[f7d1bc3] | 1 | \documentclass{beamer}
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| 2 | \usepackage{graphicx}
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| 3 |
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| 4 | \mode<presentation> {
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| 5 | % \usetheme{Montpellier}
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| 6 | \usecolortheme{beaver}
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| 7 | \usecolortheme{orchid}
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| 8 | \useoutertheme{tree}
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| 9 | \useinnertheme{rounded}
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| 10 |
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| 11 | \setbeamercovered{transparent}
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| 12 | % ou autre chose (il est également possible de supprimer cette ligne)
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| 13 | }
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| 14 |
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| 15 | % Large and black subsection header at the top of the page
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| 16 | \setbeamerfont*{subsection in head/foot}{size=\large}
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| 17 | \setbeamercolor{subsection in head/foot}{fg=black}
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| 18 |
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| 19 | \setlength{\parskip}{.3\baselineskip}
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| 20 |
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| 21 | %\usepackage[french]{babel}
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| 22 | \usepackage[latin1]{inputenc}
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| 23 | %\usepackage{times}
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| 24 | %\usepackage[T1]{fontenc}
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| 25 | % Or autre. Notez que le codage et la fonte doivent être assortis. Si T1
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| 26 | % ne paraît pas très esthétique, essayer d'effacer la ligne contenant fontenc.
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| 27 |
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| 28 | \title % (facultatif, à utiliser uniquement si le titre de l'article est trop long)
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| 29 | {Thomson computers}
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| 30 |
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| 31 | \subtitle {The history of Thomson 8-bit computers in France}
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| 32 |
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| 33 | \author[] % (facultatif, à utiliser seulement avec plusieurs auteurs)
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| 34 | {Adrien Destugues - PulkoMandy}
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| 35 | % - Composez les noms dans l'ordre dans lequel ils apparaîtrons dans l'article
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| 36 | % - Utilisez la commande \inst{?} uniquement si les auteurs ont des affiliations
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| 37 | % différentes.
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| 38 |
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| 39 | \institute[Forever 2016] % (facultatif mais généralement nécessaire)
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| 40 | {
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| 41 | Forever Party 2015 - Defender of the 8-bits
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| 42 | }
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| 43 | % - Utilisez la commande \inst uniquement s'il y a plusieurs affectations
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| 44 | % - Faîtes quelque chose de simple, personne ne s'intéresse à votre adresse.
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| 45 |
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| 46 | %\date % (facultatif)
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| 47 | %{6 juin 2009}
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| 48 |
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| 49 | %\pgfdeclareimage[height=0.5cm]{le-logo}{haiku.pdf}
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| 50 | %\logo{\pgfuseimage{le-logo}}
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| 51 |
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| 52 | % ne pas afficher les sous-sections dans la table des matières
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| 53 | \setcounter{tocdepth}{1}
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| 54 |
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| 55 | % À supprimer si vous ne voulez pas que la table des matières apparaisse
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| 56 | % au début de chaque sous-section :
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| 57 | \AtBeginSection[] {
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| 58 | \begin{frame}<beamer>{Plan}
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| 59 | \tableofcontents[currentsection]
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| 60 | \end{frame}
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| 61 | }
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| 62 |
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| 63 | % Si vous souhaitez recouvrir vos transparents un à un,
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| 64 | % utilisez la commande suivante (pour plus d'info, voir la page 74 du manuel
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| 65 | % d'utilisation de Beamer (version 3.06) par Till Tantau) :
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| 66 | %\beamerdefaultoverlayspecification{<+->}
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| 67 |
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| 68 | % Redéfinir la page de titre (sans date dessus)
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| 69 | \defbeamertemplate*{title page}{progressbar theme}{
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| 70 | \makeatletter
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| 71 | \begin{center}
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| 72 | \textbf{\textcolor{structure.fg}\large\inserttitle}
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| 73 |
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| 74 | \insertsubtitle
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| 75 |
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| 76 | \vskip\baselineskip
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| 77 | \footnotesize\insertauthor\\[\baselineskip]
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| 78 | \ifx\insertinstitute\@empty \else\tiny\insertinstitute\\[\baselineskip]\fi
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| 79 | \end{center}
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| 80 | \makeatother
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| 81 | }
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| 82 |
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| 83 | \begin{document}
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| 84 |
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| 85 | % Remove stupid "Figure:" label on picture captions
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| 86 | \setbeamertemplate{caption}{\raggedright\insertcaption\par}
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| 87 |
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| 88 | \begin{frame}
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| 89 | \titlepage
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| 90 | \end{frame}
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| 91 |
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| 92 | \frame{
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| 93 | \frametitle{Plan}
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| 94 | \tableofcontents
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| 95 | }
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| 96 | % Vous pouvez, si vous le souhaiter ajouter l'option [pausesections]
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| 97 |
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| 98 | \section{History}
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| 99 | \subsection{Thomson company}
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| 100 | \begin{frame}
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| 101 | The birth of Thomson
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| 102 | \begin{itemize}
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| 103 | \item 1879: Thomson-Houston company created in the USA
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| 104 | \item 1892: Companie Française Thomson-Houston
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| 105 | \item 1892: Merges with General Electric
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| 106 | \end{itemize}
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| 107 | The French company (CFTH) turns out to be not so useful to General
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| 108 | Electric. It gradually becomes independant.
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| 109 |
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| 110 | \includegraphics[width=.3\textwidth]{thomson-logo.jpg}
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| 111 | \includegraphics[width=.3\textwidth]{logo.png}
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| 112 | \includegraphics[width=.3\textwidth]{stmicro.jpg}
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| 113 |
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| 114 | \includegraphics[width=.3\textwidth]{thomson-logo-0.jpg}
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| 115 | \includegraphics[width=.3\textwidth]{thmicro.jpg}
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| 116 |
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| 117 | \end{frame}
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| 118 |
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| 119 | \begin{frame}
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| 120 | During the XXth century,
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| 121 | Thomson buys other companies, gets too big, is split into several
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| 122 | sub companies, some of which merge again.
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| 123 | \begin{itemize}
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| 124 | \item 1966: Thomson is split in Thomson-Brandt and Thomson-CSF
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| 125 | \item 1981: Thomson-Brandt and Thomson-CSF are nationalized and merged again.
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| 126 | \end{itemize}
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| 127 |
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| 128 | The nationalization happens because Thomson is a major supplier of
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| 129 | weapons and high-tech devices for the French army (including
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| 130 | semiconductors and other electronics related products). The French
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| 131 | government doesn't want to rely on supplies of those coming from
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| 132 | other countries, and wants to secure the local production.
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| 133 | \end{frame}
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| 134 |
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| 135 | \begin{frame}
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| 136 | Activities in various sectors over the XXth century:
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| 137 | \begin{itemize}
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| 138 | \item Electricity transport and production
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| 139 | \item Tramways and Railways (will become ALSTOM)
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| 140 | \item Batteries and Lightbulbs (Mazda)
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| 141 | \item Weapons (Hotchkiss)
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| 142 | \item Home appliances (Brandt)
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| 143 | \item Semiconductors (EFCIS, will become ST microelectronics)
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| 144 | \item Cathodic ray tubes and monitors
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| 145 | \item ... and more (Technicolor, Thales, ...)
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| 146 | \end{itemize}
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| 147 |
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| 148 | Thomson is involved in research about Radars, Magnetron, Videodiscs,
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| 149 | the first "Eurovision" TV transmission, and much more.
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| 150 | \end{frame}
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| 151 | \subsection{Economics in France}
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| 152 | \begin{frame}
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| 153 | France is worried that the USA will take over the country
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| 154 | \begin{itemize}
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| 155 | \item This dates from WWII, mostly
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| 156 | \item Politics and Economics are designed to avoid this
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| 157 | \item Avoiding the use of English as much as possible
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| 158 | \end{itemize}
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| 159 | \end{frame}
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| 160 |
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| 161 | \begin{frame}
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| 162 | The big US companies (Commodore, Apple, Atari and others) don't get to
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| 163 | the French market as easily as elsewhere in Europe.
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| 164 | \begin{itemize}
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| 165 | \item High import taxes
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| 166 | \item No easy way to setup a French subcompany (like Commodore Germany)
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| 167 | \item French specific standards: SECAM, AZERTY, SCART (computers have to be modified to work with this)
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| 168 | \end{itemize}
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| 169 | \end{frame}
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| 170 | \subsection{Computers in France}
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| 171 | \begin{frame}
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| 172 | This makes it easier for French companies to do their own computers
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| 173 | \begin{itemize}
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| 174 | \item Matra licences the MC10 design from Tandy and makes a French version of it
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| 175 | \item Exelvision designs a computer using TI hardware
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| 176 | \item Thomson builds theirs using Motorola 68xx family
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| 177 | \item And much more (SMT, Léanord, LogAbax, Bull, ...)
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| 178 | \end{itemize}
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| 179 | \end{frame}
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| 180 |
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| 181 | \subsection{Plan Informatique Pour Tous}
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| 182 | \begin{frame}
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| 183 | "Informatique Pour Tous" - Computers for everyone!
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| 184 |
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| 185 | \begin{columns}[T]
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| 186 | \begin{column}{.4\textwidth}
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| 187 | \includegraphics[width=\textwidth]{nanoreseau.jpg}
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| 188 | \end{column}
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| 189 |
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| 190 | \begin{column}{.6\textwidth}
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| 191 | \begin{itemize}
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| 192 | \item French government plan to install computers in classrooms (6-15 year old children)
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| 193 | \item Technical constraints enforcing a French manufacturer (SCART connector, LSEG language)
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| 194 | \item Thomson will make most of the machines for this
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| 195 | \end{itemize}
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| 196 | \end{column}
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| 197 | \end{columns}
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| 198 | \end{frame}
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| 199 |
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| 200 |
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| 201 | \begin{frame}
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| 202 | Thomson solution
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| 203 | \includegraphics[width=.8\textwidth]{nanoreseau_01.jpg}
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| 204 |
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| 205 | \begin{itemize}
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| 206 | \item "Student" computers: MO5 with RAM expansion and network interface
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| 207 | \item The network is Léanord's Nanoréseau (RS485 based)
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| 208 | \item "Teacher" computer (file server): Bull, LogAbax or SMT machines.
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| 209 | \end{itemize}
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| 210 | \end{frame}
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| 211 |
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| 212 |
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| 213 | \section{Timeline of Thomson computers}
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| 214 | \subsection{General information}
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| 215 | \begin{frame}
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| 216 | \begin{itemize}
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| 217 | \item All machines built around the 6809E CPU at 1MHz
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| 218 | \item Video memory is made of two 8K pages
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| 219 | \item No compatibility with anything else!
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| 220 |
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| 221 | The 6809E (and other Motorola chips) was already manufactured by Thomson-EFCIS
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| 222 | for the French army, under license from Motorola. The 68xx chipset will be
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| 223 | a popular one for French computers because of this (including Matra Alice,
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| 224 | Tavernier, Apollo 7 Squale shown below).
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| 225 | \end{itemize}
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| 226 |
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| 227 | \begin{columns}[T]
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| 228 | \begin{column}{.3\textwidth}
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| 229 | \includegraphics[width=\textwidth]{alice.jpg}
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| 230 | \end{column}
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| 231 | \begin{column}{.3\textwidth}
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| 232 | \includegraphics[width=\textwidth]{Tavernier.jpg}
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| 233 | \end{column}
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| 234 | \begin{column}{.3\textwidth}
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| 235 | \includegraphics[width=\textwidth]{squale.jpg}
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| 236 | \end{column}
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| 237 | \end{columns}
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| 238 | \end{frame}
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| 239 |
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| 240 | \subsection{Early design: the T9000 prototype}
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| 241 | \begin{frame}
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| 242 | Most of the design for the first machine is the work of José Henrard.
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| 243 | Researcher in sociology and economy, he built his own computer in his spare time and was then hired by Thomson to get the company started with computers.
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| 244 |
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| 245 | \begin{columns}[T]
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| 246 | \begin{column}{.5\textwidth}
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| 247 | \includegraphics[width=\textwidth]{SiHenrard.jpg}
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| 248 | \end{column}
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| 249 | \begin{column}{.5\textwidth}
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| 250 | \includegraphics[width=\textwidth]{title-t9000.png}
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| 251 | \end{column}
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| 252 | \end{columns}
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| 253 |
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| 254 |
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| 255 | This leads to the prototype T9000 computer demonstrated in 1979, a design
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| 256 | very close to the TO7. Works then begin on industrializing the design.
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| 257 | \end{frame}
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| 258 |
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| 259 | \subsection{TO7}
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| 260 | \begin{frame}
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| 261 | The TO7 is introduced in 1982. It competes against the Apple II and the zx81.
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| 262 |
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| 263 | "TO" means "Télévision Ordinateur", or "TV Computer", as it plugs to a standard TV.
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| 264 |
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| 265 | \includegraphics[width=\textwidth]{F_TO7.jpg}
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| 266 | \end{frame}
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| 267 |
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| 268 | \begin{frame}
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| 269 | Almost 24K of RAM:
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| 270 | \begin{itemize}
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| 271 | \item 8K system RAM (8 bits wide, expansion available to add 32K more),
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| 272 | \item 8K video RAM (14 bits wide)
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| 273 | \end{itemize}
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| 274 |
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| 275 | 6K of ROM (built into the 6846 PIA):
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| 276 | \begin{itemize}
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| 277 | \item monitor code and "welcome" boot screen
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| 278 | \item (BASIC comes in a cartridge, sold separately)
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| 279 | \end{itemize}
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| 280 |
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| 281 | Static RAM is used, allowing a simple video generation system using standard 74LS logic chips.
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| 282 |
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| 283 | The computer is designed to be used mostly with the integrated lightpen.
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| 284 | The keyboard is considered secondary and made flat in an attempt to make it less visible.
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| 285 | \end{frame}
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| 286 |
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| 287 | \begin{frame}
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| 288 | 320x200, 8 color, with 8x1 color blocks, 2 colors per block.
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| 289 | \begin{columns}[T]
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| 290 | \begin{column}{.5\textwidth}
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| 291 | \begin{figure}
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| 292 | \includegraphics[width=\textwidth]{03.png}
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| 293 | \caption{Atomium, 1982}
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| 294 | \end{figure}
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| 295 | \end{column}
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| 296 | \begin{column}{.5\textwidth}
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| 297 | \begin{figure}
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| 298 | \includegraphics[width=\textwidth]{24.png}
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| 299 | \caption{Elvis Lives! Slideshow, 2014}
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| 300 | \end{figure}
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| 301 | \end{column}
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| 302 | \end{columns}
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| 303 | Sound: 1-bit buzzer.
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| 304 | \end{frame}
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| 305 |
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| 306 | \subsection{TO7/70}
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| 307 | \begin{frame}
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| 308 | Introduced in 1984, this competes against the Amstrad CPC 464 and Commodore 64.
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| 309 | \includegraphics[width=\textwidth]{F_to770-2.jpg}
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| 310 |
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| 311 | 64K RAM (48K system + 16K video), extensible to 128K.
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| 312 |
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| 313 | Dynamic RAM and integrated Gate Array for video logic.
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| 314 |
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| 315 | Slightly better "chicklet" keyboard.
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| 316 | \end{frame}
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| 317 | \begin{frame}
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| 318 | The color palette has the 8 base colors, and brighter versions (not darker as on Spectrum).
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| 319 |
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| 320 | "bright white" is replaced with orange.
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| 321 | \begin{figure}
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| 322 | \begin{columns}[T]
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| 323 | \begin{column}{.5\textwidth}
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| 324 | \includegraphics[width=\textwidth]{MOD1.png}
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| 325 | \end{column}
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| 326 | \begin{column}{.5\textwidth}
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| 327 | \includegraphics[width=\textwidth]{MOD2.png}
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| 328 | \end{column}
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| 329 | \end{columns}
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| 330 | \caption{La mine aux diamants, 1984}
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| 331 | \end{figure}
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| 332 | \end{frame}
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| 333 |
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| 334 | \subsection{MO5}
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| 335 | \begin{frame}
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| 336 | The MO5 was launched at the same time as the TO7/70. It is a simpler design and competes against the ZX Spectrum and Oric Atmos.
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| 337 |
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| 338 | \includegraphics[width=\textwidth]{F_mo5.jpg}
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| 339 | \end{frame}
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| 340 |
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| 341 | \begin{frame}
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| 342 | \begin{columns}[T]
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| 343 | \begin{column}{.04\textwidth}
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| 344 | \includegraphics[angle=90,width=\textwidth]{mo5pal.png}
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| 345 | \end{column}
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| 346 | \begin{column}{.96\textwidth}
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| 347 | 6846 PIA removed
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| 348 |
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| 349 | Simpler memory map with 16K ROM and 48K RAM
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| 350 |
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| 351 | Better tape data encoding.
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| 352 |
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| 353 | Built-in BASIC, masked by cartridges.
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| 354 |
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| 355 | No memory expansion initially, but fixed later to allow a 64K expansion on the cartridge port.
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| 356 |
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| 357 | \begin{columns}[T]
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| 358 | \begin{column}{.5\textwidth}
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| 359 | \begin{figure}
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| 360 | \includegraphics[width=\textwidth]{dinos.png}
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| 361 | \caption{Life and death of Dinosaurs, 1986}
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| 362 | \end{figure}
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| 363 | \end{column}
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| 364 | \begin{column}{.5\textwidth}
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| 365 | \begin{figure}
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| 366 | \includegraphics[width=\textwidth]{poiscmo5.png}
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| 367 | \caption{Poiscaïe by Exocet, 2015}
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| 368 | \end{figure}
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| 369 | \end{column}
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| 370 | \end{columns}
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| 371 |
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| 372 |
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| 373 |
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| 374 | \end{column}
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| 375 | \end{columns}
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| 376 | \end{frame}
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| 377 |
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| 378 | \subsection{TO9}
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| 379 | \begin{frame}
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| 380 |
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| 381 | \begin{columns}[T]
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| 382 | \begin{column}{.6\textwidth}
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| 383 | \includegraphics[width=\textwidth]{TO9.jpg}
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| 384 | \end{column}
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| 385 |
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| 386 | \begin{column}{.4\textwidth}
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| 387 | Introduced in 1985, the TO9 targets the professional market
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| 388 |
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| 389 | (competing against the Macintosh, according to Thomson marketing dept.)
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| 390 | \end{column}
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| 391 | \end{columns}
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| 392 | \end{frame}
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| 393 |
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| 394 | \begin{frame}
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| 395 | 128K RAM, 136K ROM with built-in BASIC, Word processor, database, and "icon DOS" file manager.
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| 396 |
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| 397 | Built-in disk drive, PC like desktop case with detached keyboard
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| 398 |
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| 399 | 6-bit DAC for sound output, Joystick/mouse ports, parallel port.
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| 400 |
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| 401 | (these are all available as expansion for other models).
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| 402 |
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| 403 | The same year, the TO7/70 and MO5 are upgraded to get a mechanical keyboard.
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| 404 |
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| 405 | \includegraphics[width=.5\textwidth]{screenshot1.png}
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| 406 | \end{frame}
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| 407 |
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| 408 | \begin{frame}
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| 409 | \begin{columns}[T]
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| 410 | \begin{column}{.7\textwidth}
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| 411 | New video modes without block constraints
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| 412 |
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| 413 | (320x200 4 colors, 160x200 16 colors,
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| 414 |
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| 415 | 640x200 2 colors)
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| 416 |
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| 417 | 4096 color configurable palette.
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| 418 |
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| 419 | \begin{figure}
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| 420 | \includegraphics[width=\textwidth]{brink-thedruid.png}
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| 421 | \caption{The Druid by Brink, 2014}
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| 422 | \end{figure}
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| 423 | \end{column}
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| 424 | \begin{column}{.4\textwidth}
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| 425 | \vspace{-.5cm}
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| 426 | \begin{figure}
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| 427 | \includegraphics[width=\textwidth]{bob.png}
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| 428 | \caption{Bob Morane Science Fiction}
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| 429 |
|
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| 430 | \includegraphics[width=\textwidth]{asterix.png}
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| 431 | \caption{Asterix Chez Rahazade}
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| 432 | \end{figure}
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| 433 | \end{column}
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| 434 | \end{columns}
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| 435 | \end{frame}
|
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| 436 |
|
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| 437 | \subsection{The 1986 machines}
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| 438 | \begin{frame}
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| 439 | New gate array integrating more of the computer on a single chip to reduce costs.
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| 440 |
|
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| 441 | All the new features from the TO9 are made available on all machines.
|
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| 442 |
|
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| 443 | The ROM is 64K on MO6 and 80K on TO machines. The built-in software is now moved to floppies
|
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| 444 | to allow easier upgrades (the first 10000 TO9 shipped had to be replaced because of software bugs).
|
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| 445 |
|
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| 446 | \end{frame}
|
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| 447 |
|
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| 448 | \begin{frame}
|
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| 449 | The TO7/70 is replaced with the TO8 (now fighting against Amstrad CPC 6128, Amiga 500 and Atari ST),
|
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| 450 | \includegraphics[width=\textwidth]{TO8.jpg}
|
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| 451 |
|
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| 452 | It gets an internal floppy controller and 256K RAM, but still no built-in floppy drive.
|
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| 453 | \end{frame}
|
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| 454 |
|
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| 455 | \begin{frame}
|
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| 456 | The MO5 is replaced with the MO6 (fighting against Amstrad CPC 464),
|
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| 457 | which has 128K RAM and a built-in tape deck.
|
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| 458 |
|
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| 459 | \includegraphics[width=\textwidth]{MO6.jpg}
|
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| 460 | \end{frame}
|
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| 461 |
|
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| 462 | \begin{frame}
|
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| 463 | The TO9 with the TO9+, getting 512K of RAM and a built-in modem.
|
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| 464 |
|
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| 465 | \includegraphics[width=\textwidth]{F_to9plus.jpg}
|
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| 466 | \end{frame}
|
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| 467 |
|
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| 468 | \subsection{End of the story}
|
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| 469 | \begin{frame}
|
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| 470 | In 1987, the TO8 is replaced with the TO8D and finally gets a built-in floppy drive.
|
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| 471 |
|
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| 472 | \includegraphics[width=\textwidth]{to8dcote.jpg}
|
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| 473 | \end{frame}
|
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| 474 |
|
---|
| 475 | \begin{frame}
|
---|
| 476 | Thomson teamed up with Olivetti (Italia) and Acorn (UK) to design an european standard computer.
|
---|
| 477 | This was based on 68000 CPU and multitasking OS/9. The project is cancelled.
|
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| 478 |
|
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| 479 | Thomson will sell a PC compatible machine (the TO16) until 1989, then quit the microcomputer market.
|
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| 480 | \end{frame}
|
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| 481 |
|
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| 482 | \section{Programming on Thomson}
|
---|
| 483 | \subsection{The 6809E CPU}
|
---|
| 484 | \begin{frame}
|
---|
| 485 | \begin{itemize}
|
---|
| 486 | \item Binary-incompatible redesign of the earlier 680x CPU
|
---|
| 487 | \item Similar to the 6502, but more powerful
|
---|
| 488 | \item 2 accumulators (A and B) useable as a 16-bit one (D)
|
---|
| 489 | \item 2 index registers (X,Y)
|
---|
| 490 | \item 2 stack pointers (S,U)
|
---|
| 491 | \item Direct-page allows fast access to a 256-byte memory zone
|
---|
| 492 | (like Zero-page, but can use any 256-byte memory zone with DP register)
|
---|
| 493 | \item Hardware mulitply instruction
|
---|
| 494 | \item advanced addressing modes (indirect with predecrement/postincrement)
|
---|
| 495 | \item LEA instruction (like on 68000)
|
---|
| 496 | \end{itemize}
|
---|
| 497 | \end{frame}
|
---|
| 498 |
|
---|
| 499 | \subsection{Video logic}
|
---|
| 500 | \begin{frame}
|
---|
| 501 | Original design (1982-1985)
|
---|
| 502 | \begin{itemize}
|
---|
| 503 | \item The video hardware access the memory using a 16-bit bus
|
---|
| 504 | \item This is split in two "banks", the CPU can only map one at a time
|
---|
| 505 | \item One bank sets 2 colors for a block (3 or 4bit each)
|
---|
| 506 | \item The other bank defines the 8 pixels (0=use first color, 1=use second color)
|
---|
| 507 | \item The resolution is fixed to 320x200, leaving a small free space in each bank
|
---|
| 508 | \item Video memory is linear.
|
---|
| 509 | \end{itemize}
|
---|
| 510 | \end{frame}
|
---|
| 511 |
|
---|
| 512 | \begin{frame}
|
---|
| 513 | Starting from the TO9, and in the 1986 gate array, some changes are made:
|
---|
| 514 | \begin{itemize}
|
---|
| 515 | \item The 4-bit colors are fed to a programmable lookup palette, allowing 4096 colors
|
---|
| 516 | \item The pixel clock can be changed to generate 160x200 or 640x200 modes
|
---|
| 517 | \item The "attribute block" system can be replaced by a planar or semi-planar mode (each pixel is defined using some bits from each bank)
|
---|
| 518 | \item The system allows for "overprint" modes where one bank masks the other.
|
---|
| 519 | \end{itemize}
|
---|
| 520 | \end{frame}
|
---|
| 521 |
|
---|
| 522 | \begin{frame}
|
---|
| 523 | In 1986, further changes are made:
|
---|
| 524 | \begin{itemize}
|
---|
| 525 | \item The memory access is done using the system 8-bit bus
|
---|
| 526 | \item The two banks are interleaved in physical memory to allow "same-page" fast access
|
---|
| 527 | \item This makes it possible to use a single bank of 8 256K chips for the whole memory
|
---|
| 528 | \item As the Gate Array is also used on the MO6, an extra swapping step is added for compatibility.
|
---|
| 529 | \end{itemize}
|
---|
| 530 |
|
---|
| 531 | \end{frame}
|
---|
| 532 |
|
---|
| 533 | \subsection{Sound}
|
---|
| 534 | \begin{frame}
|
---|
| 535 | Up to the MO5, only a buzzer is available.
|
---|
| 536 |
|
---|
| 537 | Starting from the TO9, a 6-bit DAC is used. It has no DMA, so playing sound
|
---|
| 538 | wastes a lot of CPU time, and some bits are shared with mouse input, which create interferences.
|
---|
| 539 |
|
---|
| 540 | Additionally, the tape drive has a stereo head. One track is used for data,
|
---|
| 541 | and the other is sent to the audio amplifier. This can be used for CPU-free
|
---|
| 542 | high-quality audio.
|
---|
| 543 | \end{frame}
|
---|
| 544 |
|
---|
| 545 | \subsection{Memory banking}
|
---|
| 546 | \begin{frame}
|
---|
| 547 | The ROM is always mapped in. This is why interrups are hardwired to it.
|
---|
| 548 |
|
---|
| 549 | On the MO5 and plain TO7, only the video RAM is banked (2 banks). But
|
---|
| 550 | RAM expansions may add more.
|
---|
| 551 |
|
---|
| 552 | The TO9 adds even more banking support,
|
---|
| 553 |
|
---|
| 554 | The 1986 gate array is compatible with all of the above, and has yet another
|
---|
| 555 | new mode to allow up to 512K of banks. It also allows relocating the video
|
---|
| 556 | RAM to different memory banks instead of a single fixed one.
|
---|
| 557 |
|
---|
| 558 | Use of the different modes can be confusing. It's possible to map the same
|
---|
| 559 | RAM page to the CPU at multiple places at a time.
|
---|
| 560 | \end{frame}
|
---|
| 561 |
|
---|
| 562 |
|
---|
| 563 | \subsection{Extra features}
|
---|
| 564 | \begin{frame}
|
---|
| 565 | On TO machines, the 6846 PIA provides a programmable timer
|
---|
| 566 |
|
---|
| 567 | Unfortunately, the interrupt routine jumps into ROM, and does a lot of things
|
---|
| 568 | there.
|
---|
| 569 |
|
---|
| 570 | You can still use the timer with polling, or the SYNC instruction to wait for
|
---|
| 571 | timer events without using interrupts (but this of course locks the CPU waiting).
|
---|
| 572 | \end{frame}
|
---|
| 573 |
|
---|
| 574 | \begin{frame}
|
---|
| 575 | The 1986 gate array has 60Hz video support. This was never used, as attempts to export the machines have all failed (to URSS, India, Argentina, Spain, ...).
|
---|
| 576 |
|
---|
| 577 | This could be used to kill the bottom border of the screen like on Atari ST.
|
---|
| 578 |
|
---|
| 579 | The video modes are programmed using a 7-bit register. A lot of combinations are marked "useless" in the official documentation. What happens if you use them?
|
---|
| 580 | \end{frame}
|
---|
| 581 |
|
---|
| 582 |
|
---|
| 583 | \section{Software failure}
|
---|
| 584 | \subsection{Why did it fail?}
|
---|
| 585 |
|
---|
| 586 | \begin{frame}
|
---|
| 587 | As you probably have noticed, Thomson machines were never too popular out of
|
---|
| 588 | France. Why is that?
|
---|
| 589 | \begin{itemize}
|
---|
| 590 | \item Too high prices: Thomson insisted on building the computers completely
|
---|
| 591 | in France, and had somewhat complex hardware (lots of RAM and ROM, ...),
|
---|
| 592 | leading to high prices.
|
---|
| 593 | \item Too high compatibility: all machines use the same 1MHz CPU in an attempt to make them all compatible. In 1986,
|
---|
| 594 | this was not acceptable anymore
|
---|
| 595 | \item Too low compatibility: despite the attempts, there were still a lot of problems and misunderstandings (why keeping both the MO and TO series? Why replacing the Gate Array with a new and slightly different design in the MO5 later revisions?)
|
---|
| 596 | \item Too many machines: and I only shown the ones with actual hardware differences, ignoring the various recasings (MO5NR, MO5 Platini, mechanical keyboard upgrades)
|
---|
| 597 | \end{itemize}
|
---|
| 598 | \end{frame}
|
---|
| 599 | \begin{frame}
|
---|
| 600 | \begin{itemize}
|
---|
| 601 | \item Unusual CPU choice: Thomson and Tandy CoCo are the only ones using the 6809, forcing devs to use different tools and rewrite all their code. Z80 and 6502 were a lot more popular.
|
---|
| 602 | \item Low quality software: most software is adapted from Spectrum or CPC,
|
---|
| 603 | and not using Thomson machines capabilities to their full potential.
|
---|
| 604 | Moreover, they kept compatibility with older models, and never used the
|
---|
| 605 | advanced features of the new ones to the full power.
|
---|
| 606 | \item "educative" orientation. Thomson is remembered for being the "school
|
---|
| 607 | computer". It never managed to become a popular game machine, nor
|
---|
| 608 | a business one.
|
---|
| 609 | \end{itemize}
|
---|
| 610 | \end{frame}
|
---|
| 611 |
|
---|
| 612 | \subsection{Thomson demoscene}
|
---|
| 613 | \begin{frame}
|
---|
| 614 | In the 80s and 90s, there was an active Thomson community in France, but not
|
---|
| 615 | much demomaking activities. People focused mostly on writing "serious" software,
|
---|
| 616 | and some hardware projects.
|
---|
| 617 |
|
---|
| 618 | In the 1990s, the only group was HCL. They did some intros as well as the HCL
|
---|
| 619 | megademo.
|
---|
| 620 |
|
---|
| 621 | In the 2000s, the group PULS finally brings some serious demos to Thomson with
|
---|
| 622 | Chinese Stack and Space Project.
|
---|
| 623 |
|
---|
| 624 | In 2011, for the forst time a Thomson demo enters a democompo (at Forever!)
|
---|
| 625 | \end{frame}
|
---|
| 626 |
|
---|
| 627 | \section{Join us!}
|
---|
| 628 | \begin{frame}
|
---|
| 629 | I hope to see more people have a try at Thomson. You don't have one at home?
|
---|
| 630 | No problem, we have emulators!
|
---|
| 631 |
|
---|
| 632 | Get MESS or TEO, both come with a built-in debugger and other useful features
|
---|
| 633 | for development.
|
---|
| 634 |
|
---|
| 635 | Some of the hardware documentation is only available in French. (have a look at
|
---|
| 636 | the dcmoto website for some). I'm working on a "demomaker guide" to get you
|
---|
| 637 | started.
|
---|
| 638 |
|
---|
| 639 | http://shinra.cpcscene.com
|
---|
| 640 | \end{frame}
|
---|
| 641 |
|
---|
| 642 | \end{document}
|
---|