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Switch1995

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Posts posted by Switch1995

  1. On 5/26/2022 at 11:29 AM, matthew180 said:

    The original F18A has proven to be rather resilient.  The FPGA is uses has not been main-stream since 2008, yet it is still in production (despite being nearly abandoned by Xilinx).  I suspect that is why you can still find it stocked, even during the part shortage (probably no one has used it in new designs for over a decade).  Due to this, I might have to consider doing a batch of the original F18A to help with the pent up demand.

    I’m a data point of one, but I would purchase a couple MK1 and a couple MK2 even if they came out in close succession.  Opening up the machine and tinkering is half the fun.

  2. I have a Texas Instruments beige cassette recorder missing a power cord.  I see several cords that “may” work on eBay, but none that have the exact shape terminal plug (rectangle with single notch).  Has anybody found a supplier of an “exact” fit?

    • Like 1

  3.  

    32k, 838 Speech (thank you, Chris), two TEAC 360k drives,  the Corcomp DSDD FDC was DOA when I got it.  Swapped the TMS 9901 and upgraded to MG (thank you, Bob) and she is back to life.  

     

    The Dell monitor is light and thin.  The good thing is it still has a VGA input that I’m using now with a RCA to VGA converter.  It has a HDMI input for a better solution down the road.

     

    https://www.ebay.com/itm/224864653917?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=4pjxbYsrT0G&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=QfU6nnIiRby&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

     

    The speakers are as cheap as they come.  But for the beeps, boops, and occasional “Hello” they are more than fine.

     

    https://www.ebay.com/itm/394003041151?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=6PHW88_eSWm&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=QfU6nnIiRby&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

    146B7B02-5E51-4186-9028-92BE997AA2F5.jpeg

    • Like 9
  4. Hello - hoping one of the gurus can help point me in the right direction:

     

    I'm interested in downloading 

    TI Casino

    By Ken Gilliland

    from: http://tigameshelf.net/xb.htm

     

    My system consists of:  TIPI, 32K sideport, Final Grom, joysticks.

     

    When I download the TI Casino zip it has several program files.  I can't get them running on the TIPI.  

     

    Has anyone been able to do this?   Would you be willing to share step by step directions for this noob?  Thank you!

    • Like 1
  5. @ciro: yes, I'll try to scan to TI-99 documentation for the Alphacom this weekend so you have it for your website.

     

    @omega: I have a PE Box with a Corcomp DSDD FDC. 32k standalone is going to allow greater portability. Probably end up with two systems...haven't figured that out yet. And yes, that MBX is the one I listed.

     

    @schmitzi: as you can understand, I can't offer free shipping and open that internationally. However, if you wanted to pay for the shipping costs to Germany, I'd be willing to work with you should you win the auction.

     

    Thanks to all.

    • Like 1
  6. I'm in the same boat re: rejuvenation. This year I'm taking the plunge with all the "new" system items: purchased f18a, vga monitor, flashrom 99 w/ case, jedimatt 32k, standalone homebrew game and going to get a digital floppy drive as well (agree that extra $40 over gotek is worth it. I'm not as fortunate with the tax return so I'll be funding my rejuvenation by selling items with more "collector" value. NOS MBX and Alphacom printers with TI-99/4a interface on eBay now. Hexbus items will be listed in the next week or so. Cool stuff to own and appreciate, but you guys developing this new stuff are starting to get expensive!! ;)

    • Like 3
  7. Long time lurker, first time poster.

     

    I just signed up for an account yesterday so I could join the feeding frenzy for the Extended Basic v2.7 Cartridge (unsuccessfully). The demand for that product surprised a lot of people and it got me thinking about the values we place on our hobby. Namely, "Nostalgic Value"; "Functional Value"; "Collector Value"; and "Actual Value/Cost".

     

    I feel this product was so successful because it had a very good balance of these values. It was housed in an actual cartridge case (Nostalgic); it made programming easier (Functional); it didn't exist before now (Collector); and was only $40 (Cost)

     

    You could dip a Parsec cartridge in gold and "maybe" a die-hard collector would want one, but that is where the demand would stop because the other values would be out of balance. We've all seen the TI-99/4a on Ebay for $800+ graded inside an acrylic case :)

     

    Now, to the point....

     

    Please check out this link:

     

    http://www.cnet.com/how-to/25-fun-things-to-do-with-a-raspberry-pi/

     

    The Raspberry Pi's dimensions are 3.35" x 2.2" and cost around $40. In comparison, a TI-99 Command Module dimensions are 4.15" x 2.75".

     

    If you search "Raspberry Pi" on Ebay, you can see the enormous amounts of ready made peripherals that are already on the market.

     

    I'm excited for the Geneve 2 to come to market....I will probably try to purchase one if I am able to. However, I ask the community, for the next "supercomputer" could the values be more balanced? When you work with a Geneve, you gain tremendous Functional value, but you lose a great deal of Nostalgic Value...The very symbol of why so many of us are in the hobby....and why so many will take up the hobby in the future. Hint: Texas Instruments sold 2.8 million of them.

     

    Theoretically, if you removed the TI-99/4a motherboard and replaced it with a Raspberry Pi running an emulator mounted on a simple daughter board could we have the best of both worlds? Wireless USB keyboard/mouse, internet browser, massive storage, etc. but still maintain the ability to use the console keyboard, joystick port, and Cartridge port with physical cartridges?

     

    As with most vaporware, I don't have the skills to know where to start, but if you looked at the link above, these guys made a keyboard out of beer cans. I would like to think our simple keyboard would be a step up!

     

    Thanks for reading.

     

    Bill

    • Like 1
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