PR Newswire

February 22, 1983, Tuesday

LENGTH: 360 words

DATELINE: DALLAS, Feb. 22



DALLAS, Feb. 22 /PRN/ -- Texas Instruments Incorporated announced
today that it is discussing with the Consumer Products Safety
Commission a proposed distribution by TI of a transformer adapter
cord to all known owners of its 99/4A home computers.  The adapter
cord is designed to protect against a potential defect in a model of
the AC9500 transformer, which is purchased by TI from an outside
supplier and sold with the computer.  Although no incidents have been
reported among the hundreds of thousands of TI home computer users,
the company said that it has recently determined that, under certain
unusual conditions, there is a remote possibility that transformer
failure could give rise to an electrical shock hazard for the
computer operator or damage to the computer itself.  The company
emphasized that, under normal usage, it is extremely unlikely that
the conditions necessary for a hazard to develop would arise. 
   The transformer is the small black box, which is connected
between the wall outlet and the computer.  It is a completely
separate unit from the computer.
  TI also said it will implement a "GREEN LABEL SAFETY CHECK"
program with all retailers, to equip existing inventory with either
the adapter cord or a replacement transformer.  To indicate to the
consumer that the safety check has been completed, a green label will
be placed on the box of 99/4A home computers on the retail shelf.
Shipments of home computers have been temporarily delayed, pending
availability of adapter cords or replacement transformers.  TI said
that any TI 99/4A owners who did not send in a rebate card or
warranty card and who may, therefore, be unknown to the company may
obtain an adapter cord by calling the following toll free numbers:
800-858-4565, 800-527-3550, 800-858-4069, or 800-858-1802.
  TI said at this time it is not able to predict the extent of the
effect of this program on the earnings of TI for 1983, although the
company expects its first quarter 1983 earnings to be substantially
below those of the fourth quarter 1982.