Texas Instruments TI-99/2

The TI-99/2 was a low-cost home computer developed as a simplified companion to the TI-99/4A. It used a compact wedge-shaped keyboard case, monochrome display output and a member of TI’s 16-bit 9900 processor family.

Although shown publicly and prepared for production, the 99/2 was cancelled as TI’s home-computer business deteriorated. Surviving prototypes document the company’s attempt to compete at the very low end of the 1983 market.

Notable Features

• Compact low-cost keyboard computer
• Monochrome text-focused display
• Prototype member of the TI 99 family

Historical Significance

• Although shown publicly and prepared for production, the 99/2 was cancelled as TI’s home-computer business deteriorated. Surviving prototypes document the company’s attempt to compete at the very low end of the 1983 market.

Collector’s Notes

• Prototype revisions differ and are extremely scarce; any surviving unit requires careful provenance rather than assumptions based on pre-release literature.
• Memory, storage, displays and expansion hardware should be documented because configurations often changed during a system’s working life.

Specifications

Technical Information
Name	Texas Instruments TI-99/2
Manufacturer	Texas Instruments
Launched	Saturday, January 1, 1983
Country	United States
CPU	Texas Instruments TMS9995
Units Sold
Form Factor	Keyboard console prototype
Power	External power supply
Networking	Not standard
Operating System	TI BASIC
Expansion / I/O	Cartridge, cassette and expansion connections
Keyboard	Integrated full-size keyboard
Storage	Cartridge and cassette planned
Sound	Simple tone output
Colours	Monochrome
Graphics	Monochrome text and limited programmable graphics
Display	Television
ROM	Built-in BASIC and system firmware
RAM	4 KB standard; expansion planned
CPU Speed	Approximately 10 MHz