The hardware available with the 9900 Micro-Expansion System includes an RS232 card, 32K memory card and disk controller card. This unit is about the size of two TI speech synthesizers placed side by side. The cards may be purchased separately or as a package. The RS232 card offers serial and parallel ports. The 32K card is compatible with all TI cartridges. The company says all hardware will include extensive documentation.
Prices on the 9900 Micro-Expansion System are: RS232 stand-alone unit (1 serial and l parallel port), $149.95; RS232 stand-alone unit with 32K RAM and disk controller card, $399.95; upgrade kit for second RS232 port, $14.95; and upgrade kit for 32K RAM and disk controller, $289.45. Prices on the 9900 expansion cards for use with the TI Peripheral Expansion Box are: 32K RAM card, $135.95; RS232 card (2 serial and l parallel port), $117.95; disk controller card with disk manager software, $199.95; and cable assembly for internal drive, $18.85.
Prices on The disk controller card promises to be the 9900 expansion cards greatest asset for use with the those who already have a TI Peripheral Expansion Box are: 32K RAM card, $135peripheral expansion box.95; RS232 The card (2 serial and l parallel port)is capable of handling up to four double-sided, $117double-density 5.95; 25-inch floppy disk controller drives. The TI card was designed for use with disk manager software, $199.95; and cable assembly for internal drive, $18.85up to three drives.
The disk controller card promises tobe the greatest asset for those whoalready have a TI peripheral expansionbox. The card is capabie of handlingup to four double-sided, doubledensity5.25-inch floppy disk drives.The TI card was designed for use withup to three drives.Included with the CorComp card is adisk-based formatter than will do whatTl's disk manager cartridge does andmore, according to CorComp. Theformatter will let TI users utilizedouble-density disks for the first time(provided they have double-densitydrives), essentially doubling theamount of storage they have hadavailable to them using Tl's disk controllercard, which is designed forsingle-density use. A CorComp spokeswomansaid the card will fit in anyTI peripheral expansion box.· The CorComp disk manager programwill permit users to load and runassembly language programs, such asTI Forth, without using the TI Editor/Assembler cartridge, the companysays. The disk controller card also providesseveral new commands notavailable previously on the TI card.CorComp says the card will allowusers to peek and poke into CPU andVDP RAM, among other things. The disk controller card also allowsthe user to set the head seek times forall four drives, permitting use ofnewer, faster drives with the system. The company says the disk controllerloads files 2-4 times faster thanthe TI disk controller. The 99000 Expansion System isdesigned to be compatible with theTI99/4A and CorComp's own newcomputer when it is ready for themarket. It is priced at $549.95. It isabout one-half the size of Tl's peripheralexpansion box and utilizes asystem motherboard. Two half-heightdrives can be installed in it or one fullheight drive. It features a flexiblecable to link the expansion system tothe TI99/4A, eliminating the bulky TIcable that links the TI PEB with theconsole. Included with the CorComp 99000Expansion System are an RS232 cardwith two TI-compatible serial portsand one Centronics parallel port, 32Kmemory card and a double-sided,double-density disk controller card.The controller has the same featuresas the card already described. The motherboard provides locationsfor future auxiliary cards, the companysays. The new hardware products arebeing shipped to dealers during April,CorComp says. The company is offering TI usergroups a special price on a single CorCompproduct through its User GroupProduct Review Program. Usergroups are asked to provide a reviewof the product to CorComp in exchangefor the price break. For more information, write: CorCompInc., 23461 Ridge Route Dr.,Suite H, Laguna Hills, CA 92653.
