TI-99/4A ROMS for PC Emulation + More...
Bryan
It's has been a VERY, VERY long time. Some of you may remember me, some may
not.
My name is Bryan Nicalek, I have been a /4A user since 1982, when, at the
time, I was about 9 years old. I'm 27 now, and I literally grew up on the
TI. I have been an collector for many, many years. I've been away for
about 5 years, and suddenly my interest has once again been sparked to a
point that doors are opening that were closed once before.
I'm speaking of PC emulation. About 6 years ago, I dabbled on the internet
(my first experiences of actually being online!), and was surprised to see
the incredible amount of members who still remained part of the TI
community. I remember checking out the TI -> PC emulators at that point,
and wasn't impressed at all. A lot of bugs needed to be fixed, speech
synthesis wasn't implemented, etc.
Now, just over the past couple of months, Michael Fox comes on the scene and
has implemented a fantastic webpage full of wonderful resources and
information (I was referred by the "99er.net" site, which is also terrific!)
It appears as though TI has granted him permission to post TI ROM's on the
site, so long as the programs are not sold. I was stunned. Many, many
years ago I submitted a spectacular proposal to TI to ask if they would
re-institute their consumer product division, and re-build the /4A into
something new and exciting. Included was new design layouts, new operating
system ideas, even transparencies in full detail. Of course, as we all
know, TI is set in their ways of strictly DSP and calculators.
So, when I see an emulator, such as M.E.S.S., and I can see exactly how it
can emulate the TI in almost every way, I am shocked, surprised, and full of
fresh, new ideas to implement a 'virtual' TI that encompasses the best of
the past, and the best of the new. We're talking total full-screen
emulation, total sound, everything to the point that you would never believe
you were sitting in front of a PC. Too all those who haven't tried M.E.S.S.
out and checked out Michael Fox's page, I would encourage you to do so right
away!
In the interest of new ideas, resources, and information, I too would like
to post an exclusive website full of even MORE of the TI emulation trend.
Take a look and you'll see that thousands upon thousands of downloads are
being taken every month. My ideas even go so far as to take an existing
black computer system, re-badge it with a TI label, take an existing black
keyboard and create an exclusive /4A template, and more. I'm talking
exclusive active desktop in the background highlighting "TI CLASSIC HOME
COMPUTER" and running each TI program from Windows icons that will
automatically load the emulator and the relative programs. How's that for
an idea? What's more, take a look at cybernetman.com and their new
all-in-one systems.
So anyway, I am very interested in hearing what other people have to say
about TI emulation. I would also like to hear from people who have the
handle on the TI ROM's. Michael, me, and a lot of other people are looking
for the 30-40 more ROM's that would make the entire TI collection complete.
I would also like to know exactly how converting a TI module into PC format
is accomplished. Of course, lots of know about the GramKracker, but I'm
curious if one really has a 5¼" drive linked to a PC to convert it to the
PC.
Any help, hints, suggestions, advice, etc. would be more than appreciated.
I am looking forward to hearing from each and every one of you! Feel free
to write me directly, as my newsgroup connection is a bit unstable at the
moment. Thanks again! :)
Bryan Nicalek
ptshp...@hotmail.com
stefano...@inwind.it
> So anyway, I am very interested in hearing what other people have to say
> about TI emulation. I would also like to hear from people who have the
> handle on the TI ROM's. Michael, me, and a lot of other people are looking
> for the 30-40 more ROM's that would make the entire TI collection complete.
> I would also like to know exactly how converting a TI module into PC format
> is accomplished. Of course, lots of know about the GramKracker, but I'm
> curious if one really has a 5Œ" drive linked to a PC to convert it to the
> PC.
I'd like to have TI99/4, TI99/8 and TI99/2 (both versions) BIOS ROMs dumped! M.E.S.S. could emulate these machines fairly well... the only thing preventing from doing it is that no BIOS dump exists :(((
--
Stefano Priore | SuSE Linux 7.1 kernel 2.4.17
--------------------------------+--------------------------------
"Video meliora proboque, | Linux Registered User #210152
autem deteriora sequor..." | Linux Registered Machine #97752
Bryan
dumped! M.E.S.S. could emulate these machines fairly well... the only
thing preventing from doing it is that no BIOS dump exists :(((>>>
Hello,
In response to this poster, I agree that it would also be great to
have at least TI-99/8 emulation. The best person to contact would be
'Fabrice Montupet', who runs his 'ti99.com' website online (he is from
France). To my knowledge, he is the creator of the 99/4A emulation
itself. The question, then, would be two things:
1. Can we consult with Mr. Montupet in English? This is what I have
been wondering over the past couple of weeks. I have yet to actually
send him an e-mail, because I'm afraid of the French-English barrier.
2. Since Mr. Montupet was very successful with the 99/4A emulation,
would it be possible for him to get his hands on just 1 of the
pre-production 150 units to perform the emulation procedure?
So, then, this would be an apparent solution to the 'BIOS' dumps.
Bryan Nicalek
ptshp...@hotmail.com
binaryside
I am sorry for the delay of my answer, I just read your message today !
I am Fabrice Montupet, the webmaster of the site dedicated to the TI-99/4A :
www.ti99.com but I am not the creator of any TI-99 emulator. There is no
language barrier, I can read and speak in English :)
I have a TI-99/4, TI-99/4A (1981 ROM), TI-99/4A (1983 ROM), TI-99/2, a
TI-99/8 (I should receive it this week!) and a Geneve9640
If I can help someone to develop a 99/8 (or other computers) emulation, I
will be very happy!
Fabrice
TI-99 Forever!: http://www.ti99.com
email : webm...@ti99.com / binar...@yahoo.fr
"Bryan" <ptshp...@hotmail.com> a écrit dans le message de news:
7773f60d.02031...@posting.google.com...
Jeff Stimson
Given the limited number of actual machines in existence, most of us have
never even seen one up close (other than the kind souls who have pictures
online for others to see).
I would love to play around with a decent emulation of the machine!
"binaryside" <binar...@yahoo.fr> wrote in message
news:a6qs2a$mqn$1...@wanadoo.fr...
stefano...@inwind.it
> Hi Bryan !
> I am sorry for the delay of my answer, I just read your message today !
> I am Fabrice Montupet, the webmaster of the site dedicated to the TI-99/4A :
> www.ti99.com but I am not the creator of any TI-99 emulator. There is no
> language barrier, I can read and speak in English :)
> I have a TI-99/4, TI-99/4A (1981 ROM), TI-99/4A (1983 ROM), TI-99/2, a
> TI-99/8 (I should receive it this week!) and a Geneve9640
> If I can help someone to develop a 99/8 (or other computers) emulation, I
> will be very happy!
Hi, Fabrice!
The greatest obstacle in emulation of your machines is the lack of BIOS ROMs. The MESSDEV team has access only to a TI99/4A set (the one that is currently available on the net)
Anything goes! ;)
swo...@speakeasy.org
> I am sorry for the delay of my answer, I just read your message today !
> I am Fabrice Montupet, the webmaster of the site dedicated to the TI-99/4A :
> www.ti99.com but I am not the creator of any TI-99 emulator. There is no
> language barrier, I can read and speak in English :)
> I have a TI-99/4, TI-99/4A (1981 ROM), TI-99/4A (1983 ROM), TI-99/2, a
> TI-99/8 (I should receive it this week!) and a Geneve9640
> If I can help someone to develop a 99/8 (or other computers) emulation, I
> will be very happy!
Binaryside:
Good! I have 99/4, 99/4A (1981), 990 series and Geneve ROMs too. I found
99/2 ROMs but found out that 99/2 ROM images are all zeroes! I got it
from MESSROMs web site that is now down. I have working TI emulator that
successfully displays master screen (99/4A). I am developing TI emulator
and plans to add it to my TS10 emulator system. At this time, my TS10
emulator emulates large mainframe computers as DECsystem-10 and VAX
machines. My TS10 emulator sources are available at
ftp.firesword7.net/pub/ts10 directory. I currently am working on Ethernet
interface in my TS10 emulator system program.
Does anyone have 99/4A (1983), 99/2, and 99/8 ROM images? For 99/2 and
99/8, I needs programming specs to develop my TI emulator.
I looked into www.ti99.com but they are written in french. I understand
some statements because I took french classes at my university some time
ago. Can you re-write ti99.com in English, Please? Where can I get
translator that translate into English?
Thank you!
-- Tim Stark
--
Timothy Stark <>< Inet: swo...@speakeasy.org
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that
whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Amen." -- John 3:16 (King James Version Bible)
James B. DiGriz
> Hi Bryan !
>
> I am sorry for the delay of my answer, I just read your message today !
> I am Fabrice Montupet, the webmaster of the site dedicated to the
> TI-99/4A : www.ti99.com but I am not the creator of any TI-99 emulator.
> There is no language barrier, I can read and speak in English :) I have
> a TI-99/4, TI-99/4A (1981 ROM), TI-99/4A (1983 ROM), TI-99/2, a TI-99/8
> (I should receive it this week!) and a Geneve9640 If I can help someone
> to develop a 99/8 (or other computers) emulation, I will be very happy!
>
> Fabrice
>
I followed your acquisition of the /8 on the OLUG and I'm happy to see it
went to a good home.
If anybody hasn't checked out Fabrice's k-rad PC Tower case mod for the
99/4A, you owe it to yourself to check it out on his website.
jbdigriz
Bryan
First, I'm glad to see that I've started a great topic, and that
overall, it has been responsive!
Now that we've cleared up that Fabrice Montupet is NOT in fact the
creator of the 99/4A emulation on M.E.S.S., then I'd like to ask who
that person (or group of individuals) would be? I'd love to know --
because I would have lots of questions to ask.
FABRICE --> Wow... you're getting your 99/8 very shortly, this is
exciting news -- because as we all know -- you've created a fantastic
site, and the photos are the best we have seen! Give us more details,
how did you work on acquiring the machine?
TIM --> I am happy that you are working on a TI emulator. From my
experience, I happen to like M.E.S.S. the best, mostly because of the
extensive customizable options, but the one issue that must be worked
on is the speech recognition. To be honest, I think that it isn't
really the speech emulation itself -- it perhaps is the sound chip
emulation. Did you ever notice that only 1/2 of the frequency range
is emulated? Specifically, the lower tones are non-existent. Also, I
would agree that Fabrice should have his site entirely in English to
make it easy to understand and read!
And back to everyone, take a look at my next post on a brand-new TI
System Interface that is in the works!!! :)
Bryan Nicalek
ptshp...@hotmail.com
stefano...@inwind.it
> Now that we've cleared up that Fabrice Montupet is NOT in fact the
> creator of the 99/4A emulation on M.E.S.S., then I'd like to ask who
> that person (or group of individuals) would be? I'd love to know --
> because I would have lots of questions to ask.
The maintainer of the TI series' drivers is Raphael Nabet. You can contact him via e-mail, but you can also use the message board at http://www.mess.org
From the same site you can have access to the CVS repository and download your daily updated copy of MESS. Don't forget to subscribe at http://bugzilla.mess.org to submit bug reports!
binaryside
I thank you very much for these words :)
I am happy that you visit my website in spite of the language barrier ! I am
continuing to translate it in US language .
Fabrice
TI-99 Forever!: http://www.ti99.com
email : webm...@ti99.com / binar...@yahoo.fr
"James B. DiGriz" <jbdi...@dragonsweb.org> a écrit dans le message de news:
a70auj$njl$1...@ns2.i16.net...