Thomson TO7

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Thomson TO7
Thomson TO-07-IMG 0414.jpg
Thomson TO7 computer on display at the Musée Bolo, EPFL, Lausanne
Developer Thomson SA
Type Home computer
Generation 8-bit
Release dateFrance: 1 December 1982;40 years ago (1982-12-01)
Lifespan1982-1984
Introductory price3750 FF
DiscontinuedMay 1984
Units soldMore than 40000 produced
Media Cassette tape, MEMO7 cartridges
Operating system BASIC (in cartridge)
CPU Motorola 6809 @ 1 MHz
Memory22  KB RAM, 4KB ROM, 16KB cartridges
Display320 x 200, 8 colours (2 colour constraint for each 8x1 pixels)
Graphics Motorola MCA1300 gate array on TO7/70 [1]
Successor Thomson TO8, Thomson TO9

The Thomson TO7, also called Thomson 9000 [2] is a home computer introduced by Thomson SA in November 1982, [3] with an original retail price of 3750 FF. [4] By 1983 over 40000 units were produced. [4] About 84 games were released for the TO7. [5] [6]

Contents

The TO7 is built around a 1  MHz Motorola 6809 processor. ROM cartridges, designed as MEMO7, can be introduced through a memory bay. The user interface uses Microsoft BASIC, included in the kit cartridge. The keyboard features a plastic membrane, and further user input is obtained through a lightpen. Cooling is provided by a rear radiator. A standard television can serve as a monitor using a RGB SCART (Peritel) connector, with a resolution of 320x200 (with 2 colors for each 8 x 1 pixels).

The TO7 prototype, called Thomson T9000, was developed in 1980. The differences regarding the production model are a different startup menu and buggier BIOS. [7]


Specifications

The Thomson TO7 runs on a Motorola 6809 processor clocked at 1 MHz and features 22 KB of RAM (8 KB for the user, 8 KB used as video memory and 8K x 6 bits color memory) and 20KB of ROM (4KB for the monitor and 16KB on MEMO7 cartridges). [8]

As common on home computers designed to be connected to an ordinary TV screen, the 320 x 200 pixels active area doesn't cover the entire screen, and is surrounded by a border. [9] Graphics were limited to 8 colours (generated by combination of RGB primaries) with proximity constraints (2 colors for each 8 x 1 pixel area). [8] [3] The video output is RGB on a SCART connector, with the refresh rate being 625-line compatible 50Hz. [8]

Audio featured a single channel sound generator with five octaves. A "game expansion" was capable of four channel, six octaves sound. [2]

The keyboard has 58 keys and includes arrow keys. [2]

Besides cartridges, the machine used cassette tapes for file storage. [2]

Thomson TO7/70

Thomson TO7-70 Thomson to7 1.jpg
Thomson TO7-70

An upgraded version, the Thomson TO7/70, was released in 1984 [10] with an introductory price of 3590 FF. [11] It was used as an educational tool in French schools under the Computing for All plan, where the TO7/70 could be used as a used a "nano-machine" terminal for the "Nanoréseau" educational network. [10]

Among improvements RAM was increased to 64 KB - "70" on the version name stands for 64+6 (64KB RAM + 6KB ROM). [12] The 6809 processor was replaced by a Motorola 6809E and the color palette was extended from 8 to 16 colors. [13]

Graphics were similar to the Thomson MO5 [14] and generated by a Motorola MCA1300 gate array [1] capable of 40×25 text display and a resolution of 320 x 200 pixels with 16 colours (limited by 8 x 1 pixel colour attribute areas). [15] [16] The colour palette is 4-bit RGBI, with 8 basic RGB colours and a intensity bit (called P for "Pastel") that controlled saturation ("saturated" or "pastel"). [9] [17]

Software developed for the TO-7 can be run on the TO-7/70, but the reverse is not possible. [10] At least three games were released for the TO7/70. [18]

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 "TO7-70 Circuit Diagram". dcmoto.free.fr.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Thomson TO7". old-computers.com.
  3. 1 2 Miné, Antoine. "Thomson TO7 Emulation in MESS". Antoine Miné's Web Site.
  4. 1 2 "Thomson TO7". Obsolete Tears. Retrieved 2022-12-21.
  5. ↑ "Thomson TO7 video games". Universal Videogame List. Retrieved 2023-01-01.
  6. ↑ "Listing of all Thomson TO7 games". The Video Games Museum. Retrieved 2023-01-01.
  7. ↑ Miné, Antoine. "Thomson T9000 Emulation in MESS". Antoine Miné's Web Site.
  8. 1 2 3 Oury, Michel (1984). Manuel Technique du TO7 et TO7-70 (PDF). Cedic.
  9. 1 2 Oury, Michel (1985). Manuel Technique du MO5 (PDF). Cedic.
  10. 1 2 3 "Thomson TO7/70". old-computers.com.
  11. ↑ "Thomson TO7/70". Obsolete Tears. Retrieved 2022-12-21.
  12. ↑ Le Guide du TO7-70 (PDF). Cedic. 1985.
  13. ↑ Miné, Antoine. "Thomson TO7/70 Emulation in MESS". Antoine Miné's Web Site.
  14. ↑ "Microton" (PDF). No. 5. March 1986. pp. 12–18.
  15. ↑ "Thomson MO5". old-computers.com.
  16. ↑ "documentations:hardware:mo5 [DON'T PANIC]". Demomaker's guide to Thomson computers.
  17. ↑ "documentations:devices:gate.arrays [DON'T PANIC]". Demomaker's guide to Thomson computers.
  18. ↑ "Thomson TO7/70 video games". Universal Videogame List. Retrieved 2023-01-01.


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