Engineering:Texas Instruments Professional Computer: Difference between revisions
fix |
link |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{ | {{Short description|Personal computer produced by Texas Instruments}} | ||
{{Redirect|TI PC|the earlier TI home computers|TI-99/4A|the portable model|Texas Instruments Professional Portable Computer}} | |||
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2026}} | |||
The '''Texas Instruments Professional Computer''' (abbreviated '''TIPC''' or '''TI PC''') | The '''Texas Instruments Professional Computer''' (abbreviated '''TIPC''' or '''TI PC''') is a personal computer produced by [[Company:Texas Instruments|Texas Instruments]] (TI) that was released on January 31, 1983, and discontinued around 1985; the TIPC is a desktop PC and the [[Engineering:Texas Instruments Professional Portable Computer|Texas Instruments Professional Portable Computer]] (TIPPC) is a portable version that is fully compatible with it. Both computers were most often used by white-collar [[Knowledge worker|information workers]] and professionals that needed to gather, manipulate and transmit information. | ||
==Features and specifications== | ==Features and specifications== | ||
The TIPC is very similar to the IBM PC both architecturally and from a user-experience perspective, with some technically superior aspects. It is based on the [[Engineering:Intel 8088|Intel 8088]] CPU and an optional [[Intel 8087]] [[Floating-point unit|floating point coprocessor]]. It supports [[Software:MS-DOS|MS-DOS]]-compatible [[Operating system|operating system]]s, but is not a fully IBM PC compatible computer. Alternative operating systems are CP/M-86, Concurrent CP/M-86, and the UCSD p-System.<ref name=TIPCbrochure>{{cite web |url=https://classic.technology/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/texasinstrumentsprofcomputer.pdf |title=Texas Instruments Professional Computer |publisher=[[Company:Texas Instruments|Texas Instruments]] |via=Classic Computer Brochures | | The TIPC is very similar to the IBM PC both architecturally and from a user-experience perspective, with some technically superior aspects. It is based on the [[Engineering:Intel 8088|Intel 8088]] CPU and an optional [[Intel 8087]] [[Floating-point unit|floating point coprocessor]]. It supports [[Software:MS-DOS|MS-DOS]]-compatible [[Operating system|operating system]]s, but is not a fully IBM PC compatible computer. Alternative operating systems are CP/M-86, Concurrent CP/M-86, and the UCSD p-System.<ref name="TIPCbrochure">{{cite web |url=https://classic.technology/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/texasinstrumentsprofcomputer.pdf |title=Texas Instruments Professional Computer |publisher=[[Company:Texas Instruments|Texas Instruments]] |via=Classic Computer Brochures |date=1983 |access-date=November 4, 2021 }}</ref> | ||
The CPU clocks at 5 MHz (a bit faster than the 4.77 MHz of the IBM PC) and has 64 KB of RAM pre-installed. A RAM board can be installed in an expansion slot providing an additional 192 KB or RAM, for a maximum of 256 KB. A later version supports up to 768 KB of total memory.<ref name=Byte1983/><ref name= | The CPU clocks at 5 MHz (a bit faster than the 4.77 MHz of the IBM PC) and has 64 KB of RAM pre-installed. A RAM board can be installed in an expansion slot providing an additional 192 KB or RAM, for a maximum of 256 KB. A later version supports up to 768 KB of total memory.<ref name="Byte1983"> | ||
{{cite magazine |last=Haas |first=Mark |date=December 1983 |title=The Texas Instruments Professional Computer – Daring to be somewhat different |url=https://archive.org/details/byte-magazine-1983-12/page/n287 |magazine=Byte |location=Peterborough, New Hampshire |publisher=McGraw-Hill |volume=8 |issue=12 |pages=286–324 |access-date=November 4, 2021 }} | |||
</ref><ref name="LowEndMac">{{cite web |last=Knight |first=Daniel |date=December 19, 2015 |url=https://lowendmac.com/2015/texas-instruments-personal-computers/ |title=Texas Instruments' Personal Computers |work=LowEndMac |access-date=November 4, 2021 }}</ref> The computer featured 5 expansion slots and has either a 12-inch [[Physics:Phosphor#Standard phosphor types|green-phosphor]] monochrome ([[Engineering:Cathode-ray tube|CRT]]) monitor or a 12-inch color monitor with a color graphics resolution of {{Times|720|300}} pixels.<ref name="Byte1983" /><ref name="LowEndMac" /><ref name="TIPCbrochure" /> For text, the display shows 25 lines of 80 columns each.<ref name="TIPCbrochure" /> The device has a 5¼-inch [[Floppy disk|floppy disk]] drive and can support a second floppy drive or a "Winchester" hard drive without requiring the use of an expansion slot or separate chassis, and typically features one of each.<ref name="Byte1983" /><ref name="TIPCbrochure" /> | |||
The keyboard has a different layout for the arrow keys and is quieter than the IBM PC.<ref name=Byte1983/> The keyboard has 57 typewriter keys, 5 cursor control keys, 12 function keys and a separate 18-key numeric keypad area. The keyboard has "infinite height adjustment from 5 to 15 degrees slope and connects to the system unit with a telephone-type coiled cord so you can position the keyboard for greatest comfort (even use it in your lap)". The computer also has the capability to map the keyboard keys to characters to support arbitrary user customization of the keyboard layout. The keyboard ordinarily supports 256 distinct characters to enable international use, and the character set can be expanded to 512 characters for special-purpose applications. A light is provided to indicate uppercase mode selection.<ref name=TIPCbrochure/> | The keyboard has a different layout for the arrow keys and is quieter than the IBM PC.<ref name="Byte1983" /> The keyboard has 57 typewriter keys, 5 cursor control keys, 12 function keys and a separate 18-key numeric keypad area. The keyboard has "infinite height adjustment from 5 to 15 degrees slope and connects to the system unit with a telephone-type coiled cord so you can position the keyboard for greatest comfort (even use it in your lap)". The computer also has the capability to map the keyboard keys to characters to support arbitrary user customization of the keyboard layout. The keyboard ordinarily supports 256 distinct characters to enable international use, and the character set can be expanded to 512 characters for special-purpose applications. A light is provided to indicate uppercase mode selection.<ref name="TIPCbrochure" /> | ||
[[Speech synthesis]] and [[Speech recognition|speech recognition]] were added after the initial release, including support of natural-language queries with a [[Relational database|relational database]].<ref name=TIPCbrochure/> | [[Speech synthesis]] and [[Speech recognition|speech recognition]] were added after the initial release, including support of natural-language queries with a [[Relational database|relational database]].<ref name="TIPCbrochure" /> | ||
==Reception== | ==Reception== | ||
''The Rosen Electronics Letter'' in February 1983 said that the Professional "comes with a full array of features and a price that should help it win in competition with the IBM PC". Noting TI's decision to follow the PC's MS-DOS and Intel 8088 standards, the newsletter approved of the "impressive array of more than 100 packages" available immediately, as well as a Z80 SoftCard and TI's proprietary speech technology. ''Rosen'' predicted that the Professional "should be one of the year's biggest successes ... although we'd rather it had been completely compatible with the PC", adding that "we know of one case (and there will be many)" where a customer chose the PC because of "the name, the trustworthiness and most important of all the identity of IBM".<ref | ''The Rosen Electronics Letter'' in February 1983 said that the Professional "comes with a full array of features and a price that should help it win in competition with the IBM PC". Noting TI's decision to follow the PC's MS-DOS and Intel 8088 standards, the newsletter approved of the "impressive array of more than 100 packages" available immediately, as well as a Z80 SoftCard and TI's proprietary speech technology. ''Rosen'' predicted that the Professional "should be one of the year's biggest successes ... although we'd rather it had been completely compatible with the PC", adding that "we know of one case (and there will be many)" where a customer chose the PC because of "the name, the trustworthiness and most important of all the identity of IBM".<ref>{{Cite news |date=February 22, 1983 |title=Pegasus Trots |url=https://cdn.oreillystatic.com/radar/r1/02-83.pdf |work=The Rosen Electronics Letter |pages=1–3 |access-date=June 5, 2025 }}</ref> | ||
''Personal Computer World'' in May 1983 was surprised that TI did not use its own CPU in Professional. The magazine approved of the hardware design and documentation, and found that the natural-language interface worked well if slowly. ''PCW'' questioned Professional's ability, however, to challenge the PC's dominance: "I liked the machine as long as I thought about it as a new business machine from TI — I got a little worried about it when I thought of it as an IBM PC work-alike".<ref | ''Personal Computer World'' in May 1983 was surprised that TI did not use its own CPU in Professional. The magazine approved of the hardware design and documentation, and found that the natural-language interface worked well if slowly. ''PCW'' questioned Professional's ability, however, to challenge the PC's dominance: "I liked the machine as long as I thought about it as a new business machine from TI — I got a little worried about it when I thought of it as an IBM PC work-alike".<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Webster |first=Robin |date=May 1983 |title=TI Professional |url=https://archive.org/details/PersonalComputerWorld1983-05/page/152/mode/2up?view=theater |magazine=Personal Computer Wold |page=152 |volume=6 |issue=5 |access-date=June 6, 2025 }}</ref> | ||
''Byte'' in December 1983 praised its "well, wonderful" keyboard and quality design, and said that the display "is one of its most outstanding features". The magazine reported that [[BASIC]] 1.1 was buggy and had poor documentation, but that 1.2 had fixed the bugs and a much improved manual. ''Byte'' concluded that for non-novice buyers willing to purchase most peripherals from TI, the Professional was "a machine that is superior in many ways. It invites a closer look".<ref name=Byte1983 | ''Byte'' in December 1983 praised its "well, wonderful" keyboard and quality design, and said that the display "is one of its most outstanding features". The magazine reported that [[BASIC]] 1.1 was buggy and had poor documentation, but that 1.2 had fixed the bugs and a much improved manual. ''Byte'' concluded that for non-novice buyers willing to purchase most peripherals from TI, the Professional was "a machine that is superior in many ways. It invites a closer look".<ref name="Byte1983" /> | ||
''InfoWorld'' in November 1984 said that the Professional desktop and portable had not been very successful, despite good reviews.<ref | ''InfoWorld'' in November 1984 said that the Professional desktop and portable had not been very successful, despite good reviews.<ref>{{cite magazine | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oC4EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA47 | title=Mainframe BUNCH Goes Micro |magazine=InfoWorld | date=November 5, 1984 | access-date=January 6, 2015 |last=Bartimo |first=Jim | pages=47–50 }}</ref> | ||
==Software== | ==Software== | ||
There are 11 commercial games, all from Infocom:<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.arcade-history.com/index.php?page=database&listtypes=580 |title=Arcade-History |website=Arcade-History.com |access-date= }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mocagh.org/infocom/infocom-catalog3.pdf |title=Infocom Catalogue |website=Mocagh.org |access-date= }}</ref> | |||
There are 11 commercial games, all from Infocom<ref> | |||
{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible" | {| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible" | ||
|- | |- | ||
|Deadline | ! Name | ||
|Infocom | ! Publisher | ||
|- | |||
| Deadline | |||
| Infocom | |||
|- | |- | ||
|Enchanter | | Enchanter | ||
|Infocom | | Infocom | ||
|- | |- | ||
|Infidel | | Infidel | ||
|Infocom | | Infocom | ||
|- | |- | ||
|Planetfall | | Planetfall | ||
|Infocom | | Infocom | ||
|- | |- | ||
|Sorcerer | | Sorcerer | ||
|Infocom | | Infocom | ||
|- | |- | ||
|Starcross | | Starcross | ||
|Infocom | | Infocom | ||
|- | |- | ||
|Suspend | | Suspend | ||
|Infocom | | Infocom | ||
|- | |- | ||
|The Witness | | The Witness | ||
|Infocom | | Infocom | ||
|- | |- | ||
|Zork I | | Zork I | ||
|Infocom | | Infocom | ||
|- | |- | ||
|Zork II | | Zork II | ||
|Infocom | | Infocom | ||
|- | |- | ||
|Zork III | | Zork III | ||
|Infocom | | Infocom | ||
|} | |} | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
{{ | {{Reflist}} | ||
[[Category:Microcomputers]] | [[Category:Microcomputers]] | ||
{{Sourceattribution|Texas Instruments Professional Computer}} | {{Sourceattribution|Texas Instruments Professional Computer}} | ||
Latest revision as of 22:25, 5 April 2026
The Texas Instruments Professional Computer (abbreviated TIPC or TI PC) is a personal computer produced by Texas Instruments (TI) that was released on January 31, 1983, and discontinued around 1985; the TIPC is a desktop PC and the Texas Instruments Professional Portable Computer (TIPPC) is a portable version that is fully compatible with it. Both computers were most often used by white-collar information workers and professionals that needed to gather, manipulate and transmit information.
Features and specifications
The TIPC is very similar to the IBM PC both architecturally and from a user-experience perspective, with some technically superior aspects. It is based on the Intel 8088 CPU and an optional Intel 8087 floating point coprocessor. It supports MS-DOS-compatible operating systems, but is not a fully IBM PC compatible computer. Alternative operating systems are CP/M-86, Concurrent CP/M-86, and the UCSD p-System.[1]
The CPU clocks at 5 MHz (a bit faster than the 4.77 MHz of the IBM PC) and has 64 KB of RAM pre-installed. A RAM board can be installed in an expansion slot providing an additional 192 KB or RAM, for a maximum of 256 KB. A later version supports up to 768 KB of total memory.[2][3] The computer featured 5 expansion slots and has either a 12-inch green-phosphor monochrome (CRT) monitor or a 12-inch color monitor with a color graphics resolution of 216000 720 × 300 pixels.[2][3][1] For text, the display shows 25 lines of 80 columns each.[1] The device has a 5¼-inch floppy disk drive and can support a second floppy drive or a "Winchester" hard drive without requiring the use of an expansion slot or separate chassis, and typically features one of each.[2][1]
The keyboard has a different layout for the arrow keys and is quieter than the IBM PC.[2] The keyboard has 57 typewriter keys, 5 cursor control keys, 12 function keys and a separate 18-key numeric keypad area. The keyboard has "infinite height adjustment from 5 to 15 degrees slope and connects to the system unit with a telephone-type coiled cord so you can position the keyboard for greatest comfort (even use it in your lap)". The computer also has the capability to map the keyboard keys to characters to support arbitrary user customization of the keyboard layout. The keyboard ordinarily supports 256 distinct characters to enable international use, and the character set can be expanded to 512 characters for special-purpose applications. A light is provided to indicate uppercase mode selection.[1]
Speech synthesis and speech recognition were added after the initial release, including support of natural-language queries with a relational database.[1]
Reception
The Rosen Electronics Letter in February 1983 said that the Professional "comes with a full array of features and a price that should help it win in competition with the IBM PC". Noting TI's decision to follow the PC's MS-DOS and Intel 8088 standards, the newsletter approved of the "impressive array of more than 100 packages" available immediately, as well as a Z80 SoftCard and TI's proprietary speech technology. Rosen predicted that the Professional "should be one of the year's biggest successes ... although we'd rather it had been completely compatible with the PC", adding that "we know of one case (and there will be many)" where a customer chose the PC because of "the name, the trustworthiness and most important of all the identity of IBM".[4]
Personal Computer World in May 1983 was surprised that TI did not use its own CPU in Professional. The magazine approved of the hardware design and documentation, and found that the natural-language interface worked well if slowly. PCW questioned Professional's ability, however, to challenge the PC's dominance: "I liked the machine as long as I thought about it as a new business machine from TI — I got a little worried about it when I thought of it as an IBM PC work-alike".[5]
Byte in December 1983 praised its "well, wonderful" keyboard and quality design, and said that the display "is one of its most outstanding features". The magazine reported that BASIC 1.1 was buggy and had poor documentation, but that 1.2 had fixed the bugs and a much improved manual. Byte concluded that for non-novice buyers willing to purchase most peripherals from TI, the Professional was "a machine that is superior in many ways. It invites a closer look".[2]
InfoWorld in November 1984 said that the Professional desktop and portable had not been very successful, despite good reviews.[6]
Software
There are 11 commercial games, all from Infocom:[7][8]
| Name | Publisher |
|---|---|
| Deadline | Infocom |
| Enchanter | Infocom |
| Infidel | Infocom |
| Planetfall | Infocom |
| Sorcerer | Infocom |
| Starcross | Infocom |
| Suspend | Infocom |
| The Witness | Infocom |
| Zork I | Infocom |
| Zork II | Infocom |
| Zork III | Infocom |
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 "Texas Instruments Professional Computer". Texas Instruments. 1983. https://classic.technology/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/texasinstrumentsprofcomputer.pdf.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Haas, Mark (December 1983). "The Texas Instruments Professional Computer – Daring to be somewhat different". Byte (Peterborough, New Hampshire: McGraw-Hill) 8 (12): 286–324. https://archive.org/details/byte-magazine-1983-12/page/n287. Retrieved November 4, 2021.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Knight, Daniel (December 19, 2015). "Texas Instruments' Personal Computers". LowEndMac. https://lowendmac.com/2015/texas-instruments-personal-computers/.
- ↑ "Pegasus Trots". The Rosen Electronics Letter: pp. 1–3. February 22, 1983. https://cdn.oreillystatic.com/radar/r1/02-83.pdf.
- ↑ Webster, Robin (May 1983). "TI Professional". Personal Computer Wold 6 (5): 152. https://archive.org/details/PersonalComputerWorld1983-05/page/152/mode/2up?view=theater. Retrieved June 6, 2025.
- ↑ Bartimo, Jim (November 5, 1984). "Mainframe BUNCH Goes Micro". InfoWorld: 47–50. https://books.google.com/books?id=oC4EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA47. Retrieved January 6, 2015.
- ↑ "Arcade-History". https://www.arcade-history.com/index.php?page=database&listtypes=580.
- ↑ "Infocom Catalogue". https://www.mocagh.org/infocom/infocom-catalog3.pdf.
 |  |
