Omnimaga

Calculator Community => TI Calculators => ASM => Topic started by: utz on September 12, 2013, 08:58:06 am

Title: 82 Parcus documentation
Post by: utz on September 12, 2013, 08:58:06 am
I've searched everywhere for some proper documentation on the TI-82 "Parcus" and ROM 19.006, and so far haven't found much except the modified crash.inc (http://www.ticalc.org/archives/files/fileinfo/286/28682.html) by Jumbo and the 82-rom.txt (http://www.ticalc.org/pub/text/calcinfo/82rom_19.006.txt) by Lindqvist and Justesen.

So I thought let's start a thread for collecting documentation about the Parcus, TI-OS 19.006, and possibly other more obscure Z80 models.

One thing I've confirmed now is that the Parcus uses TI-83 style link port management. That means the correct values for the link port are $D0..$D3 rather than $FC/$C0/etc.

There might be something different about key handling, too. Today I managed to crash HoustonTracker by pressing the VARS key, which dutifully acts as stop button in all other versions. Will update this post if I can find out more.
Title: Re: 82 Parcus documentation
Post by: chickendude on September 12, 2013, 10:53:42 am
I've never heard of the Parcus, is it related to Rom 19.006?
Title: Re: 82 Parcus documentation
Post by: DJ Omnimaga on September 12, 2013, 12:26:40 pm
Yeah it's the one with ROM 19.006 that also had a design similar to the TI-82 Stats, TI-82 Stats.Fr and TI-76.Fr. It came out in 2001 during the final few years of the TI-82 life. One year earlier the TI-83 Parcus came out too.

http://datamath.org/Graphing/ZOOM_TI-82_1.htm

Ironically, the TI-83 Parcus model came out one year after the TI-83 Plus and the TI-83 Plus never saw a Parcus redesign. ???

Title: Re: 82 Parcus documentation
Post by: Streetwalrus on September 12, 2013, 12:34:26 pm
Parcus calcs are ugly IMHO. :P
Title: Re: 82 Parcus documentation
Post by: utz on September 12, 2013, 01:28:07 pm
Parcus calcs are ugly IMHO. :P

Not just that, they seem to be made from the cheapest plastic available, the keys feel akward, and the link port is a joke. Mine already starts to wear out after using it maybe 10 times.

Ironically, the TI-83 Parcus model came out one year after the TI-83 Plus and the TI-83 Plus never saw a Parcus redesign. ???

Fortunately it didn't, one might add. But well, it's not too late yet... maybe TI will release one in order to try and cash in on "developing" markets.


Wait what, there's an 83 Parcus? Oh boy... And as luck has it, it seems to use a different ROM and display driver, too.

Sorry for the load of edits ;)
Title: Re: Re: 82 Parcus documentation
Post by: DJ Omnimaga on September 12, 2013, 05:27:13 pm
I think the 83+ will instead be redesigned into a 84+ like calc if it ever gets a redesign, much like the newer TI-83 Plus.Fr and TI-73 models. Not sure why TI didn't keep their designs uniform over the years (Parcus and Pocket models).

That said, the worst calculator design in history of mankind gotta be the TI-Nspire Clickpad model (the baby-powder blue model that is ridiculously large and thick on one end.)
Title: Re: 82 Parcus documentation
Post by: FloppusMaximus on September 13, 2013, 12:38:34 am
Hardware-wise?  It is, as far as I know, exactly the same hardware as the TI-83 Parcus, except that it has a 128k ROM chip instead of 256k.  So, indeed, the link port works the same way as on the 83, as does the battery testing circuit.

Software-wise, of course, it's still an 82 inside, and apart from the changes needed to support the new hardware, there's not much that was changed in the OS.
Title: Re: 82 Parcus documentation
Post by: utz on October 24, 2013, 10:05:13 am

Ironically, the TI-83 Parcus model came out one year after the TI-83 Plus and the TI-83 Plus never saw a Parcus redesign. ???

Fortunately it didn't, one might add. But well, it's not too late yet... maybe TI will release one in order to try and cash in on "developing" markets.


Wait what, there's an 83 Parcus? Oh boy... And as luck has it, it seems to use a different ROM and display driver, too.

Can't believe I actually got one of those ugly mofus now. And sure enough it contains mystery ROM number 1.10001 /facepalm
Will see what surprises this one holds. Probably 8xp style link port values? Already was very interesting to see that the actual "Transmit Backup" function doesn't quite work. Instead you just bring up the Transmit Backup screen (but don't press anything there), then hit the backup button in TiLP and it will start transmitting automatically.  ??? Or is that normal procedure on 83? Anyway will keep ya'll updated ;)
Title: Re: 82 Parcus documentation
Post by: DJ Omnimaga on October 24, 2013, 05:00:52 pm
I think it's good to have one as a programmer, though, because it helps you beta-testing programs. I personally don't mind the redesign for the 82 but I liked the 83 like 82 model better, along with the 83 that looks like the 83+.

I think the TI-82 Stats has the same ROM as the 83 Parcus.
Title: Re: 82 Parcus documentation
Post by: utz on October 24, 2013, 09:13:17 pm
I think it's good to have one as a programmer, though, because it helps you beta-testing programs.

Yep, that's pretty much why I bought it. Now I just need an 83+ and my testing setup will be more or less complete, save for the obscure ones.

I think the TI-82 Stats has the same ROM as the 83 Parcus.

Did some reading, this seems indeed to be the case. In fact, the 83 Parcus and the 82 STATS are exactly the same machine. Which is good news for me, because I don't need to get an 82 STATS for the time being, then. They are way overpriced on the bay over here.
Title: Re: 82 Parcus documentation
Post by: DJ Omnimaga on October 24, 2013, 10:14:39 pm
Indeed. As for the 82 Stats.Fr, I think the ROM is just translated to French with no other change, but the hardware is supposed to be different. IIRC it's similar to the 83+, but there is no way to install a 83+ OS on it without modifying the hardware to access the Flash or something I think.

And yeah 82 Stats prices are insane O.O (it's nothing compared to 2009 Classpad 300 prices, tho. I remember seeing them for $380+ sometiems)
Title: Re: 82 Parcus documentation
Post by: Streetwalrus on October 25, 2013, 03:40:37 am
Indeed. As for the 82 Stats.Fr, I think the ROM is just translated to French with no other change, but the hardware is supposed to be different. IIRC it's similar to the 83+, but there is no way to install a 83+ OS on it without modifying the hardware to access the Flash or something I think.
I can run regular TI-83 programs on my 82stats.fr, though. It uses the same hardware as the 83+ but the flash is write protected and phisically locked to prevent access to the higher 256KB of it.
Title: Re: 82 Parcus documentation
Post by: TIfanx1999 on October 25, 2013, 08:30:15 am
I think it's good to have one as a programmer, though, because it helps you beta-testing programs.

Yep, that's pretty much why I bought it. Now I just need an 83+ and my testing setup will be more or less complete, save for the obscure ones.

I think the TI-82 Stats has the same ROM as the 83 Parcus.

Did some reading, this seems indeed to be the case. In fact, the 83 Parcus and the 82 STATS are exactly the same machine. Which is good news for me, because I don't need to get an 82 STATS for the time being, then. They are way overpriced on the bay over here.
Indeed. As for the 82 Stats.Fr, I think the ROM is just translated to French with no other change, but the hardware is supposed to be different. IIRC it's similar to the 83+, but there is no way to install a 83+ OS on it without modifying the hardware to access the Flash or something I think.

And yeah 82 Stats prices are insane O.O (it's nothing compared to 2009 Classpad 300 prices, tho. I remember seeing them for $380+ sometiems)

I actually lucked out and found one on Ebay for $24 with shipping. :D
Title: Re: 82 Parcus documentation
Post by: DJ Omnimaga on October 26, 2013, 11:48:12 am
Wow lucky! In my case, whenever I saw one a few years ago it was between $50 and 100 CDN, but they charged $50 shipping. I'm certainly not paying $150 for a calculator that I got for $20 a few years ago under the TI-83 name. I would like a 76.Fr as collectible, though.