Picking up a T-99 what should I look for.

[Atari the Jedi]

Going to swap for a TI-99 what should I look for about the system? Pitfalls or cool things besides whether it powers on etc

Edited June 9, 2015 by Atari the Jedi

[+arcadeshopper]

- power cable has a transformer, need that

- video connector is on the back right, uses either a composite or rf modulator, one or the other.. suggest composite uses the same pinout as atari800 and c64

- joystick port is on the LEFT side..the one on the back is the cassette port, need an adapter to use atari joysticks, ti joysticks plug in direct

- keyboards usually have issues with age, typing on them sometimes resolves with some time..

 

a console is 16k, no assembly language except for a hack from our friend on the list here .. it can play the cartridge games from TI and a few others, but most modern game carts need 32k memory expansion.. you want a pbox or nanopeb or equivelent to get more ram, floppy drives..etc

 

ask questions!

 

Greg

Edited June 9, 2015 by arcadeshopper

[Atari the Jedi]

Thank you very much I hadn't touched the TI 99 since about 1987 but I got a TI 99 4/a in the box with all the Styrofoam and everything no cartridges and no voice synthesizer though but it does turn on I'll try to take a picture soon

[Atari the Jedi]

Here are some pictures, this thing looks like it just came off the assembly line the only blemish is a smudge from the oils of my finger on it even has a faint odor that new electronic smell

[+OLD CS1]

Personally, I would wait for the T-100. It hands time-travel much better

[Mr.Amiga500]

Another thing to look for is the keyboard type. There were at least 4 different keyboard versions of the black keyboard - ALPS, General Instruments, Hi-Tek and Stackpole.

 

In my opinion, the ALPS and General Instruments keyboards are the best. A quick way to tell is to look at the "3" key. Rounded "3" is ALPS or General Instruments. If it's a flat-top "3", it's Hi-Tek or Stackpole.

[seanlanefuller]

I can second the keyboard advice. I bought a couple before I got a good one. It seems that a green PCB visible thought the air holes in the bottom is better than brown.