website/content/museum/thomson-mo5-e.md

title, categories, types, origins, years, cpus, params

title	categories	types	origins	years	cpus	params
Thomson MO5 E	Computers	Home Computer	France	1985	Motorola 6809e	name image company company_name specs tabs forum_thread photos hardware screenshots emulators links videos related oc_id source MO5 E /media/museum/photos/thomson_mo5e_1s.jpg /companies/thomson Thomson label value NAME MO5 E label value MANUFACTURER Thomson label value TYPE Home Computer label value ORIGIN France label value YEAR May 1985 label value BUILT IN LANGUAGE Microsoft Basic 1.0 label value KEYBOARD 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 value CPU Motorola 6809e label value SPEED 1 MHz label value RAM 32 KB (31008 bytes free) label value VRAM 16 KB label value ROM 4 KB (monitor) + 12 KB (Basic) label value TEXT MODES 40 x 25 label value GRAPHIC MODES 320 x 200 label value COLORS 16 label value SOUND one channel, 5 octaves (7 octaves, 3 channels with the joystick extension) label value SIZE / WEIGHT 440 x 84 x 231 mm label value I/O PORTS 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 value POWER SUPPLY Power supply built-in label value PERIPHERALS Printer interface, Superimpose expansion, Quick Disk Drive expansion, Disk drives photos hardware software emulators links videos 819 title subtitle text image MO5E /media/museum/photos/thomson_mo5e_1b.jpg title subtitle text image RIGHT SIDE Here, there are the same connectors found on all MO5 versions : light-pen connector (left) and tape interface (right). /media/museum/photos/thomson_mo5e_right-side.jpg title subtitle text image TOP 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. /media/museum/photos/thomson_mo5e_top.jpg title subtitle text image BOTTOM /media/museum/photos/thomson_mo5e_bottom.jpg title subtitle text image CARTRIDGE SLOT 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. /media/museum/photos/thomson_mo5e_cartridgeslot.jpg title subtitle text image FRONT CONNECTORS 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. /media/museum/photos/thomson_mo5e_front-connectors.jpg title subtitle text image REAR **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) /media/museum/photos/thomson_mo5e_rear.jpg title subtitle text image 5.25'' DISK DRIVE 320 KB model This 5.25'' disk-drive offers a 320 KB capacity (40 tracks > 16 sectors > 256 bytes) and a built-in controller. /media/museum/hardware/thomson_to7_diskdrive_2.jpg title subtitle text image DISK CONTROLLER CD 90-351 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. /media/museum/hardware/thomson_to7_disk-interface.jpg title subtitle text image JOYSTICK MODULE Dual Atari compatible joysticks module /media/museum/hardware/thomson_to9_joymodule_1.jpg title subtitle text image MUSIC & GAME MODULE CM 90-112 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... /media/museum/hardware/thomson_to7_joy-interface.jpg title subtitle text image MUSIC & GAME MODULE #2 /media/museum/hardware/thomson_mo5_musicetjeu_s1.jpg title subtitle text image ORDI 94 Joystick Interface 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. /media/museum/hardware/thomson_to7_joy-atari.jpg title subtitle text image PRINTER PR-90 080 80 columns dot-matrix printer which was a rebadged version of the Seikosha GP-80 /media/museum/hardware/thomson_to7_imp_pr90-080.jpg title subtitle text image PRINTER PR-90 600 80-column 9-pin dot matrix printer. A rebadged version of the Seikosha SP-1000 with graphics capabilities /media/museum/hardware/thomson_to9_imppr90_600_1.jpg title subtitle text image SCREENSHOT The sofware of the MO5E is identical to the original MO5: Basic Microsoft 1.0 and 31008 bytes free. /media/museum/software/thomson_mo5e_ss_boot.gif title url platform text DCMO5 http://dcmo5.free.fr/ Windows Thomson MO5 emulator for PC title url platform text DCMO5 Gamer Edition HTTP://DCMO5.FREE.FR Windows Easy to use emulator, to run MO5 games without knowing MO5 commands title url platform text DCMO6 http://dcmo6.free.fr/ Windows Thomson MO5NR, Thomson MO6 and Olivetti Prodest PC128 emulator for PC title url platform text DCMOTO http://dcmoto.free.fr/ Windows 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 url platform text DCTO7 and DCTO8 http://dcto7.free.fr/ Windows Thomson T9000, TO7/70, TO8, TO8D emulator for Windows title url platform text TODC http://www.jplang.fr.st/ Other platform No, you are not dreaming. This is a TO-7/70 emulator for the Dreamcast game system ! title url text AmiTO8 http://membres.lycos.fr/amito8/data/Accueil.html Amiga / Thomson dedicated site. Some original stuff there! title url text Christophe's Lair http://lair.thomsonistes.org/ Lot of stuff here, a must see site (french) title url text Collection Thomson http://gfournier.free.fr/ Another great site with tons of documentation title url text DCMOTO http://dcmoto.free.fr/ Excellent site !! Home of the DCMOTO emulator. Lot od documentations and software to download. A must see ! title url text DOCUMENTATION http://dcmo5.free.fr/onlinedoc/ Oirignal user documentation ! title url text Forum Thomson http://forumthomson2001.free.fr/forum01.htm Get in contact with other Thomson fans (in french) title url text MOTO, le site Des micros Thomsons http://www.multimania.com/tonews/ Some info about the Thomson computers (french) title url text Nostalgies Thomsonistes http://nostalgies.thomsonistes.org/ Excellent site dedicated to Thomson computers (french) title url text Thomatoes http://wiki.forler.ch Thomson Wiki title url text www.logicielsmoto.com http://www.logicielsmoto.com/home.php Fantastic site! Very big software library and much more! title url text MO5 french TV commercial https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPr7NeqMobc Length: 31 s /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 838 url date https://web.archive.org/web/20230608162343/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=838 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 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.