CBM-II

The CBM-II was a series of personal computers sold by Commodore from 1981-1987. The line was intended to replace Commodore's successful PET series. The model nomenclature of the series is confusing, as Commodore released models under many designations for different markets, including the PL series, but the B-series is probably the best known. The PET case was updated to a striking rounded futuristic look which caused it to be seen in a number of TV and film productions, including and Buck Rogers in the 25th Century.

There were many models planned but never produced due to the runaway success of the Commodore 64 and Commodore's subsequent concentration on the home computer market. The CBM-II series was geared toward the business market, but its aging 8-bit architecture and the introduction of the IBM PC also in 1981, meant the machines were not to be successful. The entire line was discontinued around 1984 and remaining inventory liquidated through Protecto Enterprises which ran black & white ads in computer magazines for many years selling complete B-128 systems at low prices. In 1987 Commodore turned over all materials relating to the B-series and CBM-II to CBUG, the Commodore B-series User Group. Among these materials was a prototype motherboard using an Intel 8088 processor, which hints at the possibility the line could have been made IBM compatible if production had continued.

External links

* [http://ca.geocities.com/[e-mail]/CBM/index.html The Commodore CBM-II pages]
* [http://www.floodgap.com/retrobits/ckb/secret/ The Secret Weapons of Commodore]