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
230 lines
11 KiB
Markdown
230 lines
11 KiB
Markdown
---
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title: Thomson MO5 E
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categories:
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- Computers
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types:
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- Home Computer
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origins:
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- France
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years:
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- '1985'
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cpus:
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- Motorola 6809e
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params:
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name: MO5 E
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company: /companies/thomson
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company_name: Thomson
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specs:
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- label: NAME
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value: MO5 E
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- label: MANUFACTURER
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value: Thomson
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- label: TYPE
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value: Home Computer
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- label: ORIGIN
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value: France
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- label: YEAR
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value: May 1985
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- label: BUILT IN LANGUAGE
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value: Microsoft Basic 1.0
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- label: KEYBOARD
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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
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- label: CPU
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value: Motorola 6809e
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- label: SPEED
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value: 1 MHz
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- label: RAM
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value: 32 KB (31008 bytes free)
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- label: VRAM
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value: 16 KB
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- label: ROM
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value: 4 KB (monitor) + 12 KB (Basic)
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- label: TEXT MODES
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value: 40 x 25
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- label: GRAPHIC MODES
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value: 320 x 200
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- label: COLORS
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value: '16'
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- label: SOUND
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value: one channel, 5 octaves (7 octaves, 3 channels with the joystick extension)
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- label: SIZE / WEIGHT
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value: 440 x 84 x 231 mm
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- label: I/O PORTS
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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)
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- label: POWER SUPPLY
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value: Power supply built-in
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- label: PERIPHERALS
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value: Printer interface, Superimpose expansion, Quick Disk Drive expansion, Disk drives
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tabs:
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- photos
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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: MO5E
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subtitle: ''
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text: ''
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image: null
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- title: RIGHT SIDE
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subtitle: ''
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text: 'Here, there are the same connectors found on all MO5 versions : light-pen connector (left) and tape interface (right).'
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image: null
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- title: TOP
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subtitle: ''
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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.
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image: null
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- title: BOTTOM
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subtitle: ''
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text: ''
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image: null
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- title: CARTRIDGE SLOT
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subtitle: ''
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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.
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image: null
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- title: FRONT CONNECTORS
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subtitle: ''
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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.
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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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**1** - SCART connector\
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**2** - RF TV video output\
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**3** - Expansion connector\
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**4** - Centronics interface connector\
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**5** - Power cord (the power supply unit is built-in the MO5E)
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image: null
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hardware:
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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: 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: 'The sofware of the MO5E is identical to the original MO5: Basic Microsoft 1.0 and 31008 bytes free.'
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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: DOCUMENTATION
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url: http://dcmo5.free.fr/onlinedoc/
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text: Oirignal user documentation !
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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: Alejandro Corral (Granada)
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date: Thursday 20th March 2003
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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.
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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-nr
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- /museum/thomson-to-7
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- /museum/thomson-to-7-70
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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: 838
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source:
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url: https://web.archive.org/web/20230608162343/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=838
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date: '2023-06-08'
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---
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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!!!
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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<table> <tr> <td></td> <td>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.</td> <td></td> </tr> </table>
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