TI Community and Support is Awesome!

[TI-GAMER]

I just wanted to point out how Awesome the TI Community is which is incredibly appreciated.

 

I would of figured the Apple Community would have a lot more followers but if you look at the attached image, the TI has the most support of all the old time computers of our time which truly surprises me. I didnt know many people who had the TI back in the day and saw a lot more Apple IIe and Vic20/Commodore 64 computers.

 

Any thoughts on why we have so many interested people? Are there any production numbers on how many TI's were sold vs the other computers?

Edited May 13, 2015 by TI-GAMER

[Shift838]

Because out little beast is so loved!

[+Schmitzi]

yep, and the TI is 16-bit hightech

 

I also recko, that most people ever tell me this "hmmm, I didnt know many people who had the TI back in the day"

then I answer: "Yes, thats right, we all were sitting in the dark chamber all the day, doing some seriously programming stuff" :)

 

[TI-GAMER]

yep, and the TI is 16-bit hightech

 

I also recko, that most people ever tell me this "hmmm, I didnt know many people who had the TI back in the day"

then I answer: "Yes, thats right, we all were sitting in the dark chamber all the day, doing some seriously programming stuff" :)

 

LOL but you are so correct. I was buried in my basement learning Basic and created a clone of the Frogger Game. A buddy of mine was a really good artist so I had him draw some graphics on graph paper and then I coded it into the program. No one would of ever known I was even home for days if they didnt go into my room and physically see me.

[Shift838]

Also, for some reason it seamed that everyone I talked to when i was a kid with about my TI. Of course they had either an Apple or Commodore and all us TI users were shunned by the other computer users.

 

It seems now that the shoe is on the other foot as our machine seems to be quite a bit more popular than theirs now!

 

I always would tell the others that our TI was a 16 bit machine but none of them believed me.

 

I can say I got one C64 user to convert over to TI though!

[+Schmitzi]

LOL but you are so correct. I was buried in my basement learning Basic and created a clone of the Frogger Game. A buddy of mine was a really good artist so I had him draw some graphics on graph paper and then I coded it into the program. No one would of ever known I was even home for days if they didnt go into my room and physically see me.

 

exactamente:

 

the chase in the base - no sun . no color . but fun

Edited May 13, 2015 by schmitzi

[Opry99er]

I will tell you something...

 

There WERE alot more Apple and Commodore users.....

 

But the strength of the pull... The intense user loyalty and the power of the Black and Silver has drawn more of us back than the other systems...

 

Jello Pudding....

[+OLD CS1]

LOL but you are so correct. I was buried in my basement learning Basic and created a clone of the Frogger Game. A buddy of mine was a really good artist so I had him draw some graphics on graph paper and then I coded it into the program. No one would of ever known I was even home for days if they didnt go into my room and physically see me.

 

Talking about your buddy going graphics and the graphics work I am doing reminded me of this I read today:

 

Pixel Artist Denounces Pixel Art

[+Schmitzi]

I have some pixels in my TI-supporter-basement of doom

 

(and a bit mess, but I like the Mess

 

 

[Imperious]

The support here is truly fantastic.

 

The stats are a bit unfair though, as many of the other computer's mentioned have other thriving forums elsewhere, like Lemon64, LemonAmiga, Denial for Vic-20, Amibay, EAB - Amiga.

 

If You have a TI, this is where You want to be, without any shadow of a doubt whatsoever. The TI is a massively more interesting computer than it normally would be, all

because of these forums and the Help and resources that are available, as well as the continuing development work in Hardware and software design that has blown myself

and many others away, and pushed the often underrated TI to new heights many thought it wasn't capable of.

Edited May 14, 2015 by Imperious

[Omega-TI]

The support here is truly fantastic.

If You have a TI, this is where You want to be, without any shadow of a doubt whatsoever.

The TI is a massively more interesting computer than it normally would be, all because of these forums and the Help and resources that are available, as well as the continuing development work in Hardware and software design that has blown myself and many others away, and pushed the often underrated TI to new heights many thought it wasn't capable of.

 

Truer words we never spoken.

[Willsy]

I've "known" Bob Carmany, Tursi, Matthew, and others here on this forum for over 20 years I reckon. After a while you realise you love them. They're friends. For me, it's about the people on here just as much as the machine. We've got some seriously great people involved with this silly little computer.

 

Wouldn't have it any other way.

[Dexter]

Through this forum I have gained a lot more than I anticipated:

 

I have made some friends, who are nerdish enough to share this hobby.

 

I also didn’t expect to learn so much, in the beginning I wanted to reenter the Extended BASIC programming language, instead of that, I’m learning the hardware structure of this computer and I’m in the middle of learning it’s machine language. Also a lot of its history, which makes it even more interesting.

 

I wanted to settle with the console, the data recorder and Extended BASIC cartridge. But in addition to that, I now have an XB 2.7 Cartridge Suite, Editor/Assembler, Mini Memory, F18A, nanoPEB, and a lot more.

 

The only thing I don’t have is a real PEB. Although It's appealing, I’m reluctant because of that it’s too big and heavy due to my health condition.

 

 

So this forum is awesome, and with, it its community!

 

[Mitkraft]

I want to add my voice to this and say that I'm pretty new here but I have found this to be an awesome resource. When I first decided to pull out my old TI and realized I didn't have all my uncle's old software and cartridges, I thought I would be pretty limited and toying with the TI would be a short lived novelty. But after stumbling on this forum and seeing all the enthusiasm and things that not only the TI can do but that you guys have developed for it, I find myself more and more drawn to being a TI "hobbyist". I've already purchased an F18A, an XB 2.7 cart, and a Navarone expander. I'm also planning an HDX DSR mod to my serial card and some other goodies. In short, my return to the 99/4A is a thousand times more fun and rewarding thanks to this forum and the hard work of its members.

[Omega-TI]

 

The only thing I don’t have is a real PEB. Although It's appealing, I’m reluctant because of that it’s too big and heavy due to my health condition.

 

I have to chuckle here, because, like to you I was reluctant to go the PEB route... AT FIRST. I had all kinds of excuses, lack of space was my major one. After having multiple Nano's, ALL with major issues, I was forced to go the P-Box route, because I was tired of that device sucking all the fun I should have been having.

 

Now, with a P-Box, I could not be happier. I'm no longer limited when it comes to future expansion and I no longer have to fight incompatibilities, abandon avenues of fun or put up with issues. Now everything works, I can explore any path I want, and I can even call a BBS!

 

I'll check back in a year... I'm betting the TI bug will bite you hard enough that you'll want break out of the Nano restrictions.

[Dexter]

 

I have to chuckle here, because, like to you I was reluctant to go the PEB route... AT FIRST. I had all kinds of excuses, lack of space was my major one. After having multiple Nano's, ALL with major issues, I was forced to go the P-Box route, because I was tired of that device sucking all the fun I should have been having.

 

Now, with a P-Box, I could not be happier. I'm no longer limited when it comes to future expansion and I no longer have to fight incompatibilities, abandon avenues of fun or put up with issues. Now everything works, I can explore any path I want, and I can even call a BBS!

 

I'll check back in a year... I'm betting the TI bug will bite you hard enough that you'll want break out of the Nano restrictions.

 

You know what, it’s already biting pretty hard. I’m not going to deny it, you’re most likely right. I even have my first PEB cart coming its way toward me. The SID Master 99. My intention is to connect it via the console I/O port, but you never know.

[Omega-TI]

 

You know what, it’s already biting pretty hard. I’m not going to deny it, you’re most likely right. I even have my first PEB cart coming its way toward me. The SID Master 99. My intention is to connect it via the console I/O port, but you never know.

 

Congratulations! Yeah, the TI has a way of opening your wallet! It's designed for expansion & evolution, two major components of any truly fun hobby.

[kl99]

I can only agree to the statements above! it's a pleasure to be part of this community.
In 1995 I donated all my TI-99 stuff and gave up the hobby mainly because I didn't know there were still other people or even an active community.

So I know exactly how it feels if you are stuck with some thing and there is no one you can ask (at least that was what I thought).

And even if you were successful with some project, there was no one to share it with. How depressing.

 

Later I watched online for websites about the TI-99 from time to time, even had some fun with the early emulators.

And at some point I wanted to have the real hardware again and really dig into it!

And the community did welcome me with open hands, I got donated tons of stuff and I am enjoying this hobby a lot since I am back.

Whenever I have a question, multiple answers are coming for sure.

 

I try to help in preservation of TI-99 related stuff. And on sunday I will release a first public version of Web99, which I hope the community will enjoy.

[Gazoo]

I've "known" Bob Carmany, Tursi, Matthew, and others here on this forum for over 20 years I reckon. After a while you realise you love them. They're friends. For me, it's about the people on here just as much as the machine. We've got some seriously great people involved with this silly little computer.

 

Wouldn't have it any other way.

 

That's an interesting statement. I was friends with Bob at that time, as I bought Larry Connor's Personality Card system out from under Bob's nose at the Lima faire that year (1995 or thereabouts).

 

I hadn't heard of the other 3 of you guys until about 10 years or so later, Hmmmmm.............. explanation?

 

... and it was a year or 2 later that I met Tim, who (standing next to Don Walden) told me my Geneve was shorted out, and they would put all the chips from it on a new board and send it back to me. ($167 plus my Geneve) Never got that Geneve back, but the Philly Users Group donated one to me to make up for it. I don't blame Tim for that, but Don owned the company and he could've made good on his promise and at least replaced my Geneve, he didn't.

 

Seems your TI timeline is a little confused. Sorry, but bullshit don't fly with me.

 

Gazoo

Edited May 15, 2015 by Gazoo

[atrax27407]

I met Tony Knerr before he was "The Great Gazoo" - just a highly talented programmer.

[Fyrebird]

After playing around with classic99 and Win994a, and finding this area of the site, I had to get a real system again, and learned a lot reading post. Heck I didn't even know they were still making hardware and software for this 35 year old system still, would love to get a PEB, but shipping puts it out of my price range, but getting a nano-peb soon. thank you all for all the info posted over the last few years that I'm still sifting through.

[+InsaneMultitasker]

... and it was a year or 2 later that I met Tim, who (standing next to Don Walden) told me my Geneve was shorted out, and they would put all the chips from it on a new board and send it back to me. ($167 plus my Geneve) Never got that Geneve back, but the Philly Users Group donated one to me to make up for it. I don't blame Tim for that, but Don owned the company and he could've made good on his promise and at least replaced my Geneve, he didn't.

 

Gazoo

 

Sounds about right. October 1997 I offered to take over the Myarc repair and was given/rescued all the cards I could. I repaired and upgraded cards mostly for my out of pocket costs for the parts and shipping.

 

Some equipment like yours never made the light of day, even if many others did make it to their rightful owners during the next 2 years. Other paid, new equipment orders I was able to fill by repairing cards produced by Myarc that came off the assembly line non-functional. Sadly, your story was becoming common near end of Cecure's days and one reason to this day I never ask for or expect any money up front if I agree to inspect or repair a card.

 

As for why the mess happened, there was more going on than meets the eye... and it is now mostly ancient history not worth discussing.

 

The 2002 Chicago Faire gathering and our MDOS/CYA releases were much more fun.

[Tursi]

I've been a 99er since the system was still on shelves. I got the system in '83, which was a little late, but certainly more than 30 years ago. I was pushing crappy little XB titles up to Texaments in the late 80's, and a decade later I was editor of the Ottawa TIUG newsletter. I was active on the TI FidoNet echo in the mid-90's and had one of the few assembly-based TI BBS systems - that's also when Classic99 started (except back then it was Ami99, and ran on the Amiga). I don't even know when I joined the Yahoo group - is there any way to tell? But I was there early enough that Classic99, when I announced it, was denounced for trying to "kill" PC99's market.

 

20 years is nothing anymore.

 

(edit: looks like I joined the Yahoo group in 2001: https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/TI99-4A/conversations/messages/12250 )

Edited May 15, 2015 by Tursi

[Willsy]

Seems your TI timeline is a little confused. Sorry, but bullshit don't fly with me.

 

Gazoo

 

I know the guys through the yahoo mailing list. I think I first joined that list circa 2000. So, fifteen years. My bad. I've corresponded in one way for another with these guys since that time. Either the mailing lists or, in more recent years, Atariage. In my post above I put "known" in quotes because until 2010 (IIRC) when I went to Chicago, I hadn't met any of the USA TIers in the flesh. So, they're long-distance, somewhat virtual friendships, but I still think of the guys on here as friends.

[+Ksarul]

I know what you mean there, Willsy! I started with the TI back in late 1980/early 1981--but was in Germany until the end of 1983, so all of my contact with the US community was pretty much catalog purchases. I joined the York 99ers Group when I was on my way back to Germany in 1985 and spent the next ten years overseas. I knew a few US folks then, but not many, as I was more integrated in the German TI community. I met a lot of the US folks during my time on Delphi in the late nineties--and physically met a few more during some of the European TI Treffs. After that, it was virtual all the way until Chicago 2013. Almost everyone I've met along the way was helpful and fun to be around--and that contributes a lot to my enjoyment of this hobby. Thank you one and all!