SMRTR TechJun 1, 2026TechRadar

Texas Instruments had plans for personal computer domination - a price war nearly brought it to ruin

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Texas Instruments, known for pioneering the silicon transistor, integrated circuit, and handheld calculator, tried to dominate the personal computer market with its TI-99/4A in 1981. A brutal price war with Commodore forced TI to sell the device at a loss, eventually below $100. The conflict cost TI $400 million in losses across two quarters in 1983, leading to the product's discontinuation and the company's first-ever quarterly loss.

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