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Commodore PET Dead

Commodore PET
KindMachine
Introduced1977
Discontinued1982
StatusDead
ManufacturerCommodore
ClassHome computer
PlatformMOS 6502
Sourcebitsavers.org ↗

The first all-in-one personal computer — keyboard, monitor, and cassette in one steel case. A fixture of classrooms on two continents; 'PET' allegedly stood for nothing.

Created by Commodore International

Chuck Peddle's PET (1977) beat the Apple II and TRS-80 to market by months — the first all-in-one: built-in monitor, keyboard, and Datasette in a steel case. $795 for 4K.

PETs filled classrooms on both sides of the Atlantic; the distinctive font and 'PRESS PLAY ON TAPE' boot screen are generational memory. Commodore claims PET was 'Personal Electronic Transactor'; Peddle admitted it was chosen to sound cute.

Sources

  1. bitsavers.org/pdf/commodore/
  2. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commodore_PET