Recommended model: Original TI-99/4A
The original black-and-silver TI-99/4A is the most common model, and it looks the most retro, which earns it extra coolness points. The later beige-colored model works just as well but might have minor compatibility issues. Texas Instruments also released an earlier TI-99/4 (with no "A" in the model name), but that machine is exceedingly rare and is better left to collectors. In fact, we named the TI-99/4 one of the "The 10 Worst PCs of All Time."
Availability: Very common
Expect to pay: $10 to $30
Examples: $10 for a bare-bones working TI-99/4A with power and video cables. $30 for a working unit with cables, speech synthesizer, joysticks, and a handful of cartridges.
Photo by Steven Stengel
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