Micropendium Volume 1 Number 2

Inside this issue: We bring you stories about Tl99/4A compatible hard ware, games you can play on your TI home computer, an update on the Phoenix, a look into the future, a glance back to the past, in fact there's so much that we couldn't possi-

Micropendium Volume 1 Number 2

March 1984 Micropendium (Home Computer Compendium) Front Cover
Editor	Laura Burns
Categories	Home Computers, TI-99/4A
Publisher	John Koloen
Country	USA
Based in	Round Rock, Texas
Language	English

What's next for home computer users?

It's hard to believe, but the TI99/4A has been around for less than three years and already it's out of production. But that's the way it is in high tech. Here today, gone (or upgraded) tomorrow.

So what's next for TI home computer users?

I don't have a crystal ball so I won't pretend to have all the answers. But there are many indications that the TI home computer market is not quite like any other, and I think its uniqueeness will play in the favor of TI owners.

Why?

For one thing, regardless of how many TI consoles are on the market I've seen figures ranging from a low of one million to a high of four million the perception among vendors is that the market is large enough to support many product lines.

My personal view is that the "real" TI market is much smaller than one million. No doubt, many who purchased the 99/4A during the fourth quarter of 1983 have already tucked it away in a closet. There are also those who, having purchased the computer, either do not have the income or the desire to expand the system. That leaves those users who like, the system and have or are in the process of expanding it. This is the real market that vendors want.

Here are some predictions about what may happen in the home computer market:

1. Diversification: Just about everybody who has been depending on the TI market exclusively is or will be diversifying. However. few will be closing their books on the TI home computer.

2. New Companies: Now that the big cheese is out of the market, the little cheeses will be able to come in from the sidelines and call some plays. I'm not talking about companies forming to deal with the TI market exclusively. I'm talking about established companies creating TI product divisions to sell products for the TI home computer that they've been selling to users of other brands.

3. NeW Products: Don't look for anyone to pick up the rights to the TI99/4A, despite what you hear. The only companies foolhardy enough to do this are in the red ink business. Do look for lots of TI compatible hardware, starting with Cor-Comp's 99/64. Also. look for increased interest in such peripheral devices as light pens and graphics pads.

4. NewSoftware: Yes, you'll be hearing a lot about new software. Actually, much of it will be old software translated or adapted for use by the TI home computer. Despite the current trend, not all of it will be cartridge-based. There are limitations to using cartridges as the medium for software distribution. In fact, any "serious" software developments will require disk drives and memory expansions. Even TI couldn't get TI-Writer or Microsoft Multiplan to work out of a cassette recorder. Look, too, for a good database program that will run using the Extended BASIC cartridge and expansion memory.

5. New Publications: There will be a greater diversity of publications for TI and compatible computers. It's clear that no one publication can serve the needs of all TI users. However, these publications will be oriented toward a specific TI audience. They will be smaller than the general interest computer publications that you find on newsstands. but they will be packed with information that is useful to TI users. Why is this? Look at the former 99er Magazine. It never developed the kind of advertising support it needed to compete .in the general market. Rather than keep its focus on a market that was not growing very rapidly, it chose to expand its market by including other computers and, hence, advertisers.

So much for now.

— JK

Feedback

GROM solutions

I would like to share the following with your readers. This is something that we just encountered.

When TI built the silver and black 99/4A units. a built-in problem was provided at no extra cost. A felt pad is positioned around the slot where the command module's card plugs into the computer's GROM connector. This felt pad is used to burnish (clean) the contacts of the command module's card when inserted.

This is where the problem begins. The material in the felt pad builds up lint inside the GROM connector (and inside the command module) that prevent the contacts of the two frommating. This causes many rather weird things to happen. For example:

1. After inserting the module and initializing the system. the cursor quits flashing (indicating computer lock-up).
2. After inserting the module and initializing the system, the keyboard comes "alive" and randomly provides a character that can not be stopped unless the computer is turned off.
3. And, after inserting the module and initializing the system, if you grasp the module and move it from side to side. either number 1 or 2 listed about will occur.

To correct this problem, the GROM connector and module contacts must be cleaned from time to time. Caution must be used, however. DO NOT attempt to clean the GROM connector when the computer is on: DO NOT use anything sharp or metallic: and DO NOT use excessive pressure or force.

What I recommend is a very thin, long-bristled brush with a wooden handle. With one hand open the door covering the GROM connector to remove any lint build-up. Blowing into the connector occasionally will also help remove the lint. (A can of compressed air would even be better but I didn't have any).

I've helped fix two computers with this problem so far. Each computer was approximately one year old at the time when it really acted up.

I would also like to point out that the article you published in the February issue entitled "GROM Problems" (User Notes) is exactly what I just addressed. However, that article did not fix the problem. In fact. in my opinion. I would not even recommend placing the matchbook cover beneath the module!

Chuck Moats
President
Cedar Valley 99er Users Group
Marion, Iowa<be>

Adventuring

I have both the TI99/4 and the TI99/4A, furthermore, I have what I believe to be the most complete system for the TI system. I am 38 years old and still a child at heart. Therefore, I have always purchased each and every command module available, with the exception of those designed for very young children. I consider the game cartridges as adult material and have hours of fun playing games. With the Scott Adams' adventure series already mastered (with the exception of Adventure 14-Return To Pirate Isle ... which I'm working on now) as well as numerous other computer text-adventures solved, I consider myself a real adventure fan. Therefore, I must take offense to your opinion as to the "anomaly" of the Jack and the Beanstalk adventure available from Tex-Soft. I never had a syntax error during my own adventure with this game. Furthermore, I would say that of all the text adventure games available to date for the TI that the Beanstalk adventure ranks number one. Far ahead of all others, it gives the seasoned adventurer a real run for the money and still offers the novice adventurer a firm beginning for future adventuring. Perhaps you fail to realize what other adventures have to offer in comparison to value.

Still, you have a point. Value is in the eye (or mind) of the buyer. I know of no better value, all things considered, for the time and money spent than that of adventuring, and the Beanstalk Adventure is an excellent buy. I do realize that your review was in itself favorable and I feel that if you do indeed go on other adventures you'll realize that your single negative problem with the "error messages" produced in adventuring were not the real fault of the adventure but rather the fault of the adventurer himself.

I look forward to future issues of your magazine and hope that you have an enjoyable and profitable "adventure" in your publication.

D. Larry Gibson
Kettering, Ohio

The Feedback column is for readers. It is a forum to communicate with other readers. The editor will condense excessively lengthy submissions where necessary. We ask that writers restrict themselves to one subject for the sake of simplicity. Our only requirement is that items be of interest to persons who use the TI99/4A home computer. Mail Feedback items to: Home Computer Compendium, P.O. Box 1343, Round Rock, TX 78680.