The PET Is Back, Only Smaller

The PET was definitely not Commodore’s most powerful computer, but it was arguably the most stylish. Nothing screams “space age” as loudly as its angular, all-in-one design. That sharp wedge of metal and glass looked more like a control console from Star Trek than a personal computer. In an era of unlimited optimism around the newfangled “electronic brains” finding their way into people’s homes, the PET became more than just a machine; it was a statement about the future of computing.

If you want to recapture that feeling, it is getting harder as the years pass by. Original PET computers are harder to find and more expensive than ever. Aside from that, these machines are also quite large, so if you just want to put a PET on display, the real deal might be a bit unwieldy for your office desk. But a miniature version that popped up on Tindie might be exactly what you are looking for.

The Mini PET Prompt, as it is called, is not a fully functional PET emulator. However, it does look just as charming as a real PET. And what’s more, the tiny display actually works. No, you can’t write any BASIC programs with it, but it will greet you with a reproduction of the actual start up screen, blinking cursor and all.

Authenticity was the name of the game for this miniature. The keyboard keys are hand-painted and were intentionally given a worn and faded appearance to reproduce the look of a well-loved machine. A resin-casted lens was even installed over the top of the tiny OLED display to give it the feel of a vintage CRT monitor. All you need to do is plug a USB cable into the Mini PET Prompt and let the nostalgia run wild.

At the time of writing, the Mini PET Prompt was selling for $38.80 over at Tindie.