Commodore Business Computer, User's Guide Series 8000
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Identifier
2025.13.18Description
In the early 80's, the "micro" computer had become both a hobbyist machine and a learning tool. It was also becoming an affordable tool for small businesses. In 1980 the Commodore Business Machine charged into this new market with upgraded versions of their popular “PET" line, called the CBM 8000 series (US$1500 – USP00 today). Although these machines are advanced "4000 Series PET" computers, the reasoning for labeling them "CBM" instead of "PET" may have had more to do with the business marketing plan.The 8000 series is characterized by their 80 column screens, which were a first for the PET series, and their "business" (non-graphic) style keyboards. They also show Commodore engineers introducing "external" memory to break the 32k architectural barrier.
Although these computers are named different, they are in most ways identical to the older PET computers. They include the advanced BASIC 4.0 environment, IEEE peripheral support, and powerful 6502 processor.
Commodore initially produced and made available 64k upgrade boards that would give the 8032 an impressive 96k of memory. Later, Commodore produced a new model of computer, the CBM 8096, which contained the boards already installed. However, very little software was written to take advantage of the 64k expansion modules, further hurting the CBM 8000 series in the business world