--- title: Thomson MO5 E categories: - Computers types: - Home Computer origins: - France years: - '1985' cpus: - Motorola 6809e params: name: MO5 E company: /companies/thomson company_name: Thomson specs: - label: NAME value: MO5 E - label: MANUFACTURER value: Thomson - label: TYPE value: Home Computer - label: ORIGIN value: France - label: YEAR value: May 1985 - label: BUILT IN LANGUAGE value: Microsoft Basic 1.0 - label: KEYBOARD value: QWERTY/AZERTY depending models, full-stroke keyboard. Arrow keys, SHIFT, BASIC key, INS (insert), EFF (delete), ACC (accent), STOP, CNT (continue), CLEAR (cls), HOM (home), RESET button - label: CPU value: Motorola 6809e - label: SPEED value: 1 MHz - label: RAM value: 32 KB (31008 bytes free) - label: VRAM value: 16 KB - label: ROM value: 4 KB (monitor) + 12 KB (Basic) - label: TEXT MODES value: 40 x 25 - label: GRAPHIC MODES value: 320 x 200 - label: COLORS value: '16' - label: SOUND value: one channel, 5 octaves (7 octaves, 3 channels with the joystick extension) - label: SIZE / WEIGHT value: 440 x 84 x 231 mm - label: I/O PORTS value: Light pen connector, Tape interface (1200 bauds), SCART (PAL or SECAM depending models) video connector (RGB + synchro + sound), Cartridge slot (Memo5), Expansion bus, Centronics interface, RF TV video output, 2 x joystick connectors (Atari standard) - label: POWER SUPPLY value: Power supply built-in - label: PERIPHERALS value: Printer interface, Superimpose expansion, Quick Disk Drive expansion, Disk drives tabs: - photos - hardware - software - emulators - links - videos photos: - title: MO5E subtitle: '' text: '' image: null - title: RIGHT SIDE subtitle: '' text: 'Here, there are the same connectors found on all MO5 versions : light-pen connector (left) and tape interface (right).' image: null - title: TOP subtitle: '' text: MO5E systems were, at the origin, special MO5 versions dedicated to exportations (hence the "E"). So they had a QWERTY keyboard layout. But later, MO5E were also produced for the French market (and especially for education), with an AZERTY layout. image: null - title: BOTTOM subtitle: '' text: '' image: null - title: CARTRIDGE SLOT subtitle: '' text: This is the same cartridge slot found on all MO5 systems (MEMO5 format). But on the MO5E and MO5NR they are designed differently. The protective trap door pivots back to reveal the cartridge connector. image: null - title: FRONT CONNECTORS subtitle: '' text: These connectors are only found on the MO5E and MO4NR versions. They are Atari-standard joystick connectors. The big black button next to them is the new RESET button. image: null - title: REAR subtitle: '' text: |- **1** - SCART connector\ **2** - RF TV video output\ **3** - Expansion connector\ **4** - Centronics interface connector\ **5** - Power cord (the power supply unit is built-in the MO5E) image: null hardware: - title: 5.25'' DISK DRIVE subtitle: 320 KB model text: This 5.25'' disk-drive offers a 320 KB capacity (40 tracks > 16 sectors > 256 bytes) and a built-in controller. image: /media/museum/hardware/thomson_to7_diskdrive_2.jpg - title: DISK CONTROLLER subtitle: CD 90-351 text: This interface was used to connect a disk drive or a Quick Disc Drive (QDD) to a TO-7, TO-7/70, MO5 or MO6. image: /media/museum/hardware/thomson_to7_disk-interface.jpg - title: JOYSTICK MODULE subtitle: '' text: Dual Atari compatible joysticks module image: /media/museum/hardware/thomson_to9_joymodule_1.jpg - title: MUSIC & GAME MODULE subtitle: CM 90-112 text: This module offers two joystick connectors (Videopac joysticks can be used) and adds three channels to the TO-7 or MO-5 (resulting in a total of 4 voices). Sadly, these new sound features were scarcely used in games... image: /media/museum/hardware/thomson_to7_joy-interface.jpg - title: 'MUSIC & GAME MODULE #2' subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/hardware/thomson_mo5_musicetjeu_s1.jpg - title: ORDI 94 subtitle: Joystick Interface text: This interface enables Atari joysticks to be used with TO-7, TO-7/70 and MO5. It was sold by Ordivisuel under the name Ordi 94. image: /media/museum/hardware/thomson_to7_joy-atari.jpg - title: PRINTER PR-90 080 subtitle: '' text: 80 columns dot-matrix printer which was a rebadged version of the Seikosha GP-80 image: /media/museum/hardware/thomson_to7_imp_pr90-080.jpg - title: PRINTER PR-90 600 subtitle: '' text: 80-column 9-pin dot matrix printer. A rebadged version of the Seikosha SP-1000 with graphics capabilities image: /media/museum/hardware/thomson_to9_imppr90_600_1.jpg screenshots: - title: SCREENSHOT subtitle: '' text: 'The sofware of the MO5E is identical to the original MO5: Basic Microsoft 1.0 and 31008 bytes free.' image: null emulators: - title: DCMO5 url: http://dcmo5.free.fr/ platform: Windows text: Thomson MO5 emulator for PC - title: DCMO5 Gamer Edition url: HTTP://DCMO5.FREE.FR platform: Windows text: Easy to use emulator, to run MO5 games without knowing MO5 commands - title: DCMO6 url: http://dcmo6.free.fr/ platform: Windows text: Thomson MO5NR, Thomson MO6 and Olivetti Prodest PC128 emulator for PC - title: DCMOTO url: http://dcmoto.free.fr/ platform: Windows text: Universal 8-bit Thomson emulator for Windows. Emulates Thomson MO5, MO5E, MO5NR, MO6, T9000, TO7/70, TO8, TO8D, TO9, TO9+ and Olivetti Prodest PC128 ! - title: DCTO7 and DCTO8 url: http://dcto7.free.fr/ platform: Windows text: Thomson T9000, TO7/70, TO8, TO8D emulator for Windows - title: TODC url: http://www.jplang.fr.st/ platform: Other platform text: No, you are not dreaming. This is a TO-7/70 emulator for the Dreamcast game system ! links: - title: AmiTO8 url: http://membres.lycos.fr/amito8/data/Accueil.html text: Amiga / Thomson dedicated site. Some original stuff there! - title: Christophe's Lair url: http://lair.thomsonistes.org/ text: Lot of stuff here, a must see site (french) - title: Collection Thomson url: http://gfournier.free.fr/ text: Another great site with tons of documentation - title: DCMOTO url: http://dcmoto.free.fr/ text: Excellent site !! Home of the DCMOTO emulator. Lot od documentations and software to download. A must see ! - title: DOCUMENTATION url: http://dcmo5.free.fr/onlinedoc/ text: Oirignal user documentation ! - title: Forum Thomson url: http://forumthomson2001.free.fr/forum01.htm text: Get in contact with other Thomson fans (in french) - title: MOTO, le site Des micros Thomsons url: http://www.multimania.com/tonews/ text: Some info about the Thomson computers (french) - title: Nostalgies Thomsonistes url: http://nostalgies.thomsonistes.org/ text: Excellent site dedicated to Thomson computers (french) - title: Thomatoes url: http://wiki.forler.ch text: Thomson Wiki - title: www.logicielsmoto.com url: http://www.logicielsmoto.com/home.php text: Fantastic site! Very big software library and much more! videos: - title: MO5 french TV commercial url: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPr7NeqMobc text: 'Length: 31 s' comments: - author: Alejandro Corral (Granada) date: Thursday 20th March 2003 text: Hello... That computer was sold on Spain too, I remember my cousin to buy one on Madrid, with a few games... I have it now with cassete. related: - /museum/olivetti-prodest-pc-128 - /museum/thomson-mo-5 - /museum/thomson-mo-6 - /museum/thomson-mo5-nr - /museum/thomson-to-7 - /museum/thomson-to-7-70 - /museum/thomson-to-8-to-8d - /museum/thomson-to-9 - /museum/thomson-to-9-plus oc_id: 838 source: url: https://web.archive.org/web/20230608162343/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=838 date: '2023-06-08' --- The Thomson MO5E was first revealed at the "Hannover Messe" (Germany) in april 1985. It was a big suprise for the french press as no-one ever heard of this system before. The MO5E ("E" presumably for Exportation) was reserved for Germany and more generaly for foreign markets. Quite surprising when you know that while Thomson was selling this system to Germans and other countries, French could only buy the first version of the [MO5](/museum/thomson-mo-5/) with rubber keys, external power supply and no joystick connectors. Moreover, the MO5E with a light pen and a Quick Disk Drive was sold cheaper than the rubber-keys MO5 alone in France!!! The MO5E is in fact a MO5 in a different case. The general look of this MO5 seems more "serious" than the original one with its big beige plastic case; closer anyway to the brand new systems that was released at that time (Commodore 128, Atari XE & ST line, etc.). The QWERTY keyboard is a real full-stroke one, with separated arrow & editing keys. The Memo5 cartridge slot is protected by a flipping plastic door, at the top of the case, just above the keyboard. But the main differences are found elsewhere, when looking at the different connectors. First, two joystick connectors (Atari standard) are found at the front of the system, along with a big black reset button and a red power LED. This means that the MO5E has the "Music & Games" expansion built-in! Indeed, the original MO5 has no joystick connectors, you have to buy this expansion. It also add more music features to the system resulting in 4 voices and 7 octaves. Looking at the back of the system, it is also quite different from the classic MO5. From left to right can be found a SCART female connector (not a SCART cord like MO5), RF TV video output which doesn't exist on the MO5, an expansion connector, a Centronics interface connector (not present on a MO5) and a the power cord meaning that the power supply unit is built-in the MO5E, which is also different from a MO5 which has a bulky external one. The on/off power button is placed on the left side of the system. From a software point of view, both systems are identical. They both have the Microsoft Basic 1.0 (Level 5) found on the original MO5. The free RAM memory is also identical : 31008 bytes. In fact, the MO5E is completely compatible with the original MO5. The MO5E didn't have great success abroad, and was, in fact, mainly sold in France to schools and border areas... Specific French models (with SECAM video output) were even produced as AZERTY models can be found.
We need more info about this computer ! If you designed, used, or have more info about this system, please send us pictures or anything you might find useful.