Oldest Commodore PET 2001 Brochure
This document was given to commodore.ca by Austin Hook of Canada's (and possibly North America's) first retail computer store in October of 2002.  Scans of the original document can be seen on our GALLERY, BROCHURES page or by clicking here.  Take note the formatting of the original document has been retained here as much as possible.  By today's (Oct 2002) standards it is very unprofessional but for its day, this was acceptable.  I believe the document is from early 1978.  If you have anything of equivalent age or older relating to Commodore computers or parts please contact us.

The Commodore PET -- Its technology is so advanced: its concept, so remarkable: its ease of operation, so utterly simple, and its cost so incredibly low, that over-night it has given rise to a brand new era --The Age of the Personal Computer.

THE PET has become the standard for the emerging personal computer industry.  Computer magazines, trade journals, consumer and business publications have lauded its discovery. POPULAR SCIENCE put THE PET on its October, 1977 cover, in full color, and devoted a feature news story to the corning revolution in personal and office computing. PLAYBOY, February, 1978, gave full color coverage to the "mind-boggling" PET

IN A LEAGUE WITH IBM, HP AND WANG MINICOMPUTERS
THE PET should not be confused with game products that hook up to household T.V.'s. It is a minicomputer. What sets THE PET light years apart from other computers is its price. While the others cost from $11,000 to $20,000 and more, THE PET, with similar capabilities and power, costs only $1,200.  One extremely important capability shared with HP's minicomputer, and full size computers, is its IEEE-488 Bus. This standard data/control channel means your PET can be directly connected to a variety of peripherals and laboratory measuring equipment. Over 120 pieces of compatible equipment such as counters, timers, spectrum analyzers, digital voltmeters and printer plotters from manufacturers such as HP, Phillips, Fluke, and Textronix are currently available.

ROM Magazine, January 1978, writes, "THE PET comes out of the box, plugs into the wall, and is ready to use" It is equipped with a CRT video display with reverse and blink features, an alpha-numeric keyboard with complete graphics and a built-in standard cassette tape deck.

THE PET is an exceptionally powerful think tank with 8K bytes of RAM (User Memory).  Optional equipment, permits expansion to 32K.  The system contains 14K bytes of ROM (Program Memory). 

THE PET COMMUNICATES IN THE EASIEST COMPUTER LANGUAGE
Computers talk in many languages. The easiest is BASIC or English-like words. If THE PET wants you to press a key, it will flash, .'Press such and such", right on the display.  You speak back to THE PET through its full size 73-key keyboard.

EXTENSIVE CHARACTERORIENTED GRAPHICS
The unit features a 9-inch, high resolution, 1000 character CRT. Characters are arranged 40 columns by 25 lines on an 8 x 8 matrix for superb graphics

WHAT IS THE PET REALLY FOR?
It is the single most important teaching device for any computer related subject It can help a youngster learn number facts, or help a med student do tissue analyses It will entertain the most sophisticated data application, or the simplest inquiry-response assignment.

IN THE LAB it handles instrumentation, process monitoring, computer aided instructions, and more. A number of Fortune 500 companies have already made PETS an integral part of their lab and general office system.

As a BUSINESS TOOL it will; Maintain ledgers. Illustrate cash flow charts. Keep payroll records. Create P & L's. Control inventory. Store and analyze sales data. Draw bar graphs. Issue invoices. Do statistical work. Hook up to on-line computer system.

THE PET is the only totally integrated, self-contained, personal computing system. It measures a compact 16 1/2” wide; 18 1/2" deep; 14" high, and weighs just 44 pounds.

As an AT-HOME TOOL it will; Compute state and federal tax returns. Make heat and insulation analyses. Keep Christmas lists.  Keep checkbook and finances up to date. Programs are even being developed to store recipes and to compute larger or smaller portion requirements 

WHO IS THE PET FOR?
Engineers, scientists, doctors, educators, students of computer science, attorneys, stock brokers, realtors, insurance people, list brokers, home economists, churches, grocery store owners, automobile dealers, sales people, organizations.

JUST FOR FUN
There is hardly a game, from Blackjack to Master Chess that cannot be programmed into the unit. A variety of game programs is currently available.

ANNOUNCING THE PET PRINTER
This powerful word processing accessory lets you print hardcopies, invoices, and computer correspondence. Faster than an IBM Selectric, THE PET Printer delivers 60 characters per second at a sustained rate -- or 3.600 characters every minute – with upper and lower case capability. Characters are 118" tall and printed in a 7 x 8 dot matrix. The printer uses a standard 8 1/2" wide paper roll. And most unbelievable –it is only $995.

PERIPHERAL SECOND CASSETTE
This optional component expands storage and increases flexibility. Only $130.00.

MILES OF SOFTWARE
Listed below is a sampling of current is available PET programs. "BASIC BASIC” shows you how to write a program for the unit. You can actually develop your own programs to meet personal requirements.

FREE ORIENTATION PACKAGE
Your PET comes complete with two programs and an easy-to-follow instruction manual. By working through the routines you will quickly discover how easy it is to gain command of your personal computer.

PET and Peripherals. The external cassette (the PET CASSETTE model C2N) is shown connected to the cassette port and ready for file management.

Also shown is the PET Printer, model 2020, capable of printing up to 80 characters per line on 8 ½” roll or fan-fold paper. It prints the entire complement of PET alphanumerics and graphics at approximately 120 CPS on a 7x8 dot matrix.

The unit can be programmed to print extended characters as well as a unique character (such as a corporate logo).
 

commodore
basic

The fastest full floating-point BASIC implemented on a micro-computer. Allows communication directly from BASIC to IEEE-488 standard devices, cassettes, display, and keyboard built into PET. Accurate built-in clock is set table and readable from BASIC in decimal or string value. Full command set, including: 

Standard Dartmouth BASIC Statements
LET     READ   PRINT DATA  IF
THEN   FOR    NEXT   DIM     ENO
GOTO

Extended BASIC Statements
RESTORE       REM    GET    GOSUB          DEF
RETURN         STOP STEP   INPUT           FN
ON...GOTO     ON...GOSUB 

Scientific Functions
SGN    INT     ABS    SOR    RND    SIN
COS    TAN    ATN    LOG    EXP     π

Logical Operators
AND    OR      NOT

Operation Commands
RUN    NEW    CLR     LIST    CONT FRE 

Formatting Functions
TAB    POS    SPC 

Machine level Statements
PEEK   POKE
Allow the user to examine and store at specific memory locations.

USR    SVS
Link BASIC to machine language subroutines with parameter passing or developmental subsystems.

WAIT
Monitors status of a memory location such as an 1/0 port until specified bits are set.

String Functions
LEFTS RIGHTS         MID$
Returns substrings (of specified length and position of string acted upon.

CHR$   ASC
CHR$ returns a character, given a numeric code.
ASC returns a numeric code corresponding to a character.

LEN
Returns the length of a string.

VAL     STRS
Convert decimal values to numeric strings and vice-versa.

Extended I/0 Statements
OPEN   CLOSE
Control association of a logical file number to a physical device and, optionally, a file name on the device.

SAVE   LOAD   VERIFY
Store and retrieve a program, with optional file number, on a physical device. Load allows for program overlay.
VERIFY compares contents of memory to stored program

PRINT#         INPUT#         GET
Allow communication with logical device numbers other than keyboard or screen. GET# inputs one character.

CMD
Permits communication with multiple devices simultaneously.

Example of I/0 Operations
Tape-to-tape file copy
    10 OPEN 5,1,0, "OLD FILE'.
    20 OPEN 6,2,1, "NEW FILE"
    30 INPUT#6,A$
    40 IF ST AND 64 GO TO 70
    50 PRINT#6,A$
    60 GO TO 30
    70 CLOSE 5
    80 CLOSE 6
Program locates "OLD FILE" on tape #1, writes file header for "NEW FILE" on tape #2, then copies tape #1 to #2 until it encounters an EOF on #1, and then writes an EOF on #2.

Variables
TYPES: Real   Integer (%)    String ($)
NAMES: Variable names are uniquely given as a letter or a letter followed by a letter or a digit.

Special Variebles
TI       TI$     Time of day
ST                Status word for I/0 operations

the PET
keyboard
The PET keyboard consists of 73 keys. There are the usual alphanumerics (A-Z and 0-9) found on typewriters and calculators and many computers.

But the PET has something more: 63 graphic characters. The graphics can be used for plots, for fun and games, or for artwork.

There are also special screen and keyboard control keys including the complete movement of the cursor, reversing the characters and background, insertion and deletion of characters, shift and run/stop.

specifications