The Educator 64, also known as the PET 64 and Model 4064, was a

microcomputer A microcomputer is a small, relatively inexpensive computer having a central processing unit (CPU) made out of a microprocessor. The computer also includes memory and input/output (I/O) circuitry together mounted on a printed circuit board (P ...

made by

Commodore Business Machines Commodore International Corporation was a home computer and electronics manufacturer with its head office in The Bahamas and its executive office in the United States founded in 1976 by Jack Tramiel and Irving Gould. It was the successor comp ...

in October 1984. It was sold exclusively to schools as a replacement for aging

Commodore PET The Commodore PET is a line of personal computers produced starting in 1977 by Commodore International. A single all-in-one case combines a MOS Technology 6502 microprocessor, Commodore BASIC in read-only memory, keyboard, monochrome monitor ...

systems. Schools were reluctant to adopt the Commodore 64 "breadbox" design due to theft or vandalism of the smaller, more exposed components. The 4064 designation followed in line with the PET's 4008, 4016 and 4032 models as a 64 KB 40-column model. The internals of the Educator 64 were refurbished

Commodore 64 The Commodore 64, also known as the C64, is an 8-bit computing, 8-bit home computer introduced in January 1982 by Commodore International (first shown at the Consumer Electronics Show, January 7–10, 1982, in Las Vegas). It has been listed in ...

motherboards and monochromatic green monitors, while the external cases were repurposed from the PET line. The area above the keyboard contained a quick reference card for BASIC 2.0 and Commodore DOS commands. The only differences between the Educator 64 and the other 64 models were the graphics capabilities, the built-in speaker, the sound amplifier with volume control, the 3.5 mm mini-jack for mono sound output to headphones, the internal power supply, and the keyboard which is missing the color abbreviations imprinted on the front edge of the number keys. The Educator 64 retained the ability to display shades of green, while the PET 64 and 4064 were monochrome-only. Though the PET 4008/4016/4032 computers had cases made entirely of metal, only the Educator 64's base was metal—the upper case was made of thick plastic. Select models of the Educator 64 came built-in with the Covox Voice Master, a speech-synthesis board originally for the Commodore 64. Despite selling for only between to $375 (equivalent to $ to $ in ), the Educator 64 was not sold in great numbers. It suffered from its monochrome display most Commodore 64 software assumed the availability of color. And, by that time, the US education market was firmly in the

Apple II Apple II ("apple Roman numerals, two", stylized as Apple ][) is a series of microcomputers manufactured by Apple Computer, Inc. from 1977 to 1993. The Apple II (original), original Apple II model, which gave the series its name, was designed ...

's grasp. The Educator 64 marked the final product of the aging PET line, which had been introduced in 1977.

References

{{Commodore International Commodore 8-bit computers Computer-related introductions in 1984