Thomson computers

In the 1980s the French Thomson company produced a range of 8-bit computers based on the 6809E CPU.[1] They were released in a lot of models variations (mostly concerning the keyboard or color of the casing) from late 1982 to 1989.

While MO and TO models are incompatible in software, most of the peripherals and hardware were compatible.

First generation
  • Thomson MO5: released in 1984 in order to honor the "Plan Informatique pour Tous". Supplied with 48K RAM (32K available to user in Basic 1.0) and first released with a rubber keyboard. Later it featured a mechanical keyboard. It was edited in a limited edition with a white casing, named "MO5 Michel Platini".
  • Thomson MO5E: had a different casing and was aimed at export, featuring a mechanical keyboard, a parallel port, two joystick ports, an internal PAL modulator and an integrated power supply.
  • Thomson TO7: produced from 1982 to 1984. Supplied with 24K RAM (16K used by the video) and upgradable into 48K. 8 color display.
  • Thomson TO7/70: 1984 version with more RAM (64K, upgradable into 128K) and 16 color display.

Second generation
  • Thomson TO9 : released in late 1985. Separate keyboard and central unit, 128K RAM and a 3½-inch floppy disk drive.
  • Thomson MO5NR: released in 1985-1986. This is a MO6 in a MO5E casing, with an integrated network interface, the nanoréseau (nano network), which was used in French schools.
  • Thomson MO6 : Released in 1986. 128K RAM and built in tape recorder.
  • Thomson TO8 : released in late 1986. 256K RAM, 80K ROM with Microsoft Basic 512, extra video modes.
  • Thomson TO9+ : released in late 1986, Separate keyboard and central unit, 512K RAM with a built in modem and a 3½-inch floppy disk drive.
  • Thomson TO8D : released in late 1987, it was a TO8 with a 3½-inch floppy disk drive.
  • Olivetti Prodest PC128 : Same as Thomson MO6, were sold in Italy as Olivetti Prodest PC128.

PC compatible
  • Thomson TO16 : released in September 1987. 8088 based IBM compatible PC.

References
  1. http://www.old-computers.com/museum/company.asp?st=1&m=132
  • Theodore, multi-platform Thomson 8-bit emulator
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