Commodore PET 8296 Execudesk

The PET 8296 Execudesk was a rare office-oriented 8296 configuration supplied with integrated productivity software in ROM. It aimed to turn the mature PET hardware into an immediately useful executive desktop appliance.

Its specialised firmware and extremely limited distribution make it one of the most distinctive late PET variants.

Notable Features

• Execudesk ROM software is the defining feature and should be preserved with the machine.
• Case and drive configuration may vary among surviving examples.

Historical Significance

• Its specialised firmware and extremely limited distribution make it one of the most distinctive late PET variants.

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 8296 Execudesk
Manufacturer	Commodore
Launched	Sunday, January 1, 1984
Discontinued	Mid-1980s
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	Business keyboard with numeric keypad
Storage	Internal or external floppy storage depending on configuration; 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 12-inch CRT; 80 x 25 text
ROM	BASIC 4.0 with Execudesk software ROMs
RAM	128KB with bank switching
CPU Speed	Approximately 1 MHz