Commodore History Part 1- The PET
The 8-Bit Guy・2 minutes read
Documentaries often overlook lesser-known computer innovators like Commodore, Atari, and Tandy, focusing on giants like Apple and Microsoft. Chuck Peddle's creation of the widely successful 6502 CPU led to the development of the Commodore PET 2001, featuring integrated components and basic programming capabilities, despite criticisms of its keyboard and limited RAM.
Insights
- Companies like Commodore, Atari, and Tandy played significant roles in computer innovation alongside Apple, Microsoft, and IBM, challenging the dominant narrative in documentaries.
- The Commodore PET 2001, featuring an integrated monitor, keyboard, and cassette tape storage, was a pioneering all-inclusive personal computer with unique design elements, software features, and limitations that shaped its place in computer history.
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Recent questions
What companies were significant computer innovators besides Apple, Microsoft, and IBM?
Companies like Commodore, Atari, and Tandy played significant roles in computer innovation alongside Apple, Microsoft, and IBM.
Who developed the 6502 CPU and what led to its creation?
Chuck Peddle and engineers at MOS Technology developed the 6501 CPU in 1974, leading to the creation of the 6502 after Motorola sued.
What features did the Commodore PET 2001 offer?
The Commodore PET 2001 featured an integrated monitor, keyboard, and cassette tape storage, making it an all-inclusive personal computer.
What were some criticisms of the original PET model?
The PET's keyboard design was criticized for its small size, unconventional layout, and lack of dedicated number keys.
What were some limitations of the original PET model and how were they addressed in later models?
The original PET model had only 4K of RAM, limiting user capabilities, but later models could be upgraded with RAM expansion modules to address this limitation.
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Summary
00:00
Innovative Role of Commodore in Computer History
- Documentaries often focus on Apple, Microsoft, and IBM as computer innovators, but companies like Commodore, Atari, and Tandy played significant roles.
- In 1974, Chuck Peddle and engineers at MOS Technology developed the 6501 CPU, leading to the creation of the 6502 after Motorola sued.
- Chuck Peddle designed the KIM-1 development computer in 1976, utilizing the 6502 CPU and allowing BASIC programming and cassette tape storage.
- The 6502 CPU was widely successful, appearing in various computers like the Apple II, Atari 2600, and Commodore machines.
- Commodore Business Machines acquired MOS Technologies in 1976, leading to the creation of the Commodore PET 2001 in 1977 to compete with the Apple II.
- The Commodore PET 2001 featured an integrated monitor, keyboard, and cassette tape storage, making it an all-inclusive personal computer.
- The PET's keyboard design was criticized for its small size, unconventional layout, and lack of dedicated number keys.
- The original PET model had only 4K of RAM, limiting user capabilities, but later models could be upgraded with RAM expansion modules.
- The PET utilized an off-the-shelf cassette drive initially for storage, later introducing a disk drive connected via the IEEE-488 parallel port.
- The PET's screen was initially black and white, lacking color or graphics modes, but offered a unique character set for rudimentary graphics creation.
12:49
Commodore PET: Early Business Computer with Games
- Commodore PET models featured 80 columns display and up to 96K of RAM, with variations like the SuperPET and later evolving into the CBM line of business computers with a detachable keyboard.
- Software compatibility differed between 40-column and 80-column PETs, with software designed for one not running on the other.
- Commodore BASIC allowed for screen editing features like text reversal and clearing the screen, enhancing BASIC programming capabilities.
- The PET was one of the first mass-market computers to ship with Microsoft BASIC, featuring hidden Easter eggs from Microsoft that took up valuable memory space.
- Despite limited graphics and sound capabilities, the PET had a variety of games available, with notable titles like Millipede, Space Invaders, and Tetris, showcasing clever use of character sets for graphics.
