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Grillo Parlante ^ Clementoni (Speak & Spell by Texas Instruments)

September 10th, 2009 4 comments
Grillo Parlante (Speak & Spell)

Autopsy:

  • Powersupply 6 volt DC v1.2A with positive tip polarity.

from Wikipedia:

The Speak & Spell line is a series of electronic handheld educational toys created by Texas Instruments that consist of a speech synthesizer, a keyboard, and a receptor slot to receive one of a collection of ROM game library modules (collectively covered under US patent 3934233 ).

The first Speak & Spell was introduced at the summer Consumer Electronics Show in June 1978, making it one of the earliest handheld electronic devices with a visual display to use interchangeable game cartridges.

In 1983, the Speak & Spell was redesigned. The change was even more minute, however, representing nothing more substantial than a redesign of the faceplate graphics.

This version was marketed first in Italian as Grillo Parlante (lit. Speaking Cricket), and then later in the United States and England as the Speak & Spell, and in France as the Dictée Magique again.

source: wikipedia speaknspell.co.uk

Texas Instruments TI-99/4A with some Extra Accessories

August 6th, 2009 1 comment
Texas Instruments TI-99/4A

Autopsy:

from Wikipedia:

The Texas Instruments TI-99/4A was an early home computer, released in June 1981, originally at a price of USD $525.

It was an enhanced version of the less-successful—and quite rare—TI-99/4 model, which was released in late 1979 at a price of $1,150. The TI-99/4A added an additional graphics mode, “lowercase” characters comprised of small capitals, and a full travel keyboard. Its predecessor, the TI-99/4, featured a calculator-style chiclet keyboard and lacked any provision for lowercase text.

The TI-99/4A’s CPU, motherboard, and cartridge (“Solid State Software”) slot were built into a single console, along with the keyboard. The power supply board (linear in early systems, switching in later systems) was housed below and in front of the cartridge slot under the sloped area to the right of the keyboard.

source: wikipedia 99er.net

Categories: Gallery, Texas Instruments