Thomson TO16

The Thomson TO16 or Thomson TO16PC is a PC compatible^[1] personal computer introduced by French company Thomson SA in 1987,^[2][3] with prices ranging from 9000 to 16000 FF^[4] depending on the version.

Thomson TO16

Also known as	Thomson TO16PC
Manufacturer	Thomson SA
Release date	1987; 38 years ago (1987)
Introductory price	9000 to 16000 FF
Operating system	MS-DOS 3.2
CPU	Intel 8088 @ 4.77 or 9.54 MHz (turbo mode)
Memory	512 KB expandable to 768 KB
Storage	5"1/4 floppy discs
Graphics	MDA, Hercules, CGA and Plantronics Colorplus compatible graphic card
Sound	PC Speaker
Connectivity	RS-232, printer port
Backward compatibility	IBM PC
Related	Thomson TO16PCM, Thomson TO16XPDD, Thomson TO16XPHD

Prototype

The original concept was a machine similar to the Macintosh. Based on this the Thomson TO16 prototype (codename Théodore) was built around a Motorola 68000 processor with an Intel 82716 graphics chipset.^[5] The operating system chosen was OS-9,^[1] a preemptive multitasking system similar to Unix. It also featured an integrated 20MB SCSI hard drive.

Work on the prototype was carried on between 1985 and 1988, with five machines built.^[6][7] This concept was abandoned in favor of a PC compatible architecture, with the TO16 model designation being kept.^[7]

Specifications ^[8]

• Motorola 68000 @ 8 MHz CPU
• 2 MB RAM
• Two video modes: 320×200 with 256 colors; 640×270 with 16 colors
• Mouse
• 3½" floppy drive
• 20 MB SCSI hard drive

Thomson TO16

The Thomson TO16 is a IBM PC compatible machine,^[1] running MS-DOS 3.2 with MS-DOS Manager and GW-BASIC.^[4][9] The CPU is an Intel 8088 capable of running at 9.54Mhz on turbo mode with 512KB of RAM and a CGA graphic card with expanded abilities.^[1]

Specifications

• CPU Intel 8088 running at 4.77 or 9.54 MHz
• support for Intel 8087 co-processor
• 512 KB of RAM, expandable to 768 KB on the motherboard.
• 32 KB of ROM
• IBM Monochrome Display Adapter, Hercules Graphics Card, CGA and Plantronics Colorplus compatible graphic card^[1]
• Internal 5"1/4 360 KB disc drive
• Two ISA expansion slots
• Connections for an external disk drive
• RS-232C Serie and Centronics Parallel (Micro ribbon connector) interfaces
• Optional Modem

Hardware versions

The original TO16 model was expanded into four variations by adding extra hardware, such as a modem or hard drive.^[4]

• Thomson TO16PC: original and most basic version
• Thomson TO16PCM : 2400 bauds modem
• Thomson TO16XPDD : two disc drives^[10]
• Thomson TO16XPHD : 20 MB hard drive, color monitor and EGA graphics^[1]