Gary from OPA Posted March 17 Share Posted March 17 Happy St. Patrick's Day! Sunday TI99 Madness! I just destroyed $657 USD by hooking up my "Milton-Bradley MBX Expansion System" and to my beige console I setup yesterday. Now its not worth as much on eBay with it being finally opened. Silly me I should had done an unboxing video! 3 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary from OPA Posted March 19 Share Posted March 19 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary from OPA Posted March 23 Share Posted March 23 I won this on eBay the other day for $26 USD, and it finally arrived. I really don't need the collection of education TI99 cartridges, but the retro case holder is very nice, and for the price it gives me 16 perfectly nice shells to put my custom PCBoard cartridges into like the UberGROM, FlashROM99, FinalROM99, etc. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+OLD CS1 Posted March 23 Share Posted March 23 41 minutes ago, Gary from OPA said: I won this on eBay the other day for $26 USD, and it finally arrived. I really don't need the collection of education TI99 cartridges, but the retro case holder is very nice, and for the price it gives me 16 perfectly nice shells to put my custom PCBoard cartridges into like the UberGROM, FlashROM99, FinalROM99, etc. Looks like an 8-track storage system. Is it? I cannot imagine it was special made for TI cartridges. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary from OPA Posted March 23 Share Posted March 23 (edited) 1 hour ago, OLD CS1 said: Looks like an 8-track storage system. Is it? I cannot imagine it was special made for TI cartridges. It's multi purpose one I think radio shack or sears use to sell it you can adjust the plastic sides into different slots allowing for various sizes of cartridges and the smaller grooves have indents for like 3 different shapes as well. Only logo I can find on it, is this. I did a google search, no hits. Edited March 23 by Gary from OPA Added logo on the box. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary from OPA Posted March 23 Share Posted March 23 I spent today, adding another batch of nicely framed TI99 Solid State Software™ Command Module artworks, to my home office walls. I got another batch of 15 to assemble on Sunday, then I will make a final video of my completed setup. I think it will look nice once it's finished. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Ksarul Posted March 23 Share Posted March 23 12 hours ago, OLD CS1 said: Looks like an 8-track storage system. Is it? I cannot imagine it was special made for TI cartridges. I've seen those cases before (I think I may even have one or two). They were intended for video game systems, but the cartridge slots worked perfect for the TI as well. The game machine sat on top of the cartridges and manuals went into the slots at either side. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+OLD CS1 Posted March 23 Share Posted March 23 22 minutes ago, Ksarul said: I've seen those cases before (I think I may even have one or two). They were intended for video game systems, but the cartridge slots worked perfect for the TI as well. The game machine sat on top of the cartridges and manuals went into the slots at either side. I have a couple of special-made ones like that for my Sears Tele-Games and Atari 2600. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary from OPA Posted March 24 Share Posted March 24 Sunny Sunday here in Scarberia, so today I finished hanging the rest of my TI99 Solid State Software™ Command Modules Artworks on my Oasis Pensive Abacutors office walls and I think we're basically ready to get to work on some amazing Retro Projects plus a weekly video podcast! 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary from OPA Posted March 26 Share Posted March 26 Today, marks 10 full months of freedom since I got deported back to Canada by ICE after my legal issues with Nintendo was over and I got released from prison, but my life is not fully on track yet, it sure is a lot better then it was ten months ago, but I still working on the final stages for my medical disability, which is almost completed... At least it is now "approved", all is left is for local office to finish the paperwork and then I can move forward to seeing proper monthly basic income, which will help cover more of my bills, and medical needs, but I still have not gotten any steady paying job yet, and still need a few items for my home and medical items... I hope that soon I can start earning a bit of money again with my love for the TI99 computers, and release some good new software & hardware, so all the support you can offer is greatly appreciated, either directly via my https://www.gofundme.com/f/garyopa-restarting-his-life or just spreading the word, and giving your thumbs up and comments are welcome as well. Thanks again everyone for all your support and strength in getting my life back together here in Canada, it has been so far an amazing journey over the last ten months, and I am looking forward to first full year of freedom at the end of May! 🥰🙏🥳 P.S. -- I added one of the original marketing ads for the TI-99/4a Home Computer to this post, back then Texas Instruments had many strange ads that try to promote their system as family computer, as back in 1979 most households could barely afford one computer system, so it was geared to be able to handle all your family needs, from education, budget planning, fitness, games, grow when you could afford to by adding on more peripherals and software. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary from OPA Posted March 27 Share Posted March 27 Going through my archived TI99 floppies, to get my development tools up and running again on my systems. I found this old digitized scan of me from around 1988 at the Boston Computer Society's fair when the "ImageWise Video Digitizer" was being tested on the "Myarc Geneve 9640". 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary from OPA Posted March 28 Share Posted March 28 Today, was a slow day, spent most of the morning at the SunnyBrook Hospital having my usual 3 month medical checkup on my health and my left leg, then after a nice 4 hour cat nap... I went to town getting my TI99 more up and running, with first burning an DSR EPROM and getting finally my "Myarc 512K Ramdisk" card to have their special 128K OS enabled, so I can use their faster "Advanced Basic" release on it, and then I got my special combo TMS9900/9995/99105/68689 DX/10 Assembler and TI GPL Assembler developer tools fully working again in 80column Editor mode on my PGRAM card and Horizon/Rambo 4000 Ramdisk. So, now I can start loading up some source code, editing it, and compiling and assembling it, and debugging it of course, and get to work on updating my older Phoenix 2001 software and releasing some new coding projects that been sitting on the back-burner on low simmer for the last 10 years I was in Dominican Republic and then 3 years of legal shit! The O.P.A. Phoenix is almost fully rebirth'ed, we are getting there, one retro byte and bit at a clock cycle! 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary from OPA Posted March 29 Share Posted March 29 One year ago today, I finally got released from the #SeaTac Federal Prison, after getting my "First Step Act" time credits and being released 9 months early... But my legal battles were not over, now being a "illegal alien" in the USA with an expired Canadian Passport, meant I had to be transferred to ICE custody, were I would spent another two months, with a bit more freedom, no jail bars, outside rec yard time, and even an Xbox 360 system with few games to play on. If you ever have the sad pleasure of being at the "NorthWest Detention Center" and in the F4 pod, you will find a "GaryOPA" Xbox profile on their gaming console from when I was playing "Need 4 Speed: Hot Pursuit" for the two months, I was waiting around to get deported back to Canada. Lucky, for me I got to the ICE facility just after the riots and lockdowns due to the horrible food and cleanness of the place, so I got to see it running at its best, with everyone being on their toes and making sure we were OK, and medical staff on par, and food quality better. https://prismreports.org/2023/02/15/northwest-detention-center-hunger-strike-ice/ Thankfully, I survived the 60 days and was out of the place fast, unlike some aliens that end up spending a year waiting to get deported to their home country. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary from OPA Posted March 30 Share Posted March 30 If "Diehard" can be a Christmas movie. Then "Beverly Hills Cop" can be a Good Friday movie. So, here is a video of one of my TI99 systems, playing the theme song "Alex F", which is a good basic demonstration of what the TMS9919 sound chip can produce without any specific tricks. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary from OPA Posted April 7 Share Posted April 7 (edited) Sunny day, no more snow, finally enjoying sitting outside and having a coffee in my little backyard, can't wait for even warmer days to fix up this area of my condo and make it nicer to enjoy. Today, I need to repair the screen to the den, as a squirrel ripped a hole into it. 🐿️ ssstwitter.com_1712510358246.mp4 Edited April 7 by Gary from OPA trying to fix video attachment 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary from OPA Posted April 7 Share Posted April 7 (edited) Darn squirrels, that is a big hole they ripped into my screen in the den window. At least my two other windows that open are ok, no damage to them. Edited April 7 by Gary from OPA 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary from OPA Posted April 18 Share Posted April 18 Finishing touchup to my bare office walls, by adding today a colorful 99/4 marketing poster. "The Texas Instruments Home Computer gives you a tutor, an accountant, a librarian, a file clerk and a pro football team in your own home." What artworks should I add next to my office? 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary from OPA Posted Friday at 07:55 PM Share Posted Friday at 07:55 PM I have finally started to update my #Patreon page with my recent #GitHub source code releases for the #TI99 computer, and this is great way you can support my ongoing work for my new retro projects, check it out and let me know your thoughts & suggestions. https://www.patreon.com/GaryOPA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary from OPA Posted Monday at 05:59 AM Share Posted Monday at 05:59 AM I totally agree, this was my route when I was young, we need to bring back computers with Assembly as the main thing to learn and generate a new generation of coders that understand. Quote George Hotz says that everyone should learn C and Assembly. J6_M1sKttnvD_5W2.mp4 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Vorticon Posted Monday at 12:06 PM Share Posted Monday at 12:06 PM Assembly I get, C not so much. Once you know assembly, you can substantially enhance straight XB programs without the need to learn another high level language. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary from OPA Posted Monday at 01:39 PM Share Posted Monday at 01:39 PM 1 hour ago, Vorticon said: Assembly I get, C not so much. Once you know assembly, you can substantially enhance straight XB programs without the need to learn another high level language. Yeah not really a fan of C myself. People have forgotten how good Basic can be. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary from OPA Posted Tuesday at 09:33 PM Share Posted Tuesday at 09:33 PM Out with the old one and in with the new one. Ten years my ass May 19th 2025 it should have lasted until, oh well now how long before the second one dies in the condo I wonder, I can't see the expiration date on it without removing it. This new one I wrote it in black marker on the outside and gave it 7 years so 2031 will be time to swap it out again. At least I don't have to listen to the 3 beeps every 30 seconds like last night and all day yesterday, started chirping at 6am. Crazy. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary from OPA Posted 20 hours ago Share Posted 20 hours ago (edited) Github has approved me to have sponsors badge. Looking forward to getting sponsors, as I expand my repositories and start coding an amazing new TMS9900 Assembly Language Retro Project for the Texas Instruments TI99 Home Computers! https://github.com/sponsors/gary99opa Edited 20 hours ago by Gary from OPA 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reciprocating Bill Posted 20 hours ago Share Posted 20 hours ago I purchased Morley way back in the 80's. Then upon resurrecting my interest in the TI in 2020, and forgetting that I already owned a copy, I got another. (It always amused me that only two of the "instructions" spelled in blocks on the cover are actually 9900 assembly instructions.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary from OPA Posted 19 hours ago Share Posted 19 hours ago 44 minutes ago, Reciprocating Bill said: I purchased Morley way back in the 80's. Then upon resurrecting my interest in the TI in 2020, and forgetting that I already owned a copy, I got another. (It always amused me that only two of the "instructions" spelled in blocks on the cover are actually 9900 assembly instructions.) Well CALL is used in Mini-Memory and XB to launch Assembly, so you could say that is "part" of it as well. I lost my original one long time ago, would love to get a used one again just for my TI Bookshelf in my room, but they are like over $110 usd now, crazy prices. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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