(click on picture) |
Introduced | 1978 |
Discontinued | ??? |
Release Price | $799.00 |
This is one of the oldest computers in my museum. It
was introduced in a time when most computers aimed at the
early home computer market were still sold to
consumers in kit form ( Altair, Imsia, Heath....).
Commodore was one of the first computer manufacturers to
introduce a non-kit computer ready to use out of the box
in 1977. This model is the 2nd in the 2001series released
in 1978 with the improved keyboard and increased memory
capacity( a whopping 32K! ). The PET,( an acronym for Personal Electronic Transactor), was designed by Chuck Peddle who also designed the 6502 microprocessor used in many of the computers of the period, including Apple, Atari, and Commodore computers. The PET series of computers used a Datassette model # 1530 as a mass storage device. It came equipped with an attached 9" green phosphor screen and had the unique ability to have it's cover raised like the hood of a car for servicing the computer. The case on earlier models was made of metal to be replaced by formed plastic on later models. The BASIC language built into the PET was actually written by a rather small and obscure (at that time) company called Microsoft. I read somewhere that the BASIC in the original PET was written by Bill Gates' little software company way back in 1977, but Jack Tramiel purchased it from Bill on a one-time license to use it in his computers. This means that they only had to pay for BASIC versions that were written for the early PETS, and any future versions rewritten by Commodore for newer models of computers would not be subject to the original license fee. So in a rare business blunder Bill didn't acquire the rights for the revised versions rewritten by Commodore for their later computer models. There were literally millions of VIC's, 64's, and 128's all using a version of Microsoft BASIC and Bill didn't get a penny in licensing fees. :) This PET was added to the museum on October 18, 1999. It was purchased through an auction on Ebay. My thanks to Ron Kneusel, who was the original owner, for selling this PET to me. I have this PET hooked to a VIC-1530 Datassette it now is displayed in the new museum area located in my workshop. Visit the 'History of the Museum' page to see the display.
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System Architecture |
Memory |
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Microprocessor | MOS 6502 | Standard on system board | 32k | |
Clock speed | 1Mhz | Maximum on system board | 32k | |
Bus type | CBM proprietary | Maximum total memory | 64k | |
Data bus width | 8-bit | Memory speed and type | unknown | |
Address bus width | 8-bit | System board memory socket type | 16 pin DIP | |
Interrupt levels | ??? | Number of memory module sockets | unknown | |
DMA channels | ??? | Memory used on system board | unknown | |
Standard Features |
Disk Storage |
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ROM size | 8k | Internal disk and tape drive bays | none | |
Optional math coprocessor | none | Standard floppy drives | external tape drive | |
Parallel port type | no | Optional floppy drives: | 1 | |
RS232C serial ports | no | * 5 1/4 inch 160k | optional | |
Mouse ports | no | * 5 1/4 inch 1.2MB | No | |
UART chip used | N/A | * 3 1/2 inch 720k | No | |
Maximum speed | N/A | * 3 1/2 inch 1.44MB | No | |
CMOS real time clock | no | * 3 1/2 inch 2.88MB | No | |
CMOS RAM | none | Hard disk controller included | No | |
Video & Graphics |
Sound |
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Graphics Processor | ??? | Sound Interface device | internal speaker | |
Screen size - Col x Rows | 40 x 25 | Sound generation | tone generator | |
Resolution - Colors/High | 1 / 200 x 192 | ADSR capable | no | |
Resolution - Colors/Low | 1 - 40 x 25 | |||
Max colors | mono-green & white | Programming language | ||
Sprites or Missiles | none | Built in language | Microsoft Basic | |
Built in M L monitor | no | |||
Expansion Slots |
Keyboard Specs. |
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Total adapter slots | 1-8 bit | Number of keys | 72 | |
Number of 8/16/32 bit slots | 1/0/0 | Upper/lower case | yes/yes | |
Keyboard cable length | N/A | |||
Physical Specs. |
Environmental Specs. |
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* Height | 16 inches | Operating voltage @ 60 Hz | 104-127VAC | |
* Width | 17.5 inches | Maximum power supplied | ??? | |
* Depth | 19 inches | Power supply output - volts | ??? | |
* Weight | 25 pounds | Power supply output - amps | ??? | |