Thomson TO16#Prototype
{{Short description|Early 1989 French microcomputer model}}
{{Infobox information appliance
| name = Thomson TO16
| aka = Thomson TO16PC
| logo =
| image =
| caption = Thomson TO16
| developer =
| manufacturer = Thomson SA
| family =
| type =
| generation =
| releasedate = {{Start date and age|1987}}
| lifespan =
| price = 9000 to 16000 FF
| discontinued =
| unitssold =
| unitsshipped =
| media =
| os = MS-DOS 3.2
| power =
| soc =
| cpu = Intel 8088
| gpu =
| storage = 5"1/4 floppy discs
| memory = 512 KB expandable to 768 KB
| display =
| graphics = MDA, Hercules, CGA and Plantronics Colorplus compatible graphic card
| sound = PC Speaker
| input =
| controllers =
| camera =
| touchpad =
| connectivity = RS-232, printer port
| service =
| dimensions =
| weight =
| topgame =
| compatibility = IBM PC
| predecessor =
| successor =
| related = Thomson TO16PCM, Thomson TO16XPDD, Thomson TO16XPHD
| website =
| CPUspeed = 4.77 or 9.54 MHz (turbo mode)
}}
The Thomson TO16 or Thomson TO16PC is a PC compatible{{Cite web |date=2007 |title=Ordinateur : Le Thomson TO16 XP HD |url=http://mo5.com/musee-machines-thomsonto16xphd.html |website=Association MO5.COM |language=fr}} personal computer introduced by French company Thomson SA in 1987,{{Cite web |date=2018 |title=Thomson - TO16 PC |url=https://www.system-cfg.com/detailcollection.php?ident=97 |website=system.cfg Collection d'ordinateurs anciens et de consoles de jeux |language=fr}}{{Cite journal |date=2016 |title=La gamme TO de Thomson |url=https://www.boitasite.com/to8/pdf/Canard_PC_Hardware_HS_2016_06_07_fr_0079.pdf |journal=Canard PC Hardware HS |language=fr |issue=6 |pages=80}} with prices ranging from 9000 to 16000 FF depending on the version.
Prototype
The original concept was a machine similar to the Macintosh. Based on this the Thomson TO16 prototype (codename Théodore) was built around a Motorola 68000 processor with an Intel 82716 graphics chipset.{{Cite book |url=http://www.logicielsmoto.com/viewdocument.php?docid=227 |title=82716/VSDD Video Storage and Display Device |publisher=Intel |date=January 1987}} The operating system chosen was OS-9, a preemptive multitasking system similar to Unix. It also featured an integrated 20MB SCSI hard drive.
Work on the prototype was carried on between 1985 and 1988, with five machines built.{{Cite web |date=2011 |title=Thomson 16 bits |url=https://forum.system-cfg.com/viewtopic.php?t=2713 |website=forum.system-cfg.com Forum des collectionneurs et utilisateurs d'ordinateurs anciens |language=fr}} This concept was abandoned in favor of a PC compatible architecture, with the TO16 model designation being kept.{{Citation |title=Thomson TO16 (prototype) |date=2018-12-27 |url=https://fr.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Thomson_TO16_(prototype)&oldid=155168388 |work=Wikipédia |language=fr |access-date=2023-02-19}}
=Specifications <ref>{{Cite web |date=1986 |title=Hebdo Septembre 1986 |url=https://forum.system-cfg.com/download/file.php?id=306 |website=forum.system-cfg.com |language=fr}} </ref>=
- Motorola 68000 @ 8 MHz CPU
- 2 MB RAM
- Two video modes: 320×200 with 256 colors; 640×270 with 16 colors
- Mouse
- 3½" floppy drive
- 20 MB SCSI hard drive
Thomson TO16
The Thomson TO16 is a IBM PC compatible machine, running MS-DOS 3.2 with MS-DOS Manager and GW-BASIC.{{Cite web |title=Thomson TO16 |url=https://www.obsolete-tears.com/thomson-to16-machine-139.html |website=Obsolete Tears |language=fr}}{{Cite book |url=http://lauraetjean-damien.com/system-cfg/THOMSON/COFADEL-TO16/COFADEL-TO16-MANUEL-DE-MAINTENANCE.ZIP |title=Gamme TO16 Thomson - Manuel de Maintenance |publisher=Cofadel |year=1988 |language=fr}}
The CPU is an Intel 8088 capable of running at 9.54Mhz on turbo mode with 512KB of RAM and a CGA graphic card with expanded abilities.
=Specifications =
- CPU Intel 8088 running at 4.77 or 9.54 MHz
- support for Intel 8087 co-processor
- 512 KB of RAM, expandable to 768 KB on the motherboard.
- 32 KB of ROM
- IBM Monochrome Display Adapter, Hercules Graphics Card, CGA and Plantronics Colorplus compatible graphic card
- Internal 5"1/4 360 KB disc drive
- Two ISA expansion slots
- Connections for an external disk drive
- RS-232C Serie and Centronics Parallel (Micro ribbon connector) interfaces
- Optional Modem
Hardware versions
The original TO16 model was expanded into four variations by adding extra hardware, such as a modem or hard drive.
- Thomson TO16PC: original and most basic version
- Thomson TO16PCM : 2400 bauds modem
- Thomson TO16XPDD : two disc drives{{Cite web |date=2007 |title=Ordinateur : Le Thomson TO16 XP DD |url=http://mo5.com/musee-machines-thomsonto16xpdd.html |website=Association MO5.COM |language=fr}}
- Thomson TO16XPHD : 20 MB hard drive, color monitor and EGA graphics
References
{{reflist}}
{{Thomson computers}}
Category:Computer-related introductions in 1987
{{microcompu-stub}}