Difference between Pet 8296 and 8296-SK

[BigAl]

I have noticed that there seems to be two different versions of the Pet 8296 as shown on the labels on the front of the machines. They are the 8296 and the 8296-SK . Up until now I have always understood the the SK stood for 'Separate Keyboard' but perhaps I am wrong. After all, my 8296 has the usual separate keyboard. Is it just one of the Commodore selling antics?

 

[sjgray]

I don't think I've ever seen an 8296 that was labelled as 8296-SK. The 8032 and 8096 had both the old style cases and the new "SK" cases so adding -SK was a way to differentiate them. Both of those models have normal 8000-series motherboards in them that were retro-fitted into the SK case. The 8296 motherboard however was designed for the SK casing and fits it properly. As it was the only 8296 model there was no need to add -SK to the name. Now, Commodore is well known for releasing variations of models, and even naming machines one thing on the front and something different on the back, so anything is possible.

I have a webpage for pet labels, so if you have a picture of a label saying "8296-SK" please send it, or a link so I can update my page:
http://www.6502.org/users/sjgray/computer/petlabels/index.html

Steve

 

[BigAl]

Sorry Steve, mine is badged 8296 but I have noticed on Zimmers site there is a 8296SK

http://www.zimmers.net/commie/timeline.html

and the SK version is also mentioned on the 6502 site.

http://www.6502.org/users/sjgray/computer/cbm2/index.html

Zimmers site does not mention a 8296 with no suffix while the 6502 site lists as PET-SK (8032-SK,8296, or 8296D) , the latter being the one with two integral disk drives

Although I have had my Pet for many years it, has been boxed up so it is only recently that it has resurfaced and I have taken an interest again so I probably have missed something. The proliferation of different designations is not helped (at least by me) when so many machines are refereed to by their technical/board numbers. Not the least by the number 6502. It all right for all you knowledgeable gurus out there. This newbie is on a learning curve.

 

[sjgray]

Sorry Steve, mine is badged 8296 but I have noticed on Zimmers site there is a 8296SK

http://www.zimmers.net/commie/timeline.html

and the SK version is also mentioned on the 6502 site.

http://www.6502.org/users/sjgray/computer/cbm2/index.html

Zimmers site does not mention a 8296 with no suffix while the 6502 site lists as PET-SK (8032-SK,8296, or 8296D) , the latter being the one with two integral disk drives

Although I have had my Pet for many years it, has been boxed up so it is only recently that it has resurfaced and I have taken an interest again so I probably have missed something. The proliferation of different designations is not helped (at least by me) when so many machines are refereed to by their technical/board numbers. Not the least by the number 6502. It all right for all you knowledgeable gurus out there. This newbie is on a learning curve.

Yup, Commode can be confusing and I've seen a lot of sites with wrong information. I collect Commodore machines and am always on the lookout for variations and odd machines.

http://www.6502.org/users/sjgray/computer/cbm2/index.html is MY website, and nowhere do I mention "8296-SK". The only SK models are 8032-SK and 8096-SK. I do use the term "PET-SK" to generically describe any PET with separate keyboard.

Steve

 

[BigAl]

Sigh! Thanks for what I think is clarification Steve he says with a wry grin. No easy straight line structured learning curve then. Even more difficult when there there is no one even remotely nearby to swap ideas with. Still, they say that if it's worth doing it is worth the effort to get it right.

 

[sjgray]

Sigh! Thanks for what I think is clarification Steve he says with a wry grin. No easy straight line structured learning curve then. Even more difficult when there there is no one even remotely nearby to swap ideas with. Still, they say that if it's worth doing it is worth the effort to get it right.

8032 = 8032 motherboard in square case
8096 = 8032 motherboard + 64k ram board in square case
8032-SK = 8032 motherboard in rounded case
8096-SK = 8032 motherboard + 64k ram board in rounded case
8296 = 8296 motherboard in rounded case
8296D = 8296 motherboard + 8250LP disk drives in rounded case

If anyone has solid proof of another variation with proper label i'd love to see it....

Steve

 

[bozimmerman]

Yea, the timeline page is wrong -- my bad. At least I got it right in the gallery!
http://www.zimmers.net/cbmpics/cbpets.html

 

[circuit]

The only thing I am certain about with Commodore PET / CBM is that there are about a trillion different minute variations of each model, and that Commodore was basically crazy.