ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN OCTOBER 1991 LIMA NEWSLETTER
 
 
 
               THE TI 99/7 COMPUTER  
      
     This device was apparently never built, but its 1981
design specifications were probably the inspiration for the
99/8.  The 99/7 is discussed in a June 16, 1980 BUSINESS
WEEK article 
      
     We have a copy of the following documentation from TI:
"TI 99/7 COMPUTER HARDWARE THEORY OF OPERATION, Corporate
Engineering Center, Dallas, By Richard Tarrant", dated 13
July 81.  Based on this document, it appears the 99/7 was
going to be based on the 9900 CPU, fully software compatible
with the 99/4 (without the A), and include ALL OF THE
FOLLOWING WITHIN THE SAME CASE (not as separate
peripherals)- 64K of short wait state memory, speech, a
"pascal grom", an 80 column thermal printer, an acoustic
modem, and a 5.25 inch disk drive controller. 
      
     The following is quoted from this document: 
     "The TI 99/7 computer incorporates the 99/4 home
computer mainframe architecture with the 99/4 peripheral
controllers plus expanded memory into the case plastics of
the Digital Systems 765 terminal for compactness and
portability.  The TI 99/7 will retain software compatibility
with the 99/4 while providing additional faster access
memory as well as a larger keyboard and 80 column printer 
      
     "A comparison of features between a 99/4 with its
external peripherals and the 99/7 is as follows:[(memory in
bytes/microseconds access per (word) or (byte)] 
     ^^^^^^99/4^^(** means external peripheral required) 
     Operating system ROM...8k/0.7(W) 
     Workspace RAM..........256/0.7(W) 
     Display (VDP) RAM......16K/8.0(B) 
     Internal GROM..........18K/6.0(B) 
     Sound..................TMS9919 
     Keyboard...............40 key polled 
     Video Display..........40 char x 24 line color NTSC 
     Cassette Interface.....1 port 650 baud 2 unidirect. 
     Joystick Interface.....Dual scan/1 port 
     External I/O...........40 pin full cpu with 8 bit data 
     Expansion CPU RAM......32K/2.0(W)** 
     Speech.................TMS0285+ 2-TMS0350** 
     Printer................32 col/30 cps** 
     Disk Controller........3-single density single side** 
     RS232..................Dual 9600 baud** 
     Modem..................300 baud acoustic originate** 
      
     ^^^^^^^99/7 
     Operating system ROM...8k/0.7(W) 
     Workspace RAM..........512/0.7(W) 
     Display (VDP) RAM......16K/8.0(B) 
     Internal GROM..........90K/6.0(B) 
     Sound..................TMS9919 
     Keyboard...............58 key + 4 rock switch, poll 
     ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^or interrupt. 
     Video Display..........40 char x 24 line color NTSC 
     Cassette Interface.....1 port 650 baud 2 bidirect. 
     Joystick Interface.....Dual scan/1 port 
     External I/O...........9 pin with 8 bit latched data 
     Expansion CPU RAM......64K/0.7(W) 
     Speech.................TMS0285+ 2-TMS0350 
     Printer................80 col/30 cps 
     Disk Controller........3-single density double side 
     RS232..................Dual 9600 baud 
     Modem..................300 baud acoustic 
     ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^originate/answer 
.PL 1