Thomson TO8

The Thomson TO8 is a home computer developed and manufactured by the French company Thomson.

1. Development and Introduction: The Thomson TO8 was introduced in 1986 as an upgrade to the earlier Thomson TO7 series of computers. It was designed to be a versatile home computer for educational purposes, general use, and gaming. The TO8 was part of Thomson's ongoing efforts to promote computer literacy and digital technology in France.

2. Hardware: The Thomson TO8 featured a 8 MHz Motorola 6809E CPU and had 128 KB of RAM, which was expandable up to 512 KB. It supported a high-resolution color display with a resolution of 640x200 pixels and could display up to 16 colors simultaneously. The TO8 had built-in support for connecting to a television set as a display and used floppy disks for data storage. It also had a cartridge slot for additional software and expansion options.

3. Software and Applications: The Thomson TO8 came with a built-in version of the BASIC programming language, allowing users to write and run their own programs. It also included a range of software applications, including word processing, spreadsheet, and educational programs. Thomson developed and published a variety of software titles for the TO8, covering a wide range of interests and ages.

4. Reception and Sales: The Thomson TO8 was well-received in France and found success in both the education and home markets. It was praised for its improved hardware specifications, expandability, and versatility. The TO8 was one of the most popular home computers in France during the late 1980s and early 1990s. However, it faced competition from other home computers and gaming consoles of the era.

5. Legacy: The Thomson TO8 is remembered as an important part of the history of computing in France. It helped to further promote computer literacy and digital technology in the country and introduced many people to the world of personal computing. Despite its relatively short lifespan, the TO8 remains a nostalgic piece of computing history for many French enthusiasts.

6. Discontinuation: Thomson discontinued the TO8 series in the early 1990s as they shifted their focus to other products and markets. However, the legacy of the TO8 lives on in the memories of those who used it and in the history of computing in France.

In summary, the Thomson TO8 was an important home computer that helped popularize personal computing in France during the late 1980s and early 1990s. It offered improved hardware specifications, expandability, and a wide range of software applications, making it a versatile platform for education, general use, and gaming.