Texas Instruments TI-99/4A Keyboard?

[didjamatic]

My first "computer" was a Texas Instruments TI-99/4A.  I haven't gone to try to dig it out of my parents basement yet, but wondering if anyone knows what kind of keyboard it had.

TI-99/4A in Beige


In Black


The TI-99/4A had what they called a "full travel" keyboard and was advertised as an enhancement over the previous version.


The first TI-99/4 had a "chiclet" keyboard:


Bill Cosby approves of the 99/4A

[didjamatic]

I found this page that says TI used several manufacturers to produce their keyboards, but I suppose they could still have had one switch specification that all OEMs used.

[iMav]

That was my first computer as well.  (a silver/black TI-99/4a)

[ricercar]

My first computer was an IMSAI 8080A.



By the time the TI99 was around, I'd moved on to a Timex Sinclair.



My first hack was to place a real keyboard on it, a mechanical switch keyboard to replace the membrane thing. I had the Sinclair running on the new keyboard for a whole day before I shot +12V up the chip select and fried the sucker. grr.

[didjamatic]

@imav... Awesome, mine was the beige model, not quite as cool as the silver/black.  But I did have the silver voice synthesizer module

@ricercar...I'm jealous of that IMSAI 8080, that gives you major geek cred

[didjamatic]

I created a "first computer" thread here.  It will be interesting to see what people post.

[ricercar]

Show Image

Is that a computer or a pack of gum?

[InSanCen]

My first computer. Does anyone remember if it was clicky and full travel? cough

That is still a contender for the worst keyboard ever. I've said it on here before, and I stand by it now. Even at the time, I remember hating it. The +2 and +3 (I still have the latter) were almost like going from a Logitech dome to a Cherry in comparison.