Tynemouth Software's Mini PET Brings Back a Commodore Classic, on Its Own or in an Original Chassis
Available as a standalone device or a replacement for a deceased PET motherboard, the Mini PET lives up to its name.
Pre-orders have opened for the Mini PET, a recreation of Commodore's Personal Electronic Transactor (PET) microcomputer built around the MOS 6502 processor — compatible with original PET housings, should anyone need to replace a dead motherboard.
"You've had the Minstrel 2, the Minstrel 3 and the Minstrel 4th. Introducing the Minstrel 5 Mini PET," writes Tynemouth Software's Dave Curran of his latest creation. "It does what it says on the tin. It is a fully functional 6502 based computer, compatible with a Commodore PET 2001N-32 (3032/4032), but in a much smaller form factor, less than a quarter of the size and a tenth of the power consumption."
"The connectors at the back are positioned the same, so it can be installed in a PET case as a replacement board. Or it can be used standalone with a composite video monitor as a complete PET, only this one doesn't take up as much bench space."
The original Commodore PET launched in 1977 as a 6502-based microcomputer for home and business use, housed in an iconic chassis with a built-in monitor which could be lifted up to reveal its inner workings. The precursor to the company's hugely-popular Commodore 64, the Commodore PET is a relatively rare sight today — which is where the Mini PET comes in, replacing long out-of-production parts with modern equivalents.
"The kit uses all new, currently in production parts," Curran explains, "including WDC 65C02S CPU and W65C21N/22N IO chips, 32K of RAM, and 28K of ROM, selectable BASIC 1/2/4 with support for chiclet or normal/graphics or business keyboard."
The Mini PET is to launch in two variants: Kit A comes complete with a tactile keyboard, replicating the normal/graphics layout of an original PET but without keycaps; Kit B is designed for those who already have a PET with a failed motherboard, fitting into an original chassis and using the existing power supply, keyboard, monitor, and datasette storage system.
Pre-orders have opened for both variants on The Future Was 8-Bit, priced at £205 per kit (around $250.)