Indeed, the TI-99/4 and 4a, ColecoVision/Adam, MSX 1, Spectravideo SV-318/328 and Tomy Tutor are all extremely similar in audio-visual capabilities. The technology most commonly used in Tandy/Radio Shack's Color Computer line is also shared by several systems from different manufacturers, though not nearly as many as in the list prior.
Not just the same audio-visual capabilities, but the same chips! Well, nearly. the MSX/CV's usually had TMS9928 chips, which had composite/PAL video output over NTSC, which is what the TI's 9918 chip does. There's some discussion on the TI boards right now how to go about "upgrading" the TI with a 9928 for better video output. Personally, I'm all right with the NTSC signal... sure it's not sharp, but I can get sharp pixels in emulation if I'm really inclined.
Bill Loguidice wrote:
I never heard of that card for the TI. It would pretty cool if it worked properly, though more from a curiosity standpoint than a practical one (since it's probably cheaper and easier just to get the system that it's "emulating").
Yeah, it's a 3rd party creation. And it was actually for the Geneve 9640, the TMS9995 driven TI expansion system, which ran at around 12mhz. So it could perform as a classic MSX without any significant performance loss. I agree, though, I'd just get an emulator myself.
Indeed, the TI-99/4 and 4a, ColecoVision/Adam, MSX 1, Spectravideo SV-318/328 and Tomy Tutor are all extremely similar in audio-visual capabilities. The technology most commonly used in Tandy/Radio Shack's Color Computer line is also shared by several systems from different manufacturers, though not nearly as many as in the list prior.
Not just the same audio-visual capabilities, but the same chips! Well, nearly. the MSX/CV's usually had TMS9928 chips, which had composite/PAL video output over NTSC, which is what the TI's 9918 chip does. There's some discussion on the TI boards right now how to go about "upgrading" the TI with a 9928 for better video output. Personally, I'm all right with the NTSC signal... sure it's not sharp, but I can get sharp pixels in emulation if I'm really inclined.
I never heard of that card for the TI. It would pretty cool if it worked properly, though more from a curiosity standpoint than a practical one (since it's probably cheaper and easier just to get the system that it's "emulating").
Yeah, it's a 3rd party creation. And it was actually for the Geneve 9640, the TMS9995 driven TI expansion system, which ran at around 12mhz. So it could perform as a classic MSX without any significant performance loss. I agree, though, I'd just get an emulator myself.
Adam