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Thomson TO8

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Thomson TO8D
ManufacturerThomson SA
Release date1986; 38 years ago (1986)
Introductory price2,990 FF
Discontinued1989; 35 years ago (1989)
Operating systemBasic 512, Basic 1.0 and Disk Basic
CPUMotorola 6809E, 1 MHz
Memory256 KB (512 KB max.) RAM
80 KB ROM
StorageDisk drive, tape (optional)
Display160 x 200 (16 or 5 colors)
320 x 200 (2, 3, 4 or 16 colors)
640 x 200 (2 colors)
GraphicsThomson EF9369
Soundgenerator + 1 bit D/A converter 6 bits
Input81 keys AZERTY keyboard, light pen
Controller inputjoystick, mouse
Backward
compatibility
Thomson TO7/70
PredecessorThomson TO7/70
SuccessorThomson 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 (256KB) and better graphics modes (powered by the Thomson EF9369 graphics chip), are shared with the other third 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 colors 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" floppy drive.

References

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  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.
  3. ^ a b "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 (in French) (41): 42. October 1986.
  6. ^ "La gamme TO de Thomson" (PDF). Canard PC Hardware HS (in French) (HS 6): 80. 2016.
  7. ^ a b Coulom, Daniel. "TO8D Circuit Diagram". DCMOTO - Site de référence des ordinateurs 8 bits Thomson (in French).
  8. ^ a b EF9369 Single Chip Color Palette. Thomson Componentes.
  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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