainment and productive computing needs.

Snippet from Wikipedia: TI-99/4A

The TI-99/4 and TI-99/4A are home computers released by Texas Instruments in 1979 and 1981, respectively. Based on Texas Instruments's own TMS9900 microprocessor originally used in minicomputers, the TI-99/4 was the first 16-bit home computer. The associated TMS9918 video display controller provides color graphics and sprite support which were only comparable with those of the Atari 400 and 800 released a month later. The TI-99 series also initially competed with the Apple II and TRS-80.

The calculator-style keyboard of the TI-99/4 and the high price were cited as a weak points. TI's reliance on ROM cartridges and their practice of limiting developer information to select third parties resulted in a lack of software for the system. The TI-99/4A was released in June 1981 with a simplified internal design, full-travel keyboard, improved graphics, and a unique expansion system. At half the price of the original model, sales picked up significantly and TI supported the 4A with peripherals, including a speech synthesizer and a "Peripheral Expansion System" box to contain hardware add-ons. TI released developer information and tools, but the insistence on remaining sole publisher continued to starve the platform of software. Architectural quirks of both models reduced the performance benefits of the 16-bit CPU.

The 1981 US launch of the TI-99/4A followed Commodore's VIC-20 by several months. Commodore CEO Jack Tramiel began a price war by repeatedly lowering the price of the VIC-20 and forcing TI to do the same. In late 1982, TI was shipping 5,000 computers a day from their factory in Lubbock, Texas. By 1983, the 99/4A was selling at a loss for under US$100. Even with the increased user base created by the heavy discounts, Texas Instruments lost US$330 million in the third quarter of 1983 and announced the discontinuation of the TI-99/4A in October 1983. Production ended in March 1984.

The TI-99/4 was intended to fit in the middle of a planned range of TI-99 computers, none of which were released, but prototypes and documentation have been found after the TI-99/4A was discontinued.

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