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Throughout 1982 I begged my parents for a ZX Spectrum, after reading all about it in the computer magazines we had in our public library for months. On Christm

Throughout 1982 I begged my parents for a ZX Spectrum, after reading all about it in the computer magazines we had in our public library for months. On Christmas morning, I woke up to a BASIC program running on the TV screen welcoming me to my brand new TI-99 4/A. Probably a better choice for us as I don’t think I knew anyone else in the US with a Spectrum. I still have the TI, it’s upgraded to HDMI output using an FPGA replacement for the display processor, and has all the software ever released for it installed on one cartridge. Fun to break it out when the family gathers for holidays. There’s even some modern game development going on that really shows how capable the old hardware was, but was limited by primitive software development tools and practices. https://circuitmaker.com/Projects/Details/Matthew-Hagerty/F18A-rev-B https://circuitmaker.com/Projects/Details/Matthew-Hagerty/F1... https://endlos99.github.io/finalgrom99/ https://endlos99.github.io/finalgrom99/

noobermin 5y ago
On the modern game dev around 80's machines, there is a sort of rebirth of 80's computing lately. I was born in the 90's but I learned 6502 asm to make an NES demo and now this thing is a hobby of mine. Since it's the same cpu (albeit pretty different arch) I'm learning about the C64 too now. It sounds like the TMS9900 has a very different architecture with the workspace idea although it looks like the ti-99 4/a only allowed you to do this scheme with only 128 words. The idea itself sounds pretty cool.
the_af 5y ago
A bit of advice: never let go of your TI. You'll regret it after a few years, when nostalgia and the urge to turn it back on strikes again. It happened to me as a middle aged guy when I remembered the C64 my dad sold in order to buy me my first PC XT. That's why I ended up buying a retro clone of my cherished C64, TheC64. ARM-inside running VICE, but it looks and behaves a lot like a real C64. It has a real keyboard and you can use it to program, not just run games.
- noobermin 5y ago
  A decade later but the games I had growing up for the N64 and gamecube now cost a pretty penny. I've learned now to buy the best games for modern systems physical because in 2040 I don't want to have to pay $200 to play metroid dread
JasonFruit 5y ago
I had both a Spectrum (actually the Timex-Sinclair 1000) and a TI-994/A. The TI was a lot more capable, but having the Spectrum first was a good gradual learning experience. I think it was a great way to get into computing and gain the lifelong attitude that the computer does what I tell it, not what someone else thinks it should do for me.
- jhbadger 5y ago
  The Timex-Sinclair 1000 wasn't a version of the Spectrum -- it was instead a version of Sinclair's previous machine, the ZX-81. The 2068 was the Spectrum-based machine. The ZX-81/TS 1000 was B&W and had no graphics (other than what could be created by special characters). The Spectrum/TS 2068 had color and graphics.
  - kingcharles 5y ago
    I'll raise your "no graphics" with the ZX81 demo scene: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZd9fxS8mNg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZd9fxS8mNg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7L2sN05RLSM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7L2sN05RLSM

noobermin 5y ago

On the modern game dev around 80's machines, there is a sort of rebirth of 80's computing lately. I was born in the 90's but I learned 6502 asm to make an NES demo and now this thing is a hobby of mine. Since it's the same cpu (albeit pretty different arch) I'm learning about the C64 too now. It sounds like the TMS9900 has a very different architecture with the workspace idea although it looks like the ti-99 4/a only allowed you to do this scheme with only 128 words. The idea itself sounds pretty cool.

the_af 5y ago

A bit of advice: never let go of your TI. You'll regret it after a few years, when nostalgia and the urge to turn it back on strikes again. It happened to me as a middle aged guy when I remembered the C64 my dad sold in order to buy me my first PC XT. That's why I ended up buying a retro clone of my cherished C64, TheC64. ARM-inside running VICE, but it looks and behaves a lot like a real C64. It has a real keyboard and you can use it to program, not just run games.

noobermin 5y ago
A decade later but the games I had growing up for the N64 and gamecube now cost a pretty penny. I've learned now to buy the best games for modern systems physical because in 2040 I don't want to have to pay $200 to play metroid dread

JasonFruit 5y ago

I had both a Spectrum (actually the Timex-Sinclair 1000) and a TI-994/A. The TI was a lot more capable, but having the Spectrum first was a good gradual learning experience. I think it was a great way to get into computing and gain the lifelong attitude that the computer does what I tell it, not what someone else thinks it should do for me.

jhbadger 5y ago
The Timex-Sinclair 1000 wasn't a version of the Spectrum -- it was instead a version of Sinclair's previous machine, the ZX-81. The 2068 was the Spectrum-based machine. The ZX-81/TS 1000 was B&W and had no graphics (other than what could be created by special characters). The Spectrum/TS 2068 had color and graphics.
- kingcharles 5y ago
  I'll raise your "no graphics" with the ZX81 demo scene: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZd9fxS8mNg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZd9fxS8mNg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7L2sN05RLSM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7L2sN05RLSM