Commodore PET

Commodore PET was a groundbreaking personal computer developed by Commodore International in the late 1970s, with the first model, the PET 2001, released in 1977. The Commodore PET was designed by Chuck Peddle and John Feagans, and it played a significant role in the development of the personal computer industry, competing with other popular models like the Apple II and TRS-80. The Commodore PET was widely used in education, particularly in schools and universities, due to its affordability and ease of use, with notable implementations at MIT, Stanford University, and University of California, Berkeley. The computer's success can be attributed to the vision of Jack Tramiel, the founder of Commodore International, who aimed to make personal computers accessible to the masses, much like Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak at Apple Inc..

● Introduction

The Commodore PET was an 8-bit computer based on the MOS Technology 6502 microprocessor, which was also used in other popular computers like the Apple II and Atari 2600. The computer's design was influenced by the Kenbak-1, one of the first personal computers, and it was initially intended for use in business and education, with notable partnerships with IBM, Microsoft, and Intel Corporation. The Commodore PET was known for its compact design, which included a built-in keyboard, cassette tape interface, and monochrome display, similar to the TRS-80 Model I and Sinclair ZX80. The computer's popularity led to the creation of various user groups, including the Commodore Users Group and PET Users Group, which were similar to the Apple Users Group and IBM PC User Group.

● History

The development of the Commodore PET began in 1976, when Commodore International acquired MOS Technology, Inc., a company founded by Chuck Peddle and John Feagans, who had previously worked at General Instrument and Texas Instruments. The Commodore PET was first released in 1977, with an initial price of around $795, which was competitive with other personal computers like the Apple II and TRS-80. The computer was widely adopted in education, particularly in Canada, United States, and Europe, with notable implementations at University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, and Sorbonne University. The Commodore PET played a significant role in the development of the personal computer industry, with its impact felt at Comdex, CES, and WWDC, and it influenced the design of later computers like the Commodore 64 and Amiga 1000.

● Hardware

The Commodore PET was based on the MOS Technology 6502 microprocessor, which was an 8-bit processor with a clock speed of 1 MHz, similar to the Zilog Z80 used in the TRS-80. The computer had 4 KB or 8 KB of RAM, depending on the model, and it used cassette tapes for storage, similar to the Apple II and Sinclair ZX81. The Commodore PET had a built-in keyboard and monochrome display, with a resolution of 40x25 characters, similar to the TRS-80 Model I and Heathkit H8. The computer's hardware was designed to be compact and efficient, with a focus on affordability and ease of use, much like the Altair 8800 and Kenbak-1.

● Software

The Commodore PET came with a built-in BASIC interpreter, which was developed by Microsoft, and it was compatible with a range of software applications, including word processors, spreadsheets, and games, similar to the Apple II and TRS-80. The computer's software library included popular titles like Lode Runner, Defender of the Crown, and Zork, which were also available on other platforms like the Commodore 64 and Amiga 1000. The Commodore PET was also used for programming, with a range of languages available, including BASIC, Pascal, and assembly language, similar to the Apple II and IBM PC.

● Impact and Legacy

The Commodore PET had a significant impact on the development of the personal computer industry, with its influence felt in the design of later computers like the Commodore 64 and Amiga 1000. The computer's affordability and ease of use made it a popular choice for education and home use, with notable implementations at NASA, MIT, and Stanford University. The Commodore PET also played a role in the development of the video game industry, with many popular games developed for the platform, including Pac-Man, Donkey Kong, and Q*bert, which were also available on other platforms like the Atari 2600 and Intellivision. The computer's legacy can be seen in the work of computer scientists and engineers who got their start with the Commodore PET, including Linus Torvalds, Richard Stallman, and John Carmack, who went on to develop Linux, GNU, and Doom, respectively.

● Models and Variations

The Commodore PET was released in several models, including the PET 2001, PET 2001-8, and PET 2001-16, each with varying amounts of RAM and storage capacity, similar to the Apple II and TRS-80. The computer was also released in several variations, including the CBM 3000 and CBM 4000, which were designed for business and industrial use, with notable partnerships with IBM, Microsoft, and Intel Corporation. The Commodore PET was also compatible with a range of peripherals, including printers, modems, and disk drives, similar to the Commodore 64 and Amiga 1000. The computer's models and variations were widely adopted in education and industry, with notable implementations at University of California, Berkeley, Carnegie Mellon University, and Georgia Institute of Technology.