Commodore PET 2001 Microcomputer
date: label: Date made
content: ca 1977
name: label: maker
content: Commodore Business Machines, Inc.
notes: label: Description
content: In 1977, Commodore introduced the PET (Personal Electronic Transactor) home/personal computer. Appearing before either the Apple II or the Radio Shack TRS-80, it was among the first personal computers. The PET 2001, Commodore's first model, included four kilobytes of memory, cost $495, and was fully functional out of the box. The computer sold well, but initially Commodore could produce only a meager thirty units a day.
label: Description
content: The PET had a main board with a 1 MHz MOS 6502 processor and room for additional RAM. The machine included a built-in cassette on the front of the case for data storage. Users could write their own programs in BASIC, but many complained about the small keyboard, which made touch typing difficult. The screen of the PET computer was small (9"), and had a black or blue display. Users could design simple graphics, do animations, or work out math problems. A notable feature of the PET 2001 was that the top of the computer opened for maintenance like the hood of a car.
label: Description
content: PET 2001 was designed by computer pioneer Chuck Peddle. He came to Commodore during the company's acquisition of MOS Technology in 1976. AT MOS, he had designed the KIM (Keyboard Input Monitor) computer. At Commodore, he convinced managers that computers were "in" and won approval to design the PET. It paved the way for later Commodore machines, such as the Commodore-64.
label: Description
content: This particular PET 2001 was donated by Louis Mittleman, who noted not only that the keyboard was a serious "drawback," but also that the manual did not have much information.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
setName: label: See more items in
content: Medicine and Science: Computers
label: See more items in
content: Family & Social Life
label: See more items in
content: Computers & Business Machines
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Louis Mittelman, Jr.
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: 1985.0591.01
label: catalog number
content: 1985.0591.01
label: accession number
content: 1985.0591
label: serial number
content: 0011716
objectType: label: Object Name
content: microcomputer
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: manufactured (overall production method/technique)
label: Physical Description
content: plastic (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: metal (overall material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 16 in x 17 1/2 in x 19 in; 40.64 cm x 44.45 cm x 48.26 cm
label: Measurements
content: overall: 15 3/4 in x 17 1/2 in x 19 in; 40.005 cm x 44.45 cm x 48.26 cm