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The 8-Bit Era's Weird Uncle: The TI-99/4A

(bumbershootsoft.wordpress.com)
168 points rbanffy | 1 comments | 16 Feb 25 18:56 UTC | HN request time: 0.001s | source
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SanjayMehta ◴[20 Feb 25 01:59 UTC] No.43110210[source]▶
Wasn’t this originally designed for military use?

It failed the requirements and was then repurposed by TI?

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McGlockenshire ◴[20 Feb 25 02:08 UTC] No.43110254[source]▶
The thing that became the 990 minicomputer was developed for a hotel chain. Perhaps you're thinking of another?

Source: David Pitts, who worked on the platform. https://www.cozx.com/dpitts/ti990.html

replies(2): >>43113341 #>>43120075 #
SanjayMehta ◴[20 Feb 25 11:03 UTC] No.43113341[source]▶
Pretty sure I read something long ago (20 years back?) about the 9900 and some strange problems in a missile controller application.

Turns out there was a variant called SBP9900 which was hardened for military use.

replies(1): >>43119662 #
1. OhMeadhbh ◴[20 Feb 25 20:21 UTC] No.43119662[source]▶
I think that was the Recursiv, that was built by some TI escapees in Britain. But this is based on very old neurons, so I could DEFINITELY be wrong on this one. Just offering what I think I remember.

TI definitely had a defense oriented business up until the late 90s when they sold their Defense Semiconductor Engineering Group (DESG) to (I think) Raytheon.