Thomson TO8

Thomson TO8
Manufacturer	Thomson SA
Released	1986; 40 years ago
Introductory price	2,990 FF
Discontinued	1989; 37 years ago
Operating system	Basic 512, Basic 1.0 and Disk Basic
CPU	Motorola 6809E, 1 MHz
Memory	256 KB (512 KB max.) RAM; 80 KB ROM
Storage	Disk drive, tape (optional)
Display	160 × 200 (16 or 5 colours); 320 × 200 (2, 3, 4 or 16 colours); 640 × 200 (2 colours)
Graphics	Thomson EF9369
Sound	generator + 1 bit D/A converter 6 bits
Input	81-key AZERTY keyboard, light pen
Controller input	joystick, mouse
Backward; compatibility	Thomson TO7/70
Predecessor	Thomson TO7/70
Successor	Thomson TO9+

The Thomson TO8 is a home computer introduced by French company Thomson SA in 1986, with a cost of 2,990 FF.^[1]^[2]^[3] It replaces its predecessor, the Thomson TO7/70, while remaining essentially compatible.^[4]^[3]

The new features of the TO8, like larger memory (256 KB) and better graphics modes (powered by the Thomson EF9369 graphics chip), are shared with the other second generation Thomson computers (MO6 and TO9+).^[5]^[6]^[7]^[8]

The TO8 has a tape drive and Microsoft BASIC 1.0 (in standard and 512 KB versions)^[9] on its internal ROM, and there is an optional external floppy drive. Graphics were provided by the Thomson EF9369 chip, allowing the display of 16 colours from a palette of 4096.^[7]^[8]

More than 120 games exist for the system.^[10]^[11]

An improved version, the Thomson TO8D, includes a built-in 3.5-inch floppy drive.

References

↑ Garret, Yann (September 1986). "Thomson présente sá nouvelle gamme". Science & Vie Micro (in French). No. 31. pp. 106–107. ISSN 0760-6516.
↑ "THOMSON TO 8 - TO 8D". OLD-COMPUTERS.COM : The Museum.
1 2 "THOMSON JOUE LES LAPINS" (PDF). Hebdogiciel Magazine (in French) (150). August 29, 1986.
↑ Miné, Antoine. "Thomson TO8 Emulation in MESS". Antoine Miné's Web Site.
↑ "La nouvelle gamme Thomson" (PDF). Jeux & Stratégie [fr] (in French) (41): 42. October 1986.
↑ "La gamme TO de Thomson" (PDF). Canard PC Hardware HS (in French) (HS 6): 80. 2016.
1 2 Coulom, Daniel. "TO8D Circuit Diagram". DCMOTO - Site de référence des ordinateurs 8 bits Thomson (in French).
1 2 EF9369 Single Chip Color Palette. Thomson Components.
↑ Alexis AMAND, Alexis (2022). "Retrogaming et (re)découverte du Thomson TO8". Alexis AMAND - Développement Web et SEO (in French). Retrieved 2022-12-21.
↑ "Thomson TO8 video games". Universal Videogame List. Retrieved 2023-01-01.
↑ "Listing of all Thomson TO8 games". The Video Games Museum. Retrieved 2023-01-01.

External links

Thomson TO8/O8D at Old-Computers.com
(in French) Émulation du Thomson TO8 sous MESS, site of Antoine Miné

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[auto2-1] Garret, Yann (September 1986). "Thomson présente sá nouvelle gamme". Science & Vie Micro (in French). No. 31. pp. 106–107. ISSN 0760-6516.

[2] "THOMSON TO 8 - TO 8D". OLD-COMPUTERS.COM : The Museum.

[:0-3] 1 2 "THOMSON JOUE LES LAPINS" (PDF). Hebdogiciel Magazine (in French) (150). August 29, 1986.

[4] Miné, Antoine. "Thomson TO8 Emulation in MESS". Antoine Miné's Web Site.

[5] "La nouvelle gamme Thomson" (PDF). Jeux & Stratégie [fr] (in French) (41): 42. October 1986.

[6] "La gamme TO de Thomson" (PDF). Canard PC Hardware HS (in French) (HS 6): 80. 2016.

[auto1-7] 1 2 Coulom, Daniel. "TO8D Circuit Diagram". DCMOTO - Site de référence des ordinateurs 8 bits Thomson (in French).

[auto-8] 1 2 EF9369 Single Chip Color Palette. Thomson Components.

[9] Alexis AMAND, Alexis (2022). "Retrogaming et (re)découverte du Thomson TO8". Alexis AMAND - Développement Web et SEO (in French). Retrieved 2022-12-21.

[10] "Thomson TO8 video games". Universal Videogame List. Retrieved 2023-01-01.

[11] "Listing of all Thomson TO8 games". The Video Games Museum. Retrieved 2023-01-01.

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Thomson TO8

References

External links