Omega-TI Posted August 21, 2014 Share Posted August 21, 2014 I'm always on the lookout for goodies to hang off the TI, and now I'm thinking, "What's next?" Does anyone have any projects in the works? Have they come across anything 'really cool' they think others would enjoy? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slinkeey Posted August 21, 2014 Share Posted August 21, 2014 (edited) Possibly this? http://atariage.com/forums/topic/225504-time-to-modernize-the-ti-994a-joystick Edited August 21, 2014 by slinkeey 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Omega-TI Posted August 21, 2014 Author Share Posted August 21, 2014 Possibly this? http://atariage.com/forums/topic/225504-time-to-modernize-the-ti-994a-joystick Yeah, that is my WINTER PROJECT, I was looking for something NOW! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dphirschler Posted August 21, 2014 Share Posted August 21, 2014 - load interrupt switch mod - internal speaker mod - Atari joystick cable Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Omega-TI Posted August 22, 2014 Author Share Posted August 22, 2014 - load interrupt switch mod - internal speaker mod - Atari joystick cable Thanks for the ideas but... - I'd never use a load interrupt switch - I have no need for an internal speaker mod - I have a joystick adapter for my Wico and my home made joystick does not require one I was kind of hoping for something that could expand it's capabilities. I am still keeping an eye out for that web browser for the TI too, but have seen no new activity on that front. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ti99iuc Posted August 22, 2014 Share Posted August 22, 2014 Thanks for the ideas but... - I'd never use a load interrupt switch - I have no need for an internal speaker mod - I have a joystick adapter for my Wico and my home made joystick does not require one I was kind of hoping for something that could expand it's capabilities. I am still keeping an eye out for that web browser for the TI too, but have seen no new activity on that front. well, i understand that was his own projects 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+arcadeshopper Posted August 23, 2014 Share Posted August 23, 2014 (edited) I'd like the ps2 keyboard mod, the pbox speech synth card from mainbyte projects and the ide card rebuild with dips instead of sm.. in no particular order. Greg Edited August 23, 2014 by arcadeshopper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary from OPA Posted August 26, 2014 Share Posted August 26, 2014 I think this is project we should revisit and work on. If Atari can do it with 1megabyte cartridge and 8bits, we must be able to do it better all tho it will need some hardware for ram and program storage, can't see it be done on 32k stock. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobertLM78 Posted August 26, 2014 Share Posted August 26, 2014 (edited) I think this is project we should revisit and work on. If Atari can do it with 1megabyte cartridge and 8bits, we must be able to do it better all tho it will need some hardware for ram and program storage, can't see it be done on 32k stock. +1 Edited August 26, 2014 by RobertLM78 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+hloberg Posted August 27, 2014 Share Posted August 27, 2014 I think this is project we should revisit and work on. If Atari can do it with 1megabyte cartridge and 8bits, we must be able to do it better all tho it will need some hardware for ram and program storage, can't see it be done on 32k stock. I see several issue that would have to be addressed to get a GUI desktop like the one on the Atari. extended memory above the standard 32k on the TI99 is expensive (you have to first get a PEB) and it's hard to get. currently there is no standard for a mouse for the TI99. for a GUI desktop to be useful you really need some form a mass storage, again expensive on the TI99 and hard to get. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Gemintronic Posted August 27, 2014 Share Posted August 27, 2014 If you're going to dream: dream big! How about an FPGA based TI99 with a GUI like that as firmware. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+save2600 Posted August 27, 2014 Share Posted August 27, 2014 I'd like to somehow stuff my CF7+ into the speech synthesizer! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheMole Posted August 27, 2014 Share Posted August 27, 2014 I'd like to somehow stuff my CF7+ into the speech synthesizer! Sounds dirty... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary from OPA Posted August 27, 2014 Share Posted August 27, 2014 I see several issue that would have to be addressed to get a GUI desktop like the one on the Atari. extended memory above the standard 32k on the TI99 is expensive (you have to first get a PEB) and it's hard to get. currently there is no standard for a mouse for the TI99. for a GUI desktop to be useful you really need some form a mass storage, again expensive on the TI99 and hard to get. I think this project could be done using the NanoPEB with a newer DSR, and memory upgrade. You got the serial port to allow for old/style serial mouse to work very nice. You got the ram, yeah it is only 32K, but maybe with a little home-built mod you could install a 128k chip. And you have mass storage via compact flash 2gb card, just needs a better DSR to allow usage of it like hdd or copy-program-banks into ram via a DSR call, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+OLD CS1 Posted August 27, 2014 Share Posted August 27, 2014 (edited) I think this is project we should revisit and work on. If Atari can do it with 1megabyte cartridge and 8bits, we must be able to do it better all tho it will need some hardware for ram and program storage, can't see it be done on 32k stock. I have long been an advocate for GEOS on the TI, I just lack the know-how to program it myself. It should be doable in 32k. Edited August 27, 2014 by OLD CS1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+hloberg Posted August 27, 2014 Share Posted August 27, 2014 You got the serial port to allow for old/style serial mouse to work very nice. And you have mass storage via compact flash 2gb card, just needs a better DSR to allow usage of it like hdd or copy-program-banks into ram via a DSR call, etc. hard to get a nanoPEB these days. one idea I had was adapting a Atari ST mouse which used the joystick port of the ST. have to get +5 to the thing somehow. I wondered if the DSR in the CF7 could be redone to see a section of the CF as a HD. would come in handy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary from OPA Posted August 27, 2014 Share Posted August 27, 2014 hard to get a nanoPEB these days. one idea I had was adapting a Atari ST mouse which used the joystick port of the ST. have to get +5 to the thing somehow. I wondered if the DSR in the CF7 could be redone to see a section of the CF as a HD. would come in handy. One of things I been tooling around with writing a better DSR for the CF7+ and NanoPEB's, I already modded one of my to use battery-backup ram for dsr so I can change it more. But currently my TI99 consoles all have problems with bad video ram, I need either to ship down a new console from my storage locker in canada, or get an F18A shipped here to DR. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Omega-TI Posted August 27, 2014 Author Share Posted August 27, 2014 I see several issue that would have to be addressed to get a GUI desktop like the one on the Atari. extended memory above the standard 32k on the TI99 is expensive (you have to first get a PEB) and it's hard to get. currently there is no standard for a mouse for the TI99. for a GUI desktop to be useful you really need some form a mass storage, again expensive on the TI99 and hard to get. Design by committee usually fails miserably; I like the way Matthew did it with his F18A, he just went ahead using his best judgement, now it *IS* the standard. Atari Age has the largest grouping of TI users on the planet, so if it's available many of us will end up popping for it. The best thing about a small user base, with all the systems coming out of attics and basements that have been in storage for years means that those of us who actually want an item can usually find it. There are lot's of consoles, many P-Boxes and more cartridges than anyone knows what to do with. Sure there are some very rare items, but I'd much rather buy a new and supported item that will BECOME the new latter-day standard due to it's availability. If you build it, we will come. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+OLD CS1 Posted August 27, 2014 Share Posted August 27, 2014 for a GUI desktop to be useful you really need some form a mass storage, again expensive on the TI99 and hard to get. Nah. I started with GEOS on the 64 with a single floppy drive before I had TWO floppies. Even with GEOS 128 I have only ever had floppies, though to be fair I do have a 1581 3.5" drive which holds 800k. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Omega-TI Posted August 28, 2014 Author Share Posted August 28, 2014 Nah. I started with GEOS on the 64 with a single floppy drive before I had TWO floppies. Even with GEOS 128 I have only ever had floppies, though to be fair I do have a 1581 3.5" drive which holds 800k. I agree, considering how small the average TI program is, one can have more than a couple of programs on a single disk. Many of us already have two or more drives, as referenced << HERE >> and not just the original limited 90K drives either. Even with an original unmodified TI FDC, you can run up to three 180K drives for a total of 540K. With the easily obtainable 80 track modification for the TI FDC one can push that to 720K using just two half-height drives in the P-Box, which is close to that 800K amount talked about on the Atari. A version compatible with the Nano-PEB would have 1.2M available. Now, if this GUI was on one of these fancy new mega cartridges, it would use NONE of that disk storage space, except for the individual users desktop data and system configuration information. There are also other storage methods already available and in use on peoples TI's which a GUI system could exploit like HD's or the inexpensive "HDX" modification for the TI RS-232 that can be obtained through Greg. One could get the GUI cart first, and then expand their system slowly over time as needed or as hobby finances permit. You can say a lot about the TI, but one thing is certain, it begs to be expanded, and oh there are so many different ways to do it too! I envision the mouse routines being built into this GUI as part of the program itself, so whatever someone came up with, there would be others supplying the hardware, if necessary. Now if a GUI became available, it would probably start a whole new programming frenzy with people making new modules and programs that worked with the new environment. Are we ready for, and could we handle all that fun and excitement? Why it would be a veritable "TI Renaissance"! (Okay, I laid it on a little thick, but you get my point.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RXB Posted August 28, 2014 Share Posted August 28, 2014 Using the 192K video of the 9958 and a Serial Mouse pluse the SAMS it might be possible to do this in GROM combined with Assembly using GROM DSR to access the Mouse. It is a project I have some work done on already. SAMS and GROM is the only place with enough storage to pull this off, and of course you need better VDP of the 9958 or 9938 as 9901 sucks with only 16K. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Omega-TI Posted August 28, 2014 Author Share Posted August 28, 2014 Using the 192K video of the 9958 and a Serial Mouse pluse the SAMS it might be possible to do this in GROM combined with Assembly using GROM DSR to access the Mouse. I can envision a future revision morphing into something like you suggest and that would indeed be cool with supporting "add-in" modules to extend it's capabilities, but at first, at least to get a project like this off the ground, it would have to be usable to a wider audience. At present most people are running either 9918's or F18A's and Rasmus has shown us some incredible things can be done with just a "Plain Jane 9918". I do not pretend to know a tenth of what you know about the inner workings of the TI, but from what limited knowledge I do have, I see this as "DOABLE" now on equipment that people already have. I'm with RobertLM78 on this.... +1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TI-Sissy Posted August 28, 2014 Share Posted August 28, 2014 good idea! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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