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Commodore SuperPET



cbm/sp9000/spbydoor The top of the PET line of computers was a project of the University of Waterloo in Canada. What they produced is remarkable indeed. Based off top-of-the-line Commodore PET technology, the SP9000 (also known as the MicroMainframe in Europe) sports 96K of RAM, true RS232, 8032 compatibility, and an architecture and software package that make it a developers' power machine!

cbm/PetsNBs/sp9000sc.gif When powered on in its 6809 Programmer mode, the SuperPET brings up the menu you see here, allowing you to select from its assortment of powerful programming languages and development tools. The idea behind the machine was that developers and academic types could do their work on the SuperPET, and then upload their source back to a mainframe or other machine using a direct RS232 connection.

The powerful packages, as seen in the menu, include: RS232 configuration (Setup), a Machine Language Monitor, an APL development package, a BASIC development package (in addition to the standard Commodore BASIC), a powerful text editor/terminal program, a Fortran development package, a Pascal development package, an Assembler development package, and (not listed) a COBOL development package. There's much more on all of these below.

Be sure to check out the PET 2001 entry for more general information on Commodore PET computers.

Statistics, features, and SuperPET resources:

CPU: MOS Technology 6502 AND 6809 RAM: 96 kilobytes ROM: 48 kilobytes
Video: MOS Technology 6545 CRTC
Sound: Piezo electronic speaker.
Ports: 6551 ACIA, MOS 6520 PIA, MOS 6522 VIA
Keyboard: Full-sized 73 key QWERTY Resources:

Personal Note:As a programmer, the SP9000 is easily my favorite machine, as it seems built to cater to folks who want to tinker with software and speak to their computer in many ways. Purchased back in 1996 during my initial incursion into the world of eBay, this is the first PET I ever owned.


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