+Ksarul Posted July 11, 2015 Share Posted July 11, 2015 A few months ago, I saw something for sale that piqued my curiosity: a later version TI monitor for sale on eBay, that claimed to be localized for Japan. I found that most odd, so I purchased it--and I verified that it was set up for use in Japan. I wondered about it, as I had never heard that the TI was sold there prior to seeing this monitor, so I went hunting. Two weeks ago, I saw a Japanese magazine for sale on Yahoo! Japan that had a TI-99/4 article in it. Jackpot! The magazine was from June 1980. I bought it too. I can't read Japanese--but when I received the magazine today, it had a wonderful picture of a complete 99/4 system--with the later type monitor, just like the one I have. The article spanned several pages, so it looks to have been a detailed review of the system. I have also seen things like TI joysticks for sale there (the later type), and a few cartridges, but this whole thing has taught me that there are TI computers in places where I hadn't known they were officially sold--and now I wonder what else might have been released for the TI over there, and whether or not there were Japanese manuals for it. More hunting--and hopefully, many more pleasant surprises to come. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Omega-TI Posted July 11, 2015 Share Posted July 11, 2015 What?!? No scans to show us? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
globeron Posted July 11, 2015 Share Posted July 11, 2015 Hi Ksarul, For Japan and TI-99/4A - could it be the "Tomy" Tutor version? (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomy_Tutor) or something similar related to the Japanese manufacturer ? I had a similar question some time ago, because I also did not know that TI-99/4A was sold in Asia as well (but for sure in the region - in Australia / New Zealand, as I remember software coming from that area when I was living in Netherlands, something like "Wooloomoloo". Funnelweb-Farm is from Australia and I have more software. No clue how I got it that time). At the moment I am aware of 4x TI-99ers who are in APAC (Singapore, Thailand, China (temporary?), Brisbane/Australia) While a lot of "TI-chips" were manufactured in Asia (e.g. TMS9900 in Philippines or Singapore) I have not seen these devices in the region (e.g. when visiting computer shops/malls with 2nd hand equipment) Also I have been asking around, probably that time it was too expensive? I got to know via Klaus about the TIES group in Singapore: Klaus Lukaschek The Cyc DVD lists "TI Enthusiasts of Singapore (TIES)PO Box 698, Tiong Bahru, Singapore 9116Honorary secretary: Colin Lee". Original Source: Micropendium 1985 Volume 2 No 4 Page 36: ftp://ftp.whtech.com/magazines/micropendium/mp8505.pdf 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Ksarul Posted July 11, 2015 Author Share Posted July 11, 2015 I'll be able to get a scan of the article online within the next week or so--but the machine pictured is definitely a 99/4 (not a /4A or a Pyuuta). The one part of the text in Latin script also identifies it as such. More importantly, the TI monitor I have is localized for 100V and all of the text for the front controls is in Japanese, so it was definitely designed for that market. I also know of at least one active TI user in Japan and now that I've been looking for TI stuff on Yahoo! Japan, I see the random bit show up, so there are apparently more owners/users/collectors out there. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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