This document was given to commodore.ca by Austin Hook of Canada’s (and probably North America’s) first retail computer store in October of 2002.  Scans of the original document can found at the bottom of this page.  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.

Commodore-PET_2001_brochure_cover

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.

Commodore-PET-2002_screens

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.

    GAME PROGRAMS ARE $11.00 EACH     [] Black Jack 11 Draw Poker [] Galaxy Games     [] Space Flight [] Target Bong.  Off-The-Wall     [] Lunar Lander, Wumpus. Rotate. Tic-Tac-Toe     [] Osero. Reverse [] Spacetrek [] Kingdom     PROGRAMS AT $16.00 EACH     [] Mortgage Analysis II Diet Planner and Biorhythm     []1 Balk:     Basic-by lodewyck and James PROGRAMS AT     $27.00 EACH     [] Basic Investment Analysis     – loans, annuities, return on regular and irregular sequences of payments,     calendar calculations     [] Stock Portfolio Recordkeeping and Analysis –     keeps track of buys, sells, and dividends Calculates current value, rates of     return     [] Checkbook Recordkeeping and Analysis, keeps track of checks     and deposits Analyzes expenses by date and type PROGRAMS AT $32.00 EACH [] Basic     Math Package     – matrix addition, multiplication. determinants and Inverses to 16 x 16.     solution of simultaneous linear equations, vector and plane geometry     calculations, integration by trapezoidal. Simpson S rule or Gaussian     quadrature, differentiation     [] Basic Statistics Package     – mean, median, variance standard deviation, skewness, kurtosis, frequency     distribution, linear regression, T-tests, correlation analyses

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.

    TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

MEMORY     Random Access Memory     (user memory); 8K Internal, expandable to 32K bytes Read Only     Memory     (operating system resident in the computer): 14K bytes       8K – BASIC Interpreter program       4K – Operating system       1K – Diagnostic routine       1K – Machine language monitor

VIDEO DISPLAY UNIT 9″     enclosed, black & white, high resolution CRT     1000 character display, arranged 40 columns by 25 lines     8 x 8 dot matrix for characters and continuous graphics     Automatic scrolling from bottom of screen     Winking cursor with full motion control     Reverse field on all characters (white on black, black on white)     64 standard ASCII characters; 64 graphic characters

KEYBOARD 9 ½” wide x     3″ deep: 73 keys     All 64 ASCII characters available without shift.  Calculator style numeric     key pad.     All 64 graphic and reverse field characters accessible from keyboard (with     shift) Screen     Control:     Clear and erase Editing:     Character insertion and deletion

CASSETTE STORAGE Fast     Commodore designed redundant-recording scheme, assuring reliable data     recovery.

 

Cassette drive     modified by Commodore for much higher reliability of recording and record     retention     High noise immunity, error detection, and correction     Uses standard audio cassette tapes     Tape files, named

OPERATING SYSTEM Supports     multiple languages (BASIC resident)     Machine language accessibility     File management in operating system     Cursor control, reverse field, and graphics under simple BASIC control     Cassette file management from BASIC     True random number generation or pseudo or random sequence

INPUT/OUTPUT All other     110 supported through IEEE-488 instrument interface for peripherals     110 automatically managed by operating system software     Single character 110 with GET command     Easy screen line-edit capability     Flexible 110 structure for Basic expansion with peripherals

BASIC INTERPRETER Expanded 8K BASIC: 20% faster than most other 8K BASICS     Upward expansion from BASIC language     Strings, integers, multiple dimension arrays     10 significant digits; floating point     Direct memory access’ PEEK and POKE commands

 

Commodore-PET-2002_peripherals

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 7×8  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 Variables TI  TI$  Time of day ST Status word for I/0 operations

Commodore-PET-2001_keyboard

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

    TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Dimensions:     16 ½” wide by 18 ½” deep 14 ” overall height Weight:     44 lbs.

MEMORY     Random Access Memory     (user memory); 8K Internal, expandable to 32K bytes Read Only     Memory     (operating system resident in the computer): 14K bytes       8K – BASIC Interpreter program       4K – Operating system       1K – Diagnostic routine       1K – Machine language monitor

VIDEO DISPLAY UNIT 9″     enclosed, black & white, high resolution CRT     1000 character display, arranged 40 columns by 25 lines     8 x 8 dot matrix for characters and continuous graphics     Automatic scrolling from bottom of screen     Winking cursor with full motion control

Reverse field on all     characters (white on black, black on white)     64 standard ASCII characters; 64 graphic characters

KEYBOARD 9 ½” wide x     3″ deep: 73 keys     All 64 ASCII characters available without shift.  Calculator style numeric     key pad.     All 64 graphic and reverse field characters accessible from keyboard (with     shift) Screen     Control:     Clear and erase Editing:     Character insertion and deletion

CASSETTE STORAGE Fast     Commodore designed redundant-recording scheme, assuring reliable data     recovery.

Cassette drive     modified by Commodore for much higher reliability of recording and record     retention     High noise immunity, error detection, and correction     Uses standard audio cassette tapes     Tape files, named

OPERATING SYSTEM Supports     multiple languages (BASIC resident)

Machine language     accessibility     File management in operating system     Cursor control, reverse field, and graphics under simple BASIC control     Cassette file management from BASIC     True random number generation or pseudo or random sequence

INPUT/OUTPUT All other     110 supported through IEEE-488 instrument interface for peripherals     110 automatically managed by operating system software     Single character 110 with GET command     Easy screen line-edit capability     Flexible 110 structure for Basic expansion with peripherals

BASIC INTERPRETER Expanded 8K BASIC: 20% faster than most other 8K BASICS     Upward expansion from BASIC language     Strings, integers, multiple dimension arrays     10 significant digits; floating point     Direct memory access’ PEEK and POKE commands

 

 


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