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PET/CBM FAQ - MODELS OF THE PET/CBM

The PET line was Commodore's first computer line after purchasing MOS Technologies, the primary design of the computer (as well as its microprocessor, the 6502) was by Chuck Peddle. The line was labeled in series' the first series, the 2001 series, the European 3000 series, and the modern 4000 and 8000 series, and the final single unit 9000 series which is the SuperPET. In Europe due to trademark problems with Phillips Electronics commodore had to drop the PET name early and used the CBM (Commodore Business Machine) abbriviation instead - in the U.S. CBM was used to on the 'business class' PETs and PET/CBM disk drives and printers.

9“ monitor units (40 column x 25 line character only display):

PET 2001 series:

Original PET:

    2001 4k/8k MOTHERBOARD (9" CRT)          
            IEEE user tape #2
     +------####-####--##-+
     !                    #
     !                    #
     !                    # exp
     !                    # bus
     !                    #
     !                    #    2000 Series
     !                    !       circa 1977/78  Max RAM - 8k
     !       (2k) ROMS    !       [w/daughter board exp to 32k shown]
     !      F F E D D C C !
     !      8 0 0 8 0 8 0 !
     !                    !
tape #       RAM MEMORY   !
 #1  #                    !
     +--------------------+

Original PET - profile Closeup of Keyboard & Datasette With case open, hood prop is standard, has memory expansion board closeup of original board with memory expansion

PET 2001/CBM 3000 series Large Keyboard PETs (no more internal datasette drive):

PET 2001/3000 xN (x=8,16,or 32 depending on amount or RAM it was shipped with)

PET 2001 xB (labeled as CBM, Commodore Business Machine)

PET/CBM 40xx Series (PET= N keyboard/ROM, CBM= B keyboard/ROM, xx= RAM)

    2001, 3000, early 4000 SERIES MOTHERBOARD  (9" CRT)
             IEEE user tape #1
     +------####-####--##-+
     !                   #!
     !                   #!
     !                   #! exp
     !        ROMS       #! bus
     !    F E D C B A 9  #!
     !                   #!    3000, 4000 Series
     !                    !       (3000 series is European version)
     !                    !       circa 1979/80  Max RAM - 32k
     !                    !
     !                    !
     !                    !
tape #      RAM MEMORY    !
 #2  #                    !
     +--------------------+

A 2001 N PET 2001-N Keyboard, note graphic legends on keys 2001-16N Motherboard - note the drilled holes, this was how Commodore tied to keep them from being expanded. 2001-32N motherboard 2001-32N with MTU hi-res graphics board

12" monitors - updated video controller (prone to the 'killer poke')

PET/CBM 40xx (PET= N keyboard/ROM, CBM= B keyboard/ROM, xx= RAM)

80 column series (can be set to 40 column mode via software.)

CBM 80xx

PET SP9000 SuperPET (or Micro Mainframe)

CBM 200 / 8032 SK

CBM 8296

    4000/8000 SERIES MOTHERBOARD (12" CRT)
            IEEE user tape #1
     +------####-####--##-+
     !                  # # tape
     !                  # #  #2
     !  R       exp bus # ! 
     !  A                #!
     !  M             9  #!
     !                A  #!     4000, 8000 Series
     !  M          R  B   !        circa 1981     Max RAM - 32k*
     !  E          O  C   !       [8296 layout not shown]
     !  M          M  D   !
     !  O          S  E   !
     !  R             F   !
     !  Y                 !
     !                spkr!
     +--------------------+
SUPERPET DAUGHTER BOARDS
ON 4000/8000 SERIES MOTHERBOARD
(DAUGHTER BOARD CONFIGURATION MAY VARY)

PET 4016 N PET 8032 SuperPET 9000 'B' Series keyboard on 2001/4000-B, 8000, and SuperPET, note the front legends are stickers for a word processor program

PET 4016N Motherboard (upgraded RAM) PET 8032 Motherboard SuperPET 9000 MB & Daughters SuperPET Mode Switches

Teacher's PET

This unit was usually a 2001 series PET which was re-labeled with “Teacher's PET, Donated by Commodore Business Machines”

The story behind these in many US schools (at Least in California, where I know of it) Commodore had a promotion where if schools bought 2 PETs the third would be 'donated by Commodore. This was a tax write-off and marketing plan for the company similar to Apple's promotion of “an Apple for every school”.

Educator 64/4064

Educator 64, PET 4064, actually a Commodore 64 in a PET case Commodore 64 motherboard turned sideways w/built in speaker and mini amp Commodore 64 keyboard with a quick reference plaque (standard) This is actually a Commodore 64 in a PET case, Not really a “PET” model, for more information about the Commodore 64 refer to Commodore 64 guides here and on other sites.

Various PETs w/other Commodore computers

Many Commodore and a few other computers here is a group photo for size comparison

(note bottom-rightmost three PETs with Calculator, business (B) and graphics (N) keyboards)