Thomson TO7

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]

Thomson TO7

Thomson TO7 computer on display at the Musée Bolo, EPFL, Lausanne
Developer	Thomson SA
Type	Home computer
Generation	8-bit
Release date	France: 1 December 1982; 42 years ago (1982-12-01)
Lifespan	1982-1984
Introductory price	3750 FF
Discontinued	May 1984
Units sold	More than 40000 produced
Media	Cassette tape, MEMO7 cartridges
Operating system	Basic 1.0 (in cartridge)
CPU	Motorola 6809 @ 1 MHz
Memory	22 KB RAM, 4KB ROM, 16KB cartridges
Display	320 x 200, 8 colours (2 colour constraint for each 8x1 pixels)
Successor	Thomson TO7/70

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

• Computing for All, a French government plan to introduce computers to the country's pupils
• Thomson TO7/70