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Thomson MO5 NR
Computers
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MO5 NR /media/museum/photos/thomson_mo5nr_1s.jpg /companies/thomson Thomson
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MO5 NR /media/museum/photos/thomson_mo5nr_1.jpg
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LEFT SIDE Here is the power on/off button. /media/museum/photos/thomson_mo5nr_l-side.jpg
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RIGHT SIDE We can spot here the light-pen connector (right) and the tape interface connector (right) /media/museum/photos/thomson_mo5nr_r-side.jpg
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CLOSE UP We can see here the two controller connectors (Atari standard) et the Reset button. /media/museum/photos/thomson_mo5nr_closeup_1.jpg
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REAR /media/museum/photos/thomson_mo5nr_back.jpg
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DIP SWITCHES These are the dip switches used to configure the MO5 NR for the Nanoréseau (dedicated network). /media/museum/photos/thomson_mo5nr_dip-switches.jpg
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LOGO Thomson & Leanord are at the origin of the MO5 NR. /media/museum/photos/thomson_mo5nr_logo.jpg
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MO5 E AND MO5 NR Both use exactly the same case. /media/museum/photos/thomson_mo5e-nr_comparatif.jpg
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REAR COMPARISON The back of the systems is where you can tell the difference. The SCART connector of the MO5E has been replaced by two network connectors, the RF TV output by a power in connector, the Centronics interface by network dip switches and the power cord by the SCART video cord. /media/museum/photos/thomson_mo5e-nr_rear.jpg
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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
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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
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JOYSTICK MODULE Dual Atari compatible joysticks module /media/museum/hardware/thomson_to9_joymodule_1.jpg
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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
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MUSIC & GAME MODULE #2 /media/museum/hardware/thomson_mo5_musicetjeu_s1.jpg
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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
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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
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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
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START-UP MENU There are two Basic versions in ROM : Basic Microsoft 1.0 used by the MO5 & TO7, and the Basic Microsoft 128 used by the MO6, TO8 and TO9 series. There is also the "réglage des préférences" option, which is a settings option to test the light-pen and configure the color palette. /media/museum/software/thomson_mo5nr_boot.jpg
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LIGHT-PEN SETTING /media/museum/software/thomson_mo5nr_boot_2.jpg
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COLOR PALETTE SETTINGS /media/museum/software/thomson_mo5nr_boot_3.jpg
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DCMO5 http://dcmo5.free.fr/ Windows Thomson MO5 emulator for PC
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DCMO5 Gamer Edition HTTP://DCMO5.FREE.FR Windows Easy to use emulator, to run MO5 games without knowing MO5 commands
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DCMO6 http://dcmo6.free.fr/ Windows Thomson MO5NR, Thomson MO6 and Olivetti Prodest PC128 emulator for PC
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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 !
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DCTO7 and DCTO8 http://dcto7.free.fr/ Windows Thomson T9000, TO7/70, TO8, TO8D emulator for Windows
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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 !
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AmiTO8 http://membres.lycos.fr/amito8/data/Accueil.html Amiga / Thomson dedicated site. Some original stuff there!
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Christophe's Lair http://lair.thomsonistes.org/ Lot of stuff here, a must see site (french)
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Collection Thomson http://gfournier.free.fr/ Another great site with tons of documentation
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DCMOTO http://dcmoto.free.fr/ Excellent site !! Home of the DCMOTO emulator. Lot od documentations and software to download. A must see !
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Forum Thomson http://forumthomson2001.free.fr/forum01.htm Get in contact with other Thomson fans (in french)
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MOTO, le site Des micros Thomsons http://www.multimania.com/tonews/ Some info about the Thomson computers (french)
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Nostalgies Thomsonistes http://nostalgies.thomsonistes.org/ Excellent site dedicated to Thomson computers (french)
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Thomatoes http://wiki.forler.ch Thomson Wiki
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www.logicielsmoto.com http://www.logicielsmoto.com/home.php Fantastic site! Very big software library and much more!
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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-e
/museum/thomson-to-7
/museum/thomson-to-7-70
/museum/thomson-to-8-to-8d
/museum/thomson-to-9
/museum/thomson-to-9-plus
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https://web.archive.org/web/20230531230745/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=868 2023-05-31

The Thomson MO5 NR is a special version of the MO5, developped especially for the educative network called NanoReseau, hence the "NR". The NanoRéseau was initially composed of several original MO5 systems with their NanoRéseau expansions (64 KB RAM + Network features). The MO5 NR includes the network expansion and much more.

The system uses the same case as the MO5E, but the MO5 NR is maybe closer to the MO6 than to the original MO5. It is the first "MO" system to offer a boot menu, later found on the MO6, T08, TO8D, TO9 and TO9+. This feature is closely related to the fact that these systems hold two Basic languages: the Microsoft Basic 1.0 (in fact level 5) initially found on the TO-7, TO-7/70 and MO5; and the Basic Microsoft 128 offering among other things, full 128 KB RAM to work with, which is quite a tour de force as most 8-bit systems of the time couldn't handle more than 64 KB RAM.

The MO5 NR also offer a palette of 4096 colours to choose from, though only 16 could be displayed at the same time on the screen. Graphic resolutions come from 160 x 200 to 640 x 200, though the most used was 320 x 200. There is the possibility to display 80 and 40 text columns.

Like on the MO5E, two controller ports (Atari standard) can be found at the front of the system. In fact the MO5 expansion called "music & games" is also built-in and offer these two controller ports and 4 voices with 5 octaves. But at the back is where you can tell the difference! Compared to the MO5E, the SCART connector has been replaced by two Network DIN connectors, the RF TV video output by the power in plug, the Centronics interface by Network dip switches (for network station numbering, the same found on the Network expansion of the original MO5), and the power cord (MO5E had a built-in power supply) by a SCART cord... quite different indeed (see MORE PICTURES section). Thus the MO5NR need to be powered by an external power supply. The MO5 PSU can be used, but in schools, the MO5 NR was generaly powered by its own dedicated monitor.

The MO5NR is thus a kind of super MO5, a mix between the MO5 and the soon to be released MO6. Unfortunately, as it was very expensive, schools prefered to buy MO5E systems with a network expansion...

We need more info about this console ! If you designed, used, or have more info about this system, please send us pictures or anything you might find useful.