Commodore PET 2001

The PET 2001 combined a 6502 computer, keyboard, cassette recorder and monochrome display in one striking metal enclosure. Its calculator-style keys and trapezoidal case made the earliest production machines immediately recognisable.

Alongside the Apple II and TRS-80, it helped establish the ready-to-use personal computer market in 1977.

Notable Features

• The original case included a built-in cassette drive beside the small keyboard.
• Early BASIC 1 firmware and static RAM distinguish the first production boards.

Historical Significance

• Alongside the Apple II and TRS-80, it helped establish the ready-to-use personal computer market in 1977.

Collector’s Notes

• PET revisions often share names while differing in motherboard, ROM, keyboard and display hardware; the serial number and internal board revision should be recorded.
• Memory, storage, displays and expansion hardware should be documented because configurations often changed during a system’s working life.

Specifications

Technical Information
Name	Commodore PET 2001
Manufacturer	Commodore
Launched	Saturday, January 1, 1977
Discontinued	1979
Country	United States
CPU	MOS Technology 6502 at approximately 1 MHz
Units Sold
Form Factor	All-in-one metal desktop computer
Power	Internal mains supply
Networking	PET networking and shared-drive systems available from Commodore and third parties
Operating System	Commodore BASIC in ROM
Expansion / I/O	IEEE-488, cassette, user port and internal expansion connections
Keyboard	Integrated calculator-style chiclet keyboard
Storage	Built-in Datasette cassette recorder; external IEEE-488 disk drives supported
Sound	Piezoelectric beeper on later models; early PETs have no dedicated sound
Colours	Monochrome green or white phosphor
Graphics	MOS 6545/CRTC or discrete PET video logic depending on model; character graphics
Display	Built-in 9-inch CRT; 40 x 25 text
ROM	14KB ROM with BASIC 1 and machine firmware
RAM	4KB or 8KB
CPU Speed	Approximately 1 MHz