Der Computer, der Texas Instruments ruinierte

Exclusive episodes (5-8 monthly) for supporters at https://stayforever.de/steady SF on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stay_foreve... SF on Discord:   / discord   SF Community: https://community.stayforever.de The TI-99/4A was Texas Instruments' second attempt at the home computer market: technically interesting, significantly more successful than the original TI-99/4 – and yet the story ended in disaster. Henner and Chris discuss the market launch, reception, and surprising success of the TI-99/4A, but also the ruinous price war, problematic decisions by Texas Instruments, and the abrupt end of a computer that sold millions of units and yet is remembered as a flop. 00:00:00 Introduction 00:00:35 THE TI-99/A ON THE MARKET 00:01:39 - How Texas Instruments advertised the TI-99/A 00:02:42 - Why do you need a "home computer"? 00:04:42 - Press Coverage 00:08:21 - The TI-99/A Flops 00:10:09 The Successor: TI-99/4A 00:12:49 - Market Launch 1981 00:14:55 - Improvements to the Graphics Chip 00:16:11 - Easier Expandability 00:17:59 - Press Reviews 00:18:59 Price War with Commodore 00:21:25 - Texas Instruments Lowers Prices 00:22:26 - Simplifications and Cost Savings 00:24:00 - Where is the Added Value? 00:26:35 - New Marketing Strategy 00:28:46 - The Plan Works... 00:30:42 - ...but then it doesn't 00:33:01 THE SOFTWARE PROBLEM 00:36:35 - TI Blocks Third-Party Developers 00:41:51 - Too Little In-House Software 00:42:24 - Short-Term Rethink 00:43:33 - A Generous Bonus: Tombstone City 00:44:49 - What Do TI-99/4 Users Want? 00:47:00 - Can't It Be Done Without Modules...? 00:48:28 - No more third-party cartridges 00:51:57 GAMES FOR THE TI-99/4 00:52:58 - Early games from Texas Instruments 00:54:25 - Arcade clones 00:55:26 - 1983: More third-party games 00:56:39 - Official Atari arcade ports 00:58:15 - A small but high-quality portfolio 00:59:54 - Highlight games: Parsec (1982) ... 01:03:00 - ...and Tunnels of Doom (1982) 01:03:48 - Changing perspectives 01:04:48 - Other successful games 01:05:28 - Henner's insider tip: Slymoids 01:06:45 - MB and the MBX Expansion (1983) 01:10:21 - The MBX Arrives Too Late 01:10:45 FAILURE AND END OF TI HOME COMPUTERS 01:13:07 - Texas Instruments Incurs Losses 01:14:51 - Work on Possible Successor Models 01:20:26 - Texas Instruments Withdraws 01:23:43 - Reasons for the Failure 01:28:10 THE LEGACY OF THE TI-99/4 01:28:50 - Unofficial Successors 01:31:13 - 99/4 Chips in Other Computers 01:32:46 - TI Lives On as a Chip Manufacturer