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1979 TI-99/4 Home Computer Console

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THE 1979 TI-99/4 CONSOLE PACKAGE

Listed below are all the items that came packaged with the TI-99/4 in 1979. Note that these are all items that were packaged with a 1979-made system and not one from 1980/1981. Even though some of the items here may look similar to their 1980/1981 counterparts, they all carry 1979 manufacture dates, print dates, and/or copyrights. TI stamped the bottoms of all the TI-99/4 consoles (along with its retail box) with manufacture dates that showed the week and year of production. If a TI-99/4 console/box had a stamp of LTA4579, then it would have been manufactured in the 45th week of 1979 (November 1979).

Click here to see a table of the 1979 manufactured items that I have in my collection along with their production dates




1979 TI-99/4 Console Box

1979 TI-99/4 Box
This is the original box that the TI-99/4 came packaged in back in 1979. As can be seen, the box is entirely different from the TI-99/4A's, lacking the full color images and detailed product information. The one thing that this box does have going for it though is the carrying handle on the top that makes it much easier to handle. One other thing to note is that all TI-99/4 boxes are stamped with both the serial number of the console inside as well as an LTA date code. The date code on the box signifies the date that the unit was shipped from the TI factory, which means that it usually is later than the date code found on the 99/4 console that came with it. [This photo is from Mainbyte's TI-99/4 Page as I do not yet own this item].




1979 TI-99/4 Console

1979 TI-99/4 Home Computer Console This page wouldn't exist if it were not for the computer pictured on the left. This is the original TI-99/4 and as can be seen is very different physically from the TI-99/4A. The main difference is in the keyboard, which is made up of chiclet keys and has orange Shift and Enter buttons (I always thought the 99/4 looked cooler because of the 2 orange keys). Also, the metal casing on the unit was of a darker cast than that of the brushed stainless steel look on the 99/4A. One notable feature of the earlier produced 99/4 systems is that they came with an earphone jack which was eventually removed sometime in mid-late 1980. In addition, it appears that 1979 builds of the computer had a smooth shiny plastic bottom (same as the plastic found on the back sides of the 99/4) instead of a textured bottom which can be found on later builds of the 99/4 and all 99/4A's. The 1979 made consoles will have an LTA date ending with 79 stamped on the bottom of the unit (such as LTA 4879, which means the computer was manufactured in the 48th week of 1979). If you have a system that ends with 79, then you have one of the first year models!




1979 User's Reference Guide

1979 User's Reference Guide
This manual pretty much describes all the things a TI-99/4 owner needs to know about his/her console, with some BASIC type-in programs thrown in. On the outside this might look like the standard TI-99/4 User's Reference Guide that was packaged with all 99/4 consoles from 1979-1981, but the one pictured to the left carries a 7/79 print date (meaning it was printed in July 1979). TI apparently made 2 revisions to the 99/4 manual in 1980, but it's not known what the changes were. In addition to the print date found on the inside back cover, there is also a part number on the back which shows the version you have. This manual here carries part number 1015963-1 ("-1": version 1) and a 1979 copyright date, and only 1979.




1979 User's Reference Guide Addendum


1979 User's Reference Guide Addendum
This addendum came packaged with the 1979 version of the User's Reference Guide and listed errors that had been discovered. There are three problems mentioned in the addendum, the first relates to wrap-around line numbers when printed on a printer. Apparently if you print out a Basic program listing with line numbers that wrap around onto the next line it comes out garbled. Another issue mentioned has to do with an error in the Character Definition program listing on page 186. The final correction is for the overlay that came packaged with the 99/4 console. The 1979 version of the User's Reference Guide has a drawing of the overlay that shows a "CMD" key (Shift-V) and "FWD" key (Shift-Enter). TI changed the "CMD" function to "PROC'D" (Proceed) and completely removed anything dealing with Shift-Enter. This addendum carries part number 1037194-3. [Image compliments of Bill Gaskill's TI-99 Cartridge Collection Kit. Used with permission].




1979 Beginner's Basic Manual

1979 Beginner's Basic Manual
This is probably the hardest item to tell the difference between the TI-99/4 and TI-99/4A versions, since it looked exactly the same from 1979 all the way up to 1983 when the 99/4A was discontinued. However, there are two quick ways of knowing if the version you have is the 1979 TI-99/4 manual. One way is by looking at the bottom of the last page of the Index where there would be a print date. The other way to tell is by looking at the part number, which is 1037107-1 for all 1979 printings. Most likely the only difference between the 99/4 and 99/4A Basic Manuals were references to the keys pressed to do certain functions. This manual here carries part number 1037107-1 and a 1979 copyright date, and only a 1979 copyright.




1979 BASIC Reference Card

Need a picture of this item
Just like the 99/4A, the original TI-99/4 came with its own BASIC Reference Card which provided brief explanations on what commonly used commands in TI BASIC did. I'm not sure of all the differences, but can tell you that the one packaged with the 99/4 said "TI-99/4 BASIC Reference Card" (instead of TI-99/4A) and had a 1979 copyright date instead of 1981. Besides that I have no idea on what the differences were, but it probably lies in the keystrokes used to activate certain functions. This item carries part number 1037128-1.




1979 Read This First! Manual

1979 Read This First! Manual
While this booklet on the outside might look the same as all other Read This First! manuals out there, the 1979 version had a number of differences. The main difference is that it talks about unpacking the 13" TI monitor and has a whole detailed section on how to set it up. Note that this manual only talks about the monitor and not the RF Modulator, since that was not released until 1980. It's also worth mentioning that the drawings inside the booklet resemble the TI-99/4 versions of items and not the 99/4A's (such as the User's Reference Guide). This manual carries a 1979 copyright date (and only a 1979 copyright) as well as part number 1037108-1.
 



1979 Keyboard Overlay

1979 Keyboard Overlay
This was the overlay that came packaged with the 99/4 back in 1979, showing the user all the special functions that could be accessed by holding down Shift along with another key. All the main functions are represented here (Quit, Begin, Redo, Erase, Aid, Delete, Insert, Back, Clear, Proceed, Up, Down, Left, and Right). Even though a few game titles came packaged with their own overlays showing additional functions, this one was the standard version that could be used in almost everything. The part number for this item is 1015992-1.




1979 Power Supply

1979 Power Supply
The power supply that came packaged with the TI-99/4 in 1979 differs from that of the TI-99/4A's, so you should be careful when plugging in your system since a 99/4 transformer could ruin a 99/4A console. As far as I can determine, all 99/4 power supplies have a silver TI logo drawn on the top with the transformer plugging directly into the wall. It seems that this silver TI logo is one of the giveaways for a 99/4 power supply, since the 99/4A ones I have seen have the logo engraved, not drawn on. Each power supply carries model number AC9500 and has the following input/output: Input: 120VAC, 60Hz; Nominal Output: Pins 1,2 16VAC, 36.0VA / Pins 2,4 8.0VAC, 1.0VA. Each power supply also has a date code stamped on the bottom of the unit in white, such as 7950 (50th week of 1979) or 12-79 (December 1979). The scheme TI used to indicate production dates on their power supplies seems to vary depending on the plant it was produced in.




1979 Cassette/Joystick Port Plugs

1979 Cassette/Joystick Port Plugs
Perhaps the weirdest items packaged with the TI-99/4 in 1979 were these rubber port plugs made to cover up the cassette and joystick ports when not in use. Apparently these would help keep the ports from being damaged. I had these things lying in a drawer and was about to throw them away until I ran across a picture of them plugged into the console. I'm sure many people just threw these things away.



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e-mail me: Bryan Roppolo