PeBo

And I use MS Excel ("Multiplan 2016"?") for keeping track of my CF cards volumes, but that's not the os is it? It's a piece of software that runs with the os. What I was trying to say was that with every new release of modern operating systems (with the exception of Linux), there have been fewer and fewer customization options available to the user. Heck with MS Spyware 3.0 (commonly referred to as Windows 10) even changing the title bar colour or removing extraneous items from My Computer (oops, sorry "This PC") require registry hacks or 3rd party add-ons. And in many cases your efforts are reverted to default settings after the weekly update. (try to get rid of the swipe screen since the anniversary update! You can't! Not without enabling auto password entry, or purchasing the enterprise or student editions! Even the registry hack that used to work has been disabled by Microsoft) With vintage computers tweaking and tinkering was expected, and in many cases actually required! (remember when you had to write your own printer drivers if you bought a non-Epson compatible??). Nowadays everything is done by os developers to discourage tinkering. And it gets worse with every new os released. (With XP, you could render it completely unrecognizable, and with Active Desktop, for all it's security issues, you could really make the GUI your own! I am not bemoaning the advent of far more powerful software - give me Word or WordPerfect over TI-Writer anyday!! It's just that in a point and click world, computers (for me) just aren't as much fun as they used to be. They are simply more functional for people who can't be bothered learning how to use them. (btw, Microsoft has disabled turning off the swipe screen, because they plan to sell this prime real estate to 3rd party advertisers. The ads will be designed to look like helpful tips, and should start hitting your swipe screen soon. Fun eh!?)

I returned to the 4A mainly for nostalgia (and male menopause - did I say that out loud??). But I also went back to it because, despite the capabilities of modern GPU's, the processing power of modern CPU, the speed of high bandwidth connections (gigabit fibe makes it as fast to download a movie as it is to copy it between drives!), and the depth of online community, the act of owning and operating a computer is simply no longer fun. At one time if you wanted your computer to do something, you had to make it do it...and anything that your hardware was capable of was available to you with a little (ok a LOT of) work. Modern OSes and device formats have killed the fun of being a computer enthusiast. Now it's all about what it can do out of the box (how boring is that??) So if an F18A, or a SAMS card or SD or CF storage still allows me to fiddle and tweak and tinker - with even more options than I had in 1983 - than it is still the same experience - just enhanced. The nostalgia is not in the computer itself - it is in what we once did with it. The fact that we can now do more, does not detract from the act of doing.

Mitkraft, as Stuart suggest you should contact him. When I bought mine (just before production stopped a couple years ago), he used to build them as people asked for them. Not "to order" per se, but when enough people had written and expressed interest, he would work on a limited run, often creating "private" eBay ads for the purchasers (at least that's how he did it in my case).

I've seen it come up once or twice, so it's not impossible to find (easier than an Arcturus cartridge anyway!). I know that rolls of generic thermal paper is still available (I assume thermal printing hasn't changed significantly over the years to render newer thermal paper incompatible), so it should be more a case of finding the correct size rolls (or cutting them to fit)

First "no matter where you go, there you are" - Wow, I have a local friend who has repeated used that line in conversation for several decades. It has become such a signature for her that I never even considered that she has been quoting a source other than her all these years. Seeing it as your tag line was quite a Douglas Adams moment! Anyway just wanted to thank you for chiming in here. I will be watching the auction carefully, and as long as the bidding remains low enough to avoid becoming the victim of matricide, I will most definitely jump in near the end of the auction (I hate that that's how ebay auctions work - with serious bidders suddenly appearing and dukeing it out in the last few seconds - but 'tis what 'tis.).

Rasmus, this community will never be able to thank you fully for your stellar contributions to our hobby. I am hardly surprised that our first AMS card title would bear your moniker (and include a video tease that borders on evil in the anticipation it invokes!) As far as having Asgard done by Christmas, allow me to paraphrase a former employer and say "we'll get it when it's ready!" - and that's OK, because just knowing that it's coming is a very fine Merry Christmas! so a Merry Christmas back at you sir! Thank you so much!

Regarding this AD, I must once again demonstrate my absolute stupidity in regards to the mechanics of hardware. The TI-Thermal Printer is a holy grail item of mine, having owned one 1st time-around all those years ago (only really useful for printing 40 column listings, but still très cool in the sidecar chain) and have been wanting to find one in this era. Unfortunately they're usually 10 times this price or more. But those are often sold in "working condition", which this one is not. While I'm sure that more mechanically oriented friends could fix the tractor feed, is there any chance whatsoever of finding a compatible replacement printhead for 35 year old thermal printer tech??

The fact that certain folks are involved in the discussions certainly builds my confidence that this long lost, never released gem will soon be as common on our 4A's as Slime and Robotron 2048 (it wasn't that long ago that we could only imagine playing those as well!).

Well that would work to be sure, but then I'd be more likely to just get the cable instead of the adapter (already have a Wico Command Control, and a couple standard Y cable adapters). What sparked my interest in your proposed design is that it is a board that plugs directly into the console - a design which would be defeated by the addition of a cable. An adapter that offered on board support for both TI and 3rd party controllers/devices (switchable or with some kind of cut-off) would really bring something new to the table. With a 2.5cm space between the port and the bottom of the console, there should be more than enough vertical real-estate for a TI connector below the Atari connectors (easily said since I'm not concerning myself with the logistics of wiring and switching), and heck, being direct-connect it would amount to being our first left-side sidecar device. Not even Milton Bradley pulled that off!

It would truly make it a must-have is if it could also include a straight pass-thru connector as well, so one would not have to remove it to plug in TI joysticks. I know, I know, why would anyone WANT to plug in TI joysticks (maybe I'm nuts - I like em for Slymoids), but the MBX also uses the joystick port. They wouldn't have to work simultaneously, I'd just much rather wear-out an add-on adapter plugging and unplugging stuff than the only joystick port the TI console has! And it is one thing no other joystick adapter offers

I am SOOOOO with you (I'm sure every single TI gamer without eprom burning / GROM programming skills agrees) That would surely make it to #1 on my Xmas list with a bullet. Thought for sure we'd have seen it by now! If using an uberGrom sounds like overkill for a single prototype game, maybe a complete "Parker Brothers" cart would seem less like a waste of the board.

If it makes you feel any better, Thanksgiving is the second Monday in October in Canada. AND you hear Christmas music in most shopping malls in North America as soon as they've finished cashing-in on Halloween - which is a good reason to shop online.

I got THIS Great price, and is actually a nice piece of furniture. (way better than it looks in the ad) Holds 34 cartridges per shelf. Comes with 6 shelves. Will hold a 7th and if you use the bottom as well, that's 8x34 or 272 carts (bottom is much deeper than the rest and it holds/displays the larger Atari boxes perfectly which I found a better use) For all it's capacity though, it really doesn't take a lot of space. Best $60 I've spent in a while (and likely much less expensive in the US) Careful though, if you go directly to the Sauder site, they also stock a slightly different one that only has five shelves and reduced overall dimensions that greatly reduce storage capacity. here's what it look like all TI-ed-up....

The Flashrom99 and CF7 is my default configuration 75% of the time. Strangely Legends II doesn't like the CF7 (crashes when entering dungeons) and while Jeff Bunting's 1987 version of Space Station Pheta works perfectly, Tad Woods 1985 version crashes after the first level. Not sure if it's wonky memory or the custom disk format of the CF7 that is the culprit, but whatever it is, those two still require real disks. Of course both those examples also require XB, as does all of my mindless tinkering, so using modern add-ons will never completely replace original hardware for me. Now if GROM emulation appears in a future FlashRom99 iteration, that could change everything - again. Remember though that a year ago we all had XB 2.7 nearly-permanently inserted in our cart ports, so who knows what 2017 will present us with, that we will not be able to imagine having lived without!

Yup, never found them. Strange that I can't even find them among scanned docs. Same issue with Scholastic Spelling workbooks (a truly brilliant work/reward system - complete a written exercise successfully, and then play a game based on what you've learned), but I HAVE at least managed to find a couple of those (still looking for the workbooks for levels 5 & 6 - preferably still unused). If I find copies of the cue cards I'll post them to this thread.

GladOS! Sexiest evil AI ever!

I loves Polls. And Finns. And Swedes. And Danes. And Germans. And Italians. And even, on occasion, Americans. Can't stand those Canadians though...what a bunch of a**holes they are! (read that last one on the Texas Ranger's dressing room wall...have a funny feeling we'll be seeing something similar in Cleveland soon)

Sorry,I voted no when I read "The raffle would include shipping to a US based address via USPS priority mail flat rate small box", then I realized you were referring to the free shipping. If paid shipping would include locations outside the US, then sure I'd buy a ticket ($3 is fair). This is United Way season on this side of the border, so I'm being asked to buy raffle tickets and bingo cards every couple of days at work. At least this would be something useful.

The phone-ring'ish one is at a perfect pitch to be uncomfortable (mind you, that might just me being the age where a whole range of frequencies are uncomfortable). BUT... invoking speech always causes everything else to pause (except in Forth it seems), so I'd say opt for a sound...just play with the pitch a bit.

EVERYTHING we do online is a waste of time within the grand scheme of things.

I HIGHLY recommend "Compute!'s Guide to to Texas Instruments Sound and Graphics" (available as a PDF anywhere TI-Doc PDF's are found). I used it back in the day when not only Call Sound, but every TI-Basic command and function seemed foreign and strange (hell, computers seemed foreign and strange). I absolutely guarantee that if you type in (and take note of) any 3 of the included sound programs, you will not only understand TI-sound routines, you will actually become quite proficient with them. Of all the Compute! learning books (or any other publisher's learning books for that matter), this one is the one to have to learn and understand TI-Basic sound programming. Searched my TI directory while writing this and found the PDF, so the attached will save you hunting for it ti994a-sound-and-graphics.pdf

So, not having whined like a needy beggar recently, thought I'd ask... Has anyone tried to get Tutankham working as a FR99 file? or has anyone burnt an eprom or created a dsk image that we could use to play the game on real hardware?

Speaking of insane pricing.... Pac-Man for only $150US + shipping! If that price isn't ridiculous enough for US purchasers, consider that up here, north of the 49th, that works out to $225 shipped. (I thought I was crazy spending $35 for a second copy 2 months ago just to get the box and manual). Figured the dude was nuts till I saw this on ebay France (originates in Italy). What are these people smoking for Pete's sake?? If there's actually someone out there who doesn't already own an original Pac-Man cart and wants one, PM me and I'll fire you off my spare (cart only) for the cost of shipping. Hell, I'll even throw in Moon Patrol!

You could use Letraset Transfer sheets. Back before the days of layout software and vector line art programs like Corel Draw or Illustrator, we used to use Letraset sheets for manual layout, that were then passed on to the printing house. I still use them for all kinds of home projects. (Letraset also makes THE best 2-sided tape, bar none... it's no more than a thin strip of adhesive, it even works for repairing/replacing cartridge labels). Their stuff isn't cheap , but the end results can look factory applied since each letter is die-cut vinyl (you just need an exacto knife to apply them). Products are available at any decent art-supply house, and I believe their character sheets come from about 4 point to 72 point and larger. Here's a LINK to the Letraset transfer sheet page. And if you don't buy anything else, buy a roll of their two sided tape! Worth every penny!

Thanks for this...always loved Steem and thought it had simply become abandonware, and was searching for something that came close. (All I could ever find was the 2004 version.) WinSTon was actually the proggie that introduced me to emulation (I'm guessing most folks started with MAME or the original N64 emulator), then Steem made the experience nearly indistinguishable from real iron (although not nearly as sexy as have a real STe on your desk). Guess I'm not going to be getting anything productive done this weekend.