The 'non-ubiquitous' P-Box -- (census)

[Omega-TI]

I'm not sure if it's anecdotal evidence, but it appears (at first glance) a portion of the active TI community may be shifting away from the peripheral expansion box as their primary configuration.

 

This poll is designed to ascertain quantities, trends and actual use overall. I would appreciate your participation whether or not you own a P-Box.

 

Thanks!

[budz2355]

I had a TI as a child, so when I got back into it a few years ago I wanted the authentic feel from the 80s. The only way I would skip using my PBox would be if I wanted to hook up my sidecar units. I want to run programs off old diskettes, that is part of the fun for me personally, but I know everyone is different.

[digdugnate]

I had a TI as a child, so when I got back into it a few years ago I wanted the authentic feel from the 80s. The only way I would skip using my PBox would be if I wanted to hook up my sidecar units. I want to run programs off old diskettes, that is part of the fun for me personally, but I know everyone is different.

This! I enjoy using the original 'stock' hardware (disks/etc) as well because it's just plain neat. hehe

 

If my PEB did ever croak, I'd look into one of the NanoPEB style devices.

[sparkdrummer]

My life with the 4A began when K-Mart was dumping them for TI at $50.00 a copy. It was a beige model and was not a QI model. I have not been without one since. The hoarding began and has never ceased. I like working with floppies as well. Hell, I even like dinking with cassettes still (Right Owen?). My main TI system has been in place for well over 30 years with the same black/silver console. I still have the original beige console but I don't know which one it is because I have a few.

[Airshack]

Has the nanoPEB build quality improved at all? Last year I read a few very negative reviews.

 

 

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[Omega-TI]

Build quality, good question! That's the main reasons I went another direction.

 

You know, the "Drag & Drop" ease of the FR99 and soon to be FG99, coupled with all the software already converted for them, has become a viable alternative to the Nano for many people. Now with some of the projects in the works, a simulated disk access & communications capability do not appear to be too far in the future.

 

If I was just starting out, I'd be going where the action seems to be taking place and with the item(s) showing the greatest growth potential for cool stuff and new capabilities...

 

[+jedimatt42]

PEB's are beautiful.

 

But the exotic cards are all hoarded, or lost.

 

I would hate for them to die out. Once I build or buy a sideport splitter, I'll be puting my bench 4A away and continuing TIPI development with the PEB in play.

 

-M@

[+mizapf]

Natural environment for my Geneve. Long live the Box!

[Opry99er]

I will always have a P-Box as long as I am involved in the hobby. The TI without a P-Box is like a snail without its shell.

 

Well... maybe that is a bit extreme...

[+save2600]

Now that I have 32k inside my machine and a FR99, I won't be going back to the PEB ever. Too costly, large, heavy and not deep enough (despite its bulk) to properly support a regular sized CRT monitor anyway. Besides all that, seems like what's left anymore, are all bashed and scratched up. Not into collecting or displaying junky looking things, so that really helped put the final nail in the coffin to wanting another PEB as far as I'm concerned. Case closed - pun intended.

[Bill Loguidice]

I have a large collection with most systems in it. While I have a lot of the original accessories and what-not, including a fairly well-loaded PEB on the TI-99/4a side of my collection, I definitely find myself gravitating more and more to modern solutions for storage and other relatively "clunky" legacy activities. Given the PEB's relative mass, it's one of the legacy solutions most ripe for less frequent usage.

[wyerd]

I voted other to being new to the TI as I'm making a comeback after being in the doldrums for far too long and everybody's having so much fun! I've now got a permanent setup for my kit (photos to follow) so I aim to be an active member of the forum once again.

[Diecrusher]

I wanted a PEB so bad back in the day that now that I have one I will never let it go!

 

I think it is what make a TI look like a TI.

 

As far as condition goes, I have one in excellent shape (my daily driver), a couple a little rougher waiting for restoration or modification and a brand new one still in its original box as the ultimate safety backup.

Edited May 4, 2017 by Diecrusher

[Keatah]

Back in the day I got into Ti-99/4a rather late in the game. I was already entrenched in the Apple II ecosphere, and thus didn't have time or the inclination to expand my other micros beyond the basics. In fact I barely had enough money to get separate monitors for each rig. All my funds were being consumed by Apple stuff.

 

Besides the thing was so big, and I was a little kid, and I already had the Mountain Hardware Expansion Chassis for the Apple II. What else is new? So there were many things not going for it, cost, size, time, and more. Not that I had anything personal against it or anything. It just didn't fit my lifestyle at the time.

 

If I was into Ti-99/4a beyond emulation, today, I'd consider it to be the second half of the computer. It seems to be an important part.

[Shift838]

I own 2 PEB's but my daily driver is a FRANKEN-PEB that is a Full Tower PC ATX case with the 99/4A, Speech, PEB and Drives all in one! With upgraded power supplies that for the PEB and for the 4A.

Edited May 5, 2017 by Shift838

[Arnuphis]

Since a PEB was beyond my wildest dreams back in 1982, I made sure I had one when I got back into the TI.

[Airshack]

Too costly, large, heavy and not deep enough (despite its bulk) to properly support a regular sized CRT monitor anyway.

The TI PEB can most certainly support a reasonably sized CRT. Many users here have CRTs atop their machines.

 

Once you see some of that crisp and clean 99/4A F18A upgraded VGA output on an LCD, well...

 

You won't want a CRT anymore.

 

No blur, no ghosting, no bulky CRT.

 

 

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[Omega-TI]

I've never been so pleased to see the results of a poll as I have with this one. At least from members here, it appears the vast majority of TI'ers have a P-Box.

[+save2600]

The TI PEB can most certainly support a reasonably sized CRT. Many users here have CRTs atop their machines.

Once you see some of that crisp and clean 99/4A F18A upgraded VGA output on an LCD, well...

You won't want a CRT anymore.

No blur, no ghosting, no bulky CRT.

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Ummm, no. The goofily reduced depth of the PEB most certainly does not support even the most normal of all classic and contemporary 13" color CRT's. Thing was designed to hold their 10" monitor after all.

 

Not talking ghetto configs mind you. When half your monitor hangs over the edge...

[+save2600]

And a TI-99/4A with an LCD screen... may as well just emulate then.

[Airshack]

I will give you credit for being the first to argue in favor of a larger PEB.

[emoji91][emoji91][emoji91][emoji91]bait

 

 

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[digdugnate]

And a TI-99/4A with an LCD screen... may as well just emulate then.

ha! I firmly believe in 'one foot in, one foot out'. besides, my $99 el cheapo wal mart tv is infinitely easier to lug around

[krslam]

My PEB mostly is used for the 32K RAM so many programs require, and if I ever get an alternative RAM expansion I'll likely retire the box. OTOH, it's one of the nicest looking pieces of vintage tech I own so it might stay on the desktop even if not connected.

[digdugnate]

My PEB mostly is used for the 32K RAM so many programs require, and if I ever get an alternative RAM expansion I'll likely retire the box. OTOH, it's one of the nicest looking pieces of vintage tech I own so it might stay on the desktop even if not connected.

I am such a sucker for this stuff! I picked one up for these reasons, though not necessarily in this order:

 

1) I had one growing up

2) it looks COOL to me

3) it happens to house my disk drive and my 32k expansion

 

part of the appeal to me and my hobby is that i have the PHYSICAL HARDWARE to mess around with. Yeah, i *could* do everything in emulator or virtually and probably it'd be cheaper and easier on space!

 

There is just something, though, that really speaks to me on a personal level when I interact with the hardware.

[FDOS]

I have 3 PEBs, and 2 PC cases with modified PS and PEB card cages. I also have 2 NanoPEB sidecars

(1 is V1 and 1 is V2), and 1 CF7A+. COM1 of the NanoPEB V2 does not work. It is a replacement for

the first one that failed after 20 minutes of operation, otherwise it still works well. The CF7A+

seems to be limited to 512MB or smaller CF cards. The Nano's are currently using 2GB CF cards. One

PEB needs a new PS, but in time I will just put the card cage in another PC case and modify the PS,

as the PEB is pretty banged up.

 

I keep the PEB units because of all my special 3rd party circuit boards; 2 Geneves (1 2MB Memex, 1

512K PFM+), and a SNUG TI-99/4P system (includes; 1MB SGCPU, 9938 EVPC, 16 Bank HSGPL, SPVMC voice

Memory,WHT SCSI, 3MB HRD-16, DSDD BWG FDC). Therefore, one of the most powerful and very best, existing

TI-99 systems in the world! Unfortunately, both Geneves and this "to die for" TI system are not in

operation due to the lack of an RGB/SCART monitor. Money will eventually resolve this issue. None of

these systems are for sale, so don't ask.

 

I have 3 WHT SCSI cards for these 3 systems; 1 HFDC, had 2 IDE cards I built myself (SMT, not possible

for me any more, both were sent out for repair a few years ago--never came back), 2 old WDS-100 systems

in mothballs for the time being (no place to set them up). I also have 5/6 1GB SCSI hard drives, lots

of EZ135MB & EZflyer230MB SCSI carts for 1 EZ135MB drive and 2 EZflyer 230MB drives, several 45MB & 20MB

MFM drives for HFDC & WDS-100 systems. Other stuff like P-GRAM+ 80K GramKracker, EA SC, etc., etc..

 

I guess we can say I'm a TI/Geneve hobby fanatic of way out there proportions.