yann64andClaude Opus 5.5
3eeabe9649
6,654 pages: 1,289 machines, 702 software, 460 companies, 64 history, 17 articles, 59 fun. 4,336 media files so far; references to files not downloaded yet are left out. Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 5.5 <noreply@anthropic.com> Claude-Session: https://claude.ai/code/session_01YDRjtmAiNpo5mK5N3d7QwZ
349 lines
14 KiB
Markdown
349 lines
14 KiB
Markdown
---
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title: Thomson TO 7 / 70
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categories:
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- Computers
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params:
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name: TO 7 / 70
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company: /companies/thomson
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company_name: Thomson
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tabs:
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- photos
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- adverts
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- hardware
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- software
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- emulators
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- links
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- videos
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photos:
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- title: TO-7/70
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subtitle: ''
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text: ''
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image: null
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- title: FRONT
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subtitle: ''
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text: The cartridge trap door is opened
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image: null
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- title: RIGHT SIDE
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subtitle: ''
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text: ''
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image: null
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- title: REAR
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subtitle: ''
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text: |-
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From left to right :
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\- Power on/off button\
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\- Power cord\
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\- 12v external power supply (for tape recorder)\
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\- Expansion slots
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image: null
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- title: 'REAR #2'
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subtitle: ''
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text: Power on/off button, power cord and external power supply connector for tape recorder (12v)
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image: null
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- title: 'REAR #3'
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subtitle: ''
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text: 'From left to right : memory expansion port and three expansion ports...'
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image: null
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- title: KEYBOARD CLOSE-UP
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subtitle: ''
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text: ''
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image: null
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- title: INTEGRATED LIGHT-PEN
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subtitle: ''
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text: ''
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image: null
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- title: LEFT SIDE
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subtitle: ''
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text: Here can be seen the tape-recorder connector
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image: null
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- title: CARTRIDGE SLOT
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subtitle: ''
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text: The cartridge trap door has now a lock system to prevent intenpestive openings when not supposed to, as it was common with the TO-7
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image: null
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- title: RESET BUTTON
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subtitle: ''
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text: ''
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image: null
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- title: PERITEK KEYBOARD
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subtitle: ''
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text: |-
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As with the original TO-7 and its poor keyboard, Peritek, a french company, proposed a mechanical keyboard to install on top of the rubber one of the TO-7/70. It had great success until Thomson decided, at last, to release its new TO-7/70 with a native mechanical keyboard...
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The picture shows first version of the TO-7/70 with a Peritek keyboard mounted.
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image: null
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- title: SECOND MODEL
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subtitle: ''
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text: A second model was marketed later with a better keyboard
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image: null
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- title: MECHANICAL KEYBOARD CLOSE-UP
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subtitle: ''
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text: ''
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image: null
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- title: TWO MODELS
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subtitle: ''
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text: ''
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image: null
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- title: SYNOPTIC DIAGRAM
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subtitle: ''
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text: This chart is showing the main expansions and connections available.
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image: null
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- title: MAIN COMPUTER FEATURES
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subtitle: ''
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text: |-
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**1** - Light pen\
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**2** - Light pen storage compartment\
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**3** - MEMO7 cartridge slot trap door\
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**4** - push button used to open the trap door\
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**5** - trap door locking switch device\
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**6** - keyboard\
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**7** - Power LED\
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**8** - lower case mode LED\
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**9** - RESET button
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image: null
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- title: REAR COMPONENTS
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subtitle: ''
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text: |-
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**10** - tape-recorder connector (DIN)\
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**11** - SCART A/V connector\
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**12** - 3 expansion slots\
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**13** - memory specific expansion slot\
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**14** - 12v output for tape-recorder or video modulator\
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**15** - power on/off switch
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image: null
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adverts:
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- title: CREATIVITY BUILT-IN
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subtitle: ''
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text: |-
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This is a French advert from december 1985 for a special christmas pack : TO-7/70 + Microsoft Basic level 5 + tape recorder + Colorpaint + Basic initiation cube for "only" 3990 FF.
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"All the world in a present"
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image: null
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- title: ARABIC MODEL
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subtitle: ''
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text: In late 1988, bilingual (arab / french) versions of the TO-7/70 were sold for peanuts. These models could display latin and arabic characters. The keyboard was also bilingual, as well as the Basic !
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image: null
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- title: EQUIPED FOR COMPETITION
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subtitle: ''
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text: French advert (december 1984)
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image: null
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- title: I LEARN AT SCHOOL
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subtitle: ''
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text: |-
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French advert for the new model, dated april 1986.
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"I learn at school, I rock at home"
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image: null
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- title: PROMOTIONAL LEAFLET
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subtitle: ''
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text: cover
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image: null
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- title: 'PROMO PIC #1'
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subtitle: ''
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text: ''
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image: null
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- title: 'PROMO PIC #2'
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subtitle: ''
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text: TO-7/70 playing AIRBUS, a flight sim...
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image: null
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- title: 'PROMO PIC #3'
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subtitle: ''
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text: |-
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This promotional picture was used to emphasize the programming assets of the TO-7/70 : Microsoft Basic v5, Microsoft assembler and SOLI Logo. They want to make us believe that architects used TO-7/70 !
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As usual there are no cables shown... The arm looks weird, lifeless... did they cut it to take the picture more easily ?! or is the woman completely laid down on the table ?
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image: null
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- title: 'PROMO PIC #4'
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subtitle: ''
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text: This guy is so good as running his budget that he has become rich and bought himself a TO-7/70 ! Or did he get rich since he bought its TO-7/70 ? Anyway he is now smoking cigars and reads stock market newspapers... great
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image: null
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- title: 'PROMO PIC #5'
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subtitle: ''
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text: |-
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This picture was used to promote the educative potential of the TO-7/70. This poor student is studying economic politics...
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As usual, no cables are shown... the tape recorder is thus useless... Will someone tell him ?
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image: null
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- title: 'PROMO PIC #6'
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subtitle: ''
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text: |-
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Thanks to its optional modem, the TO-7/70 could be connected to the Teletel communication network. This skilled photograph is browsing the Liberation (popular french newspaper) site.
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But there are still no cables shown here ! How the whole system is running ?!
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image: null
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- title: MAGAZINE COVER
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subtitle: ''
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text: The TO-7/70 made the cover of french magazine Micro7 on february 1985.
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image: null
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hardware:
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- title: EXPANSION DIAGRAM
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subtitle: ''
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text: ''
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image: null
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- title: 5.25'' DISK DRIVE
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subtitle: 320 KB model
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text: This 5.25'' disk-drive offers a 320 KB capacity (40 tracks > 16 sectors > 256 bytes) and a built-in controller.
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image: /media/museum/hardware/thomson_to7_diskdrive_2.jpg
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- title: DISK CONTROLLER
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subtitle: CD 90-351
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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.
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image: /media/museum/hardware/thomson_to7_disk-interface.jpg
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- title: JOYSTICK MODULE
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subtitle: ''
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text: Dual Atari compatible joysticks module
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image: /media/museum/hardware/thomson_to9_joymodule_1.jpg
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- title: MUSIC & GAME MODULE
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subtitle: CM 90-112
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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...
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image: /media/museum/hardware/thomson_to7_joy-interface.jpg
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- title: 'MUSIC & GAME MODULE #2'
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subtitle: ''
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text: ''
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image: /media/museum/hardware/thomson_mo5_musicetjeu_s1.jpg
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- title: ORDI 94
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subtitle: Joystick Interface
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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.
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image: /media/museum/hardware/thomson_to7_joy-atari.jpg
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- title: ADVERT
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subtitle: ''
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text: 'Though the TO-7/70 keyboard was better than the TO-7 one, it was still quite irritating to work with. Third party company Peritek met a great success selling its replacement mechanical keyboard for the TO-7 and TO-7/70. The installation was quite simple : just fasten it on top of the original keyboard.'
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image: null
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- title: PRINTER PR-90 080
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subtitle: ''
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text: 80 columns dot-matrix printer which was a rebadged version of the Seikosha GP-80
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image: /media/museum/hardware/thomson_to7_imp_pr90-080.jpg
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- title: PRINTER PR-90 600
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subtitle: ''
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text: 80-column 9-pin dot matrix printer. A rebadged version of the Seikosha SP-1000 with graphics capabilities
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image: /media/museum/hardware/thomson_to9_imppr90_600_1.jpg
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screenshots:
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- title: SCREENSHOT
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subtitle: ''
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text: ''
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image: null
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- title: SCREENSHOT
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subtitle: ''
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text: With Basic 128 cartridge inserted
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image: null
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- title: SCREENSHOT
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subtitle: ''
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text: ''
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image: null
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- title: TITLE SCREEN
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subtitle: ''
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text: ''
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image: null
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- title: SCREENSHOT
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subtitle: ''
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text: ''
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image: null
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- title: SCREENSHOT
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subtitle: ''
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text: ''
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image: null
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emulators:
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- title: DCMO5
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url: http://dcmo5.free.fr/
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platform: Windows
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text: Thomson MO5 emulator for PC
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- title: DCMO5 Gamer Edition
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url: HTTP://DCMO5.FREE.FR
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platform: Windows
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text: Easy to use emulator, to run MO5 games without knowing MO5 commands
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- title: DCMO6
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url: http://dcmo6.free.fr/
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platform: Windows
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text: Thomson MO5NR, Thomson MO6 and Olivetti Prodest PC128 emulator for PC
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- title: DCMOTO
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url: http://dcmoto.free.fr/
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platform: Windows
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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 !
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- title: DCTO7 and DCTO8
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url: http://dcto7.free.fr/
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platform: Windows
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text: Thomson T9000, TO7/70, TO8, TO8D emulator for Windows
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- title: TODC
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url: http://www.jplang.fr.st/
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platform: Other platform
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text: No, you are not dreaming. This is a TO-7/70 emulator for the Dreamcast game system !
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links:
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- title: AmiTO8
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url: http://membres.lycos.fr/amito8/data/Accueil.html
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text: Amiga / Thomson dedicated site. Some original stuff there!
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- title: Christophe's Lair
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url: http://lair.thomsonistes.org/
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text: Lot of stuff here, a must see site (french)
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- title: Collection Thomson
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url: http://gfournier.free.fr/
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text: Another great site with tons of documentation
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- title: DCMOTO
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url: http://dcmoto.free.fr/
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text: Excellent site !! Home of the DCMOTO emulator. Lot od documentations and software to download. A must see !
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- title: Forum Thomson
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url: http://forumthomson2001.free.fr/forum01.htm
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text: Get in contact with other Thomson fans (in french)
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- title: MOTO, le site Des micros Thomsons
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url: http://www.multimania.com/tonews/
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text: Some info about the Thomson computers (french)
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- title: Nostalgies Thomsonistes
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url: http://nostalgies.thomsonistes.org/
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text: Excellent site dedicated to Thomson computers (french)
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- title: Thomatoes
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url: http://wiki.forler.ch
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text: Thomson Wiki
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- title: www.logicielsmoto.com
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url: http://www.logicielsmoto.com/home.php
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text: Fantastic site! Very big software library and much more!
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videos:
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- title: MO5 french TV commercial
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url: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPr7NeqMobc
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text: 'Length: 31 s'
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comments:
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- author: AndiP
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date: Sunday 15th May 2011
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text: |-
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Hello,\
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I search the manuals for the TO7-70 to download in german or english.
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Thanks Andreas
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related:
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- /museum/olivetti-prodest-pc-128
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- /museum/thomson-mo-5
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- /museum/thomson-mo-6
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- /museum/thomson-mo5-e
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- /museum/thomson-mo5-nr
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- /museum/thomson-to-7
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- /museum/thomson-to-8-to-8d
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- /museum/thomson-to-9
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- /museum/thomson-to-9-plus
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oc_id: 643
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source:
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url: https://web.archive.org/web/20230601001853/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=643
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date: '2023-06-01'
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---
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The **TO-7/70** was presented alongside the [MO5](/museum/thomson-mo-5/), in march 1984. While the MO-5 represents a small break into the [TO-7](/museum/thomson-to-7/) philosophy, the TO-7/70 follows and enhances the TO-7 features.
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The case of the TO-7/70 is almost the same as the TO-7 one : roughly triangular with sharp edges. The keyboard, though made of rubber keys, is an improvement over the flat membrane keyboard of the TO-7. The keyboard layout is AZERTY which is normal as the TO-7/70 is a french system. Accentuated letters can directly be accessed by pressing the ACC key, followed by the desired key (6 for é, 7 for è, 8 for ù, 9 for ç and 0 for à). There are also four arrow keys, INS to insert a space, EFF to delete the pointed character, STOP to pause a program, CNT to resume a program stoped and RAZ (remise à zéro) to clear the screen.
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The light-pen introduced on the TO-7 has been improved on TO-7/70. While its resolution was only 40x200 on the TO-7 (one eighth of the horizontal range), it can now access every point of the screen, that is to say 320 x 200 pixels.
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The expansion possibilities of the TO-7/70 are the same as the TO-7 : 3 expansion connectors for printers, disk-drives, game extension, etc. and 1 memory expansion slot. There is also still a tape-recorder intreface.
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The main improvements over the TO-7 are :\
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\- better integration of the components on the main-board\
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\- a better keyboard (hmmmm, so they say)\
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\- more RAM (48 KB, instead of 22 KB)\
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\- a switch to lock the cartridge trap door, since it used to open randomly on the TO-7, rebooting the system and thus loosing all work in progress\
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\- more colours (16 instead of 8)\
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\- better light-pen precision\
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\- the infamous heat-sink at the back of the TO-7 has disapeared !
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The TO-7 is upward compatible with the TO-7/70, i.e. software developped for the TO-7 can be used by the TO-7/70, but not the contrary... It also means that the MEMO7 cartridge format is still the same.
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AS for the MO-5, the TO-7/70 was quite popular in schools, as Thomson was the main supplier of the French National Education for the "Informatique Pour Tous" Plan. TO-7/70 (and MO5) were mainly used as terminals for the famous "Nanoréseau", an educational network, often piloted by a Logabax Persona 1600.
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A second model with better mechanical keyboard was released some months later, for christmas 1985 (see more pictures section). In fact this model was first sold as an exportation model along with the [MO5E](/museum/thomson-mo5-e/). They were both presented at the "Hannover Messe" (Germany) in april 1985. That explains why some rumours talked about a TO-7/70E model, but it was never called like this. It was exactly the same model sold later in France.
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The TO-7/70 was finally replaced by the [TO-8 and TO-8D](/museum/thomson-to-8-to-8d/) in 1986.
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