Commodore CBM - 1 Introducing the PET; Communicating with the PET

CHAPTER 1
Introducing the PET
The Commodore PET is a low-cost personal computer housed in a self-
contained unit.
with keyboard, video display screen, and built-in or external mag-
netic tape cassette unit. The
PET is portable and can sit on a desk or tabletop.
Moreover, the
PET operates on normal household current and uses high quality,
but still inexpensive, magnetic tape cassettes to store information in a computer-
readable form. The
PET is powered up simply by plugging it in and turning it on.
COMMUNICATING WITH THE PET
Whenever you power up the PET, Vou activate its BASIC· "in-
terpreter." The BASIC interpreter is a computer program that is permanently
built into every PET. The PET BASIC interpreter carries out orders vou give it by
typing
in commands at the PET keyboard. It allows vou to start programming your
PET as soon as vou turn the power on.
You can command the PET to load a program from a tape cassette, list the
program, execute the program, and perform a number of related chores. You can
also type in your
own programs at the PET keyboard, edit them, run them, and
store them
on tape cassettes.
"BASIC is a registered trademark of the Trustees of Dartmouth College.