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99_7.TXT
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2006-10-19
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ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN OCTOBER 1991 LIMA NEWSLETTER
THE TI 99/7 COMPUTER
This device was apparently never built, but its 1981
design specifications were probably the inspiration for the
99/8. The 99/7 is discussed in a June 16, 1980 BUSINESS
WEEK article
We have a copy of the following documentation from TI:
"TI 99/7 COMPUTER HARDWARE THEORY OF OPERATION, Corporate
Engineering Center, Dallas, By Richard Tarrant", dated 13
July 81. Based on this document, it appears the 99/7 was
going to be based on the 9900 CPU, fully software compatible
with the 99/4 (without the A), and include ALL OF THE
FOLLOWING WITHIN THE SAME CASE (not as separate
peripherals)- 64K of short wait state memory, speech, a
"pascal grom", an 80 column thermal printer, an acoustic
modem, and a 5.25 inch disk drive controller.
The following is quoted from this document:
"The TI 99/7 computer incorporates the 99/4 home
computer mainframe architecture with the 99/4 peripheral
controllers plus expanded memory into the case plastics of
the Digital Systems 765 terminal for compactness and
portability. The TI 99/7 will retain software compatibility
with the 99/4 while providing additional faster access
memory as well as a larger keyboard and 80 column printer
"A comparison of features between a 99/4 with its
external peripherals and the 99/7 is as follows:[(memory in
bytes/microseconds access per (word) or (byte)]
^^^^^^99/4^^(** means external peripheral required)
Operating system ROM...8k/0.7(W)
Workspace RAM..........256/0.7(W)
Display (VDP) RAM......16K/8.0(B)
Internal GROM..........18K/6.0(B)
Sound..................TMS9919
Keyboard...............40 key polled
Video Display..........40 char x 24 line color NTSC
Cassette Interface.....1 port 650 baud 2 unidirect.
Joystick Interface.....Dual scan/1 port
External I/O...........40 pin full cpu with 8 bit data
Expansion CPU RAM......32K/2.0(W)**
Speech.................TMS0285+ 2-TMS0350**
Printer................32 col/30 cps**
Disk Controller........3-single density single side**
RS232..................Dual 9600 baud**
Modem..................300 baud acoustic originate**
^^^^^^^99/7
Operating system ROM...8k/0.7(W)
Workspace RAM..........512/0.7(W)
Display (VDP) RAM......16K/8.0(B)
Internal GROM..........90K/6.0(B)
Sound..................TMS9919
Keyboard...............58 key + 4 rock switch, poll
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^or interrupt.
Video Display..........40 char x 24 line color NTSC
Cassette Interface.....1 port 650 baud 2 bidirect.
Joystick Interface.....Dual scan/1 port
External I/O...........9 pin with 8 bit latched data
Expansion CPU RAM......64K/0.7(W)
Speech.................TMS0285+ 2-TMS0350
Printer................80 col/30 cps
Disk Controller........3-single density double side
RS232..................Dual 9600 baud
Modem..................300 baud acoustic
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^originate/answer
.PL 1