In the Mid-70s, the company Texas Instruments decided to enter in the emerging home computer market. Based on the 990 processor family a computer was developed, which is today known as the first 16 bit true home computer. In 1979 the 99/4 came on the U.S. market. However, a few months later, for technical reasons production and sale stopped.
Early 1980 the improved model 99/4A appeared. In addition to a proper computer keyboard (the 99/4 only had rubber keys) it also had a improved ROM with 3 different character sets and various other features. Thus equipped and with the entertainer Bill Cosby as main advertising medium the TI99/4A could conquer within a very short time the U.S. market. During the year 1980 it came to Europe, too. Here in Europe it was mainly in Germany and Great Britain successfully. Worldwide more than 4 million TI99/4A were sold, of which nearly 1 million alone in Germany.
But already the end of 1980 also other vendors such as Commodore and Atari try to enter in this booming market. This resulted was a fall in prices of basic equipment (consoles). This was initially favorable to private users, because prices fell to a level where pupils and students could afford a computer (for TI-99/4A from about 2000DM in the summer of 1980 to about 700DM in autumn 1981). In the beginning the TI99/4A could even argue against the C-64 because it had better expansion capabilities possessed and was easier to program. Unfortunately Texas Instruments failed to capitalize on this advantage. Expensive software and poor availability of modules and expansion cards in conjunction with a "black box" philosophy prevented further spread.
1983 things came to a big price war between Atari, Commodore, Sinclair and Texas Instruments. Prices fell through the floor. Texas Instruments indeed changed its previous policy, also developed multiple trackers for the 99/4A, but probably it was already too late. For us users surprisingly the production was stopped in December 1983. Yet completed units have been sold at a loss.
This was the birth of the TI-clubs and several small companies. In Germany such companies existed until the early 90s, in America they still exist. Clubs are still around in the the world. The TI99/4A lives on, and there are several follow-up models and countless hardware and software enhancements. And more, nowadays not only collectors but also PC users , who took their first steps on a TI99/4A, discover, that this machine still more has to offer and can make more joy than the fastest and most expensive PC.