The PET shipped with MicrosoftThe software giant behind Windows, Office, Azure, and Xbox — founded by Bill Gates and Paul Allen. BASICBeginner's All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code — an early programming language designed for ease of learning. in ROMRead-only memory — non-volatile memory whose contents are fixed or rarely changed. and a chiclet keyboard in an all-in-one case — no soldering required. Schools and small businesses used it for accounting and teaching programming before the Apple II and TRS-80 defined the home PCPersonal computer — a computer designed for individual use, especially desktop or laptop machines. market. Commodore's vertical integration foreshadowed the C64 price wars to come.

The PET 2001 was among the first ready-to-use personal computers sold to the public.

It proved all-in-one microcomputers could ship with BASICBeginner's All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code — an early programming language designed for ease of learning. and reach non-hobbyist buyers.