Commodore PET 2001-8

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.

System Architecture		Memory
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
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
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.
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.
* 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	???

Introduced	1978
Discontinued	???
Release Price	$799.00