Texas Instruments TI-99/4A

The TI-99/4A was released in 1981 as a home computer from Texas Instruments. It became known for bringing a 16-bit processor into a consumer computer sold through the early home-computing market.

It uses the 16-bit TMS9900 processor. The chip was powerful for its era, although the computer's overall design included hardware and memory choices that affected how software could use that capability.

The TI-99/4A used plug-in cartridges as a major way to distribute software. Cartridges made games and programs easy to load, but the system was less open than many later home computers that relied mainly on cassettes or disks.

The computer is remembered for a distinctive keyboard design that differed from the full-travel keyboards used by many competing systems. Its appearance and cartridge slot are among the easiest ways to identify the 1981 machine.