The PET 200 is a rebadged version of the Commodore 8032-SK which is itself the same model as the 8032 with a rounded shape design and a separate keyboard. This design was used later on the CBM-II series computers.
It is said that Ferdinand Porsche was involved in this design. It's not true since he died just a few years after the end of World War II. In fact, Commodore enlisted the services of Porsche Design, a separate firm from the famous car maker that specializes in the less glamorous world of industrial design. PD was founded as a side project of Ferry Porsche, Ferdinand's son.
The PET 200 was sold only in Europe. A special Swedish version, named model S, enabled special characters like Ö, Ĺ, Ä.
Thanks to Jonas for info and pictures.
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according to Brian Bagnall''s "Commodore - a company on the edge", p. 376, the Porsche Design Center in Stuttgart, Germany, was involved in the design process, but it''s design was not used. Commodore simply tried to use Porsche''s name in the marketing process afterwards, for the design of Ira Velinsky''s.
Saturday 22nd October 2016
Martin ''Funny'' Heise (Germany)
Ira Velinsky,back then an Commodore employee, was the designer for the rounded case. Porsche was never involved. I''ve got this directly form an back then Commodore employee. Ira Velinsky is commonly recognized as the designer among PET/CBM collectors and in user groups.
That Porsche was involved is simply a myth that goes around on the Internet in sale adverts and so on and is not true.
Monday 2nd May 2016
Remi Jakobsen (Norge)
I also have one of the swedish models. I got it in 1990 so I guess it is at least 8 of them :) .
Tuesday 22nd May 2012
Magnus
NAME
PET 200
MANUFACTURER
Commodore
TYPE
Professional Computer
ORIGIN
U.S.A.
YEAR
1979
BUILT IN LANGUAGE
Commodore BASIC 4.0
KEYBOARD
Full stroke detachable 73 keys with numeric jeypad
CPU
MOS 6502
SPEED
1 Mhz.
RAM
32 KB
ROM
18 KB
TEXT MODES
80 characters x 25 lines - 12'' built-in green monitor
GRAPHIC MODES
None (128 graphical characters)
COLORS
Monochrome
I/O PORTS
IEEE-488, Parallel, 2 x tape recorder, expansion connector
