Thomson MO5
1984 French computer model / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Dear Wikiwand AI, let's keep it short by simply answering these key questions:
Can you list the top facts and stats about Thomson MO5?
Summarize this article for a 10 year old
The Thomson MO5 is a home computer introduced in France in June 1984[2] to compete against systems such as the ZX Spectrum and Commodore 64. It had a release price of 2390 FF.[3]
Manufacturer | Thomson SA |
---|---|
Release date | 1984; 40 years ago (1984) |
Introductory price | 2390 FF |
Discontinued | 1986; 38 years ago (1986) |
Media | Cassette tape, Cartridges |
Operating system | MO5 BASIC 1.0 |
CPU | Motorola 6809E @ 1 MHz |
Memory | 32 KB RAM, 16 KB VRAM |
Display | 320x200, 8 colours with 2 saturation variations, 2 colours per 8x1 pixel area |
Graphics | EFGJ03L gate array[1] |
Sound | 1-bit square wave |
Input | Keyboard, Lightpen |
Controller input | Joystick |
Connectivity | Expansion port |
Successor | Thomson MO6 |
Related | Thomson TO7/70 |
At the same time, Thomson also released the up-market Thomson TO7/70 machine. The MO5 was not sold in vast quantities outside France and was largely discontinued in favour of the improved Thomson MO6 in 1986.
MO5s were used as educational tools in French schools for a period (see Computing for All, a French government plan to introduce computers to the country's pupils), and could be used as a "nano-machine" terminal for the "Nanoréseau" educational network.[4]
The computer boots directly to the built-in Microsoft BASIC interpreter (MO5 Basic 1.0).[2]