History of computer design: Commodore PET

History of computer design: Commodore PET

Home || Introduction || Historiography || 1-Cottage industry || 2-Emerging standards || 3-Macintosh
4-frogdesign || 5-Corporate focus || Conclusion || Bibliography & links

Commodore PET The Apple II, however influential, did not give the outward appearance of personal computers a stable form, and a variety of different case designs were mass produced between 1977 and 1981. Most shared the integration of the keyboard into the computer case. However, it is important to note that even the design of keyboards lacked a standard, and Byte magazine continued to emphasize the layout and characters of keys in each of its computer reviews until late 1985. The keyboard of Commodore Computer's PET was particularly criticized; its keys are small, flat and cramped together like those of a calculator - Commodore branched into personal computers from its manufacture of calculators - rather than a typewriter (Comly, 120).

The Commodore PET was announced at the same West Coast Compute Faire where the Apple II was introduced, but was not sold for nearly a year. Though having an integrated display and sold at only $595, about half the price of an Apple II, the "2001 Series" PET (Personal Electronics Transactor) was less popular in homes than in schools, while the Apple II continued to be the most popular in both settings (Comly, 127). Vaguely resembling the form of the Apple II, the PET case has a wedge sloping towards the user and containing the small integrated keyboard, numeric keypad, and a tape drive. The attached 9 inch monochrome display is centered on the larger back portion of the case. This display gives the unit a vaguely anthropomorphic appearance, being elevated above the rest of the case by a narrow pillar resembling a neck. The sides of the tetrazoidal display sloping outwards towards the bottom enhance this effect, giving the impression that the head is wearing a hood. However, this tiered design does not take away from the bulky appearance of the machine, which is 14 inches high and weighs 44 pounds, and its sheet metal casing and awkward keyboard contribute to its industrial appearance.

To Early History (1976-80)

To TRS-80

Home || Introduction || Historiography || 1-Cottage industry || 2-Emerging standards || 3-Macintosh
4-frogdesign || 5-Corporate focus || Conclusion || Bibliography & links

			History of computer design: Commodore PET
			Home \|\| Introduction \|\| Historiography \|\| 1-Cottage industry \|\| 2-Emerging standards \|\| 3-Macintosh 4-frogdesign \|\| 5-Corporate focus \|\| Conclusion \|\| Bibliography & links

			The Apple II, however influential, did not give the outward appearance of personal computers a stable form, and a variety of different case designs were mass produced between 1977 and 1981. Most shared the integration of the keyboard into the computer case. However, it is important to note that even the design of keyboards lacked a standard, and Byte magazine continued to emphasize the layout and characters of keys in each of its computer reviews until late 1985. The keyboard of Commodore Computer's PET was particularly criticized; its keys are small, flat and cramped together like those of a calculator - Commodore branched into personal computers from its manufacture of calculators - rather than a typewriter (Comly, 120). The Commodore PET was announced at the same West Coast Compute Faire where the Apple II was introduced, but was not sold for nearly a year. Though having an integrated display and sold at only $595, about half the price of an Apple II, the "2001 Series" PET (Personal Electronics Transactor) was less popular in homes than in schools, while the Apple II continued to be the most popular in both settings (Comly, 127). Vaguely resembling the form of the Apple II, the PET case has a wedge sloping towards the user and containing the small integrated keyboard, numeric keypad, and a tape drive. The attached 9 inch monochrome display is centered on the larger back portion of the case. This display gives the unit a vaguely anthropomorphic appearance, being elevated above the rest of the case by a narrow pillar resembling a neck. The sides of the tetrazoidal display sloping outwards towards the bottom enhance this effect, giving the impression that the head is wearing a hood. However, this tiered design does not take away from the bulky appearance of the machine, which is 14 inches high and weighs 44 pounds, and its sheet metal casing and awkward keyboard contribute to its industrial appearance. To Early History (1976-80) To TRS-80 Home \|\| Introduction \|\| Historiography \|\| 1-Cottage industry \|\| 2-Emerging standards \|\| 3-Macintosh 4-frogdesign \|\| 5-Corporate focus \|\| Conclusion \|\| Bibliography & links