TI-990

The TI-990 refers to a family of 16-bit minicomputers manufactured by Texas Instruments (TI) starting in the mid-1970s. These machines were designed for business and industrial applications, offering a range of performance and features depending on the specific model. The TI-990 architecture was notable for its emphasis on memory management and supported both real-time and multi-user operating systems.

Key features of the TI-990 series included a 16-bit central processing unit (CPU), various memory addressing modes, and a peripheral input/output (I/O) bus. The series supported a variety of programming languages including assembly language, FORTRAN, and COBOL. TI offered a range of peripherals and software for the TI-990, catering to different application needs.

The TI-990 family can be seen as a precursor to some of the technologies and concepts later implemented in other TI products, including elements that found their way into the design of the TI-99/4 and TI-99/4A home computers. However, the TI-990 should not be confused with those home computer systems, as it targeted a different market segment and possessed significantly more advanced capabilities. While less well-known than some of its competitors, such as the Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) PDP series or the Data General Nova, the TI-990 played a role in the development of minicomputing technology and the expansion of computing into various business and industrial environments.