Byte Interviews Chuck Peddle, Father of the MOS 6502 and Commodore PET (1982)

Summary

from the November 1982 issue of Byte magazineby Phil LemmonsMore than any other person, Chuck Peddle deserves to be called the founder of the personal computer industry. After getting a bachelor of science degree in engineering physics in 1959, he worked for 11 years for General Electric in all aspects of its computer enterprises. In 1970, Peddle started a company to make intelligent terminals. “Too early,” he now says. He started a word-processing company in 1972. “Too early,” he now says. He then went to work for Motorola, where he participated in the design of the 6800 microprocessor family. Peddle did the architecture for all the peripheral chips of the 6800 and all the I/O (input/ output) structure. The 6820, a peripheral interface adapter (a parallel I/O chip), secured several fundamental patents in that area.Peddle took a team from Motorola to MOS Technology in 1974 to do a low-cost microprocessor and was chief architect in the design of the 6502 microprocessor and its family of chips. By producing the 6502 and selling it for only $25 while other semiconductor houses were saying the price would never fall below $200, Peddle made the personal computer possible.The 6522, the PIA (peripheral interface adapter) in the 6502 family, extends the concepts in the 6820 by adding some integral timers and shifters as well as other features. The 6522 appears in several places in the Victor 9000 (see “Victor Victorious,” page 216 of this issue).MOS sold 6502s to Atari and Steve Jobs, and then Commodore bought MOS Technology. Peddle transferred to the West Coast and started Commodore’s systems business. At Commodore, Peddle developed the world’s first personal computer, which he designed to Radio Shack’s specifications. In January 1977, Peddle showed the first PET to Radio Shack at the Consumer Electronics Show. Radio Shack and Commodore were unable to make a deal. Radio Shack did its own microcomputer, Commodore brought out the PET, and Steve Wozniak made the 6502-based Ap...