Commodore
8296 & 8296-D
Among the refashioned CBM line of computers, the 8296 stands above many as the
ultimate business micro. Based on the 8032
architecture, this computer features 128K of external expansion memory, and
the "Execudesk": a ROM capable of launching an included suite of disk-based
business applications.
When powered on, the 8296 displays the Execudesk menu (see below), which features options
for loading the disk-based applications, shutting down the system,
or "exiting" to BASIC. When in BASIC mode, the 8296 is essentially the same
as an 8096, with, of course, the nicer case design
,sloped detachable keyboard, and swivel monitor. The 8296-D comes with a
built in 8250 disk drive, which is a dual 1024K DS/DD 5.25" floppy unit.
Statistics, features, and PET 8296 Resources:
| CPU |
MOS 6502
1 Mhz
|
| RAM |
160K (32k standard)
|
| ROM |
24 Kilobytes
CBM 8296 ROMs
(Download ROM images)
|
| Video |
MOS Technology 6545 CRTC
9" Monochrome display
40 columns x 25 rows
|
| Sound |
Piezo electronic speaker
One square wave voice
Three octaves.
|
| Ports |
MOS 6520 PIA, MOS 6522 VIA
IEEE-488 edge-connector Port
2 Commodore Datasette ports
Male edge-connector 'EXPANSION' port
Male edge-connector CBM parallel programmable "User" port
|
| Kyboard |
Full 69 key QWERTY
16 key numeric keypad!
4 direction 2-key cursor-pad
|
| Resource |
PET BASIC Reference
PET FAQ
PET Memory/IO/Kernal Maps
System disk
8296 Execudesk disk
|
Personal Note: This machine was obtained from a German
auction site. I enjoyed playing with it so much (since it looks just like an
8032sk), I wrote my archiver "emutil" on it.
