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;42 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 1.0 (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)
Successor Thomson TO7/70

The Thomson TO7, also called Thomson 9000 [1] is a home computer introduced by Thomson SA in November 1982, [2] with an original retail price of 3750 FF. [3] By 1983 over 40000 units were produced. [3] About 84 games were released for the TO7. [4] [5]

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. [6]

An updated version with more memory capacity, the Thomson TO7/70, was released in 1984. [7] [8]

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). [9]

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. [10] Graphics were limited to 8 colours (generated by combination of RGB primaries) with proximity constraints (2 colors for each 8 x 1 pixel area). [9] [2] The video output is RGB on a SCART connector, with the refresh rate being 625-line compatible 50Hz. [9]

Audio featured a single channel sound generator with five octaves. A "game expansion" was capable of four channel, six octaves sound. [1]

The keyboard has 58 keys and includes arrow keys. [1]

Besides cartridges, the machine used cassette tapes for file storage. [1]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Thomson TO7". old-computers.com.
  2. 1 2 Miné, Antoine. "Thomson TO7 Emulation in MESS". Antoine Miné's Web Site.
  3. 1 2 "Thomson TO7". Obsolete Tears. Retrieved 2022-12-21.
  4. ↑ "Thomson TO7 video games". Universal Videogame List. Retrieved 2023-01-01.
  5. ↑ "Listing of all Thomson TO7 games". The Video Games Museum. Retrieved 2023-01-01.
  6. ↑ Miné, Antoine. "Thomson T9000 Emulation in MESS". Antoine Miné's Web Site.
  7. ↑ "Thomson TO7/70". old-computers.com. Archived from the original on 2023-10-02.
  8. ↑ "Thomson TO7/70". Obsolete Tears. Retrieved 2022-12-21.
  9. 1 2 3 Oury, Michel (1984). Manuel Technique du TO7 et TO7-70 (PDF). Cedic.
  10. ↑ Oury, Michel (1985). Manuel Technique du MO5 (PDF). Cedic. p. 10. ISBN   2-7124-0552-8. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2022-10-18.


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