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Commodore PET 2001

Operating System:
Basic and built-in ROM machine language monitor
Advertisement:
Sales Brochure
Processor:
6502 @ 1 MHz
Storage:
Integrated cassette tape
Company:
Commodore International
Year:
1977

The Commodore PET (Personal Electronic Transactor) computer was one of the first fully integrated "appliance" computers. The PET, along with the Apple ][ and Radio Shack TRS-80 Model 1 ushered in a new era of "all in one" computing to a new group of home users who did not have to build their own computers. They just worked out of the box! Early software included games and home productivity programs. We have a complete accounting system on cassette tapes in the museum.

On our Curator's (Bob Roswell) first day at ComputerLand he visited a school in Montgomery County, Maryland. His repair tools included a hair dryer and can of freon. Thermal issues plagued the early PETs, but they could be easily repaired with a soldering iron after using the hair dryer to figure out which chips needed help.