This DS990/1 system was the basic model of the DS990 series which was also comprised of the 990/2, 990/4, 990/10 and 990/12 models. They were targeted as multi-user business systems, and ran the DX10 then the DNOS (Distributed Network Operating System) OS's.
The 990/1 was the only version including its own video display, although up to three serial dumb video terminals could be connected as well. Other versions had a separate main unit managing several terminals, mass storage and printers.
The core of the system was a true 16-bit microprocessor, the TMS-9900, also made by T.I., and mounted later in the first 16-bit home computer, the TI-99/4. Apart from the dumb terminals, interface cards allowed to connect a serial printer and a single or dual 8" floppy disk unit.
I have obtained a DS990 Model 1 and FD1000 dual disk drive assembly and currently restoring it as best as I can, after it sat in someones shed for many many years. I do not have any original disks, nor any physical documentation.
Seems like this machine is overshadowed by the other 990/* systems, along with the 99/4A. I can hardly find software specifically for this machine. Even then, I''m not 100$ sure how to get the disk images onto the 8" floppy disks this machine reads. I am hoping that once I finish cleaning the dual Qume drives, I''ll be able to build up a PC interface and use some fancy utility to read and write disk images accordingly. Who knows if that is even possible...
Monday 29th January 2018
John (Australia)
Please can anyone help me to locate any of the software for this machine? I have a DS990 Model 1 with FD1000.
Thursday 4th January 2018
Ross Milbourne (England)
I used to look after our own and our customers systems which were DS 990 12 and so on multiple terminals mostly with 96 meg phoenix drives some with remote clusters supporting 911vdt terminals largest system was 30 terminals on three sites mostly business systems with the occasional one used for a library or similar they wern't much bother except for disk crashes and the ksr printers which lost sync pulses and jammed whilst printing
Monday 24th September 2007
Keith Winterburn (USA)
NAME
DS990
MANUFACTURER
Texas Instruments
TYPE
Professional Computer
ORIGIN
U.S.A.
YEAR
1980
END OF PRODUCTION
Unknown
BUILT IN LANGUAGE
None
KEYBOARD
88 key with numeric and arrow keypads, 10 function keys and 8 state led
