Rare Apple I Computer Sold for Over $200K
As predicted, the Apple I auctioned off for more than $200,000 USD.
Previously we reported that a rare Apple I computer would go up for bidding at Christie's auction house on November 23, estimated to rake in more than $200,000 USD. That's a huge price to pay for the antique, hand-crafted computer considering that it originally sold for $666.66 during 1976 and 1977.
But let's face it--the price could be worth it (for those with 200K to spare), purchasing not only one of the original out-of-the-box computers, but a piece of American history. It's like purchasing one of the original Star Wars props or a discarded piece of the Status of Liberty before she had a make-over back in the 1980s.
With that said, Italian businessman and private collector Marco Boglione bought the Apple I computer for 133,250 pounds (roughly $213,600 USD), placing his winning bid over the phone. Boglione's brother--who was present during the auction--walked away carrying the Apple I motherboard (with 8k of RAM and an 8-bit 6502 microprocessor), the original packaging, a signed sales letter from Steve Jobs, and an autographed letter provided by Apple Computer co-founder Steve Wozniak.
"Today my heart went out as I got to see things auctioned off like the Turing documents and the Enigma machine--and the Apple I," said Wozniak who was present during the auction. "It really was an important step, (even though) I didn't feel that way when I designed it."
The auctioned Apple I was #82 of 200 ever made, personally built by Jobs and Wozniak in a garage. At the time it was the only personal computer that could be used straight out of the box, requiring the end-user to supply the monitor, keyboard and power supply.
Boglione's brother told the Associated Press that the computer would likely be returned to working condition and added to a collection of Apple computers. "The first time I had heard of the idea of a personal computer, it was from Marco," Boglione said. “[He bought it] because he loves computers."
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wow, with that much, you could almost buy a new mac...
That's about average of a price... For a Mac...
Don't throw away the first model of the Macintosh either (most did and ended up in either landfills or thrift stores).They are gaining more value as a collectors item (I picked up 2 original models at a thrift store about 7 years ago (yes,I repaired and restored them)).Less valuable but still a collectors item in a Macintosh 512K or even a Mac Plus to a lesser extent.Even more valuable than an original Macintosh (or 128k for later versions) is a LISA or Macintosh XL (worth more now than when new).Another very valuable Apple computer is a Apple III surprisingly (it was a flop).
I'm a PC user by the way.
You're pricing it wrong!
Why does this not surprise me?
Why does this not surprise me?
Thats what I was going to post!
If I had 200K I would much rather buy an iHouse complete with iWindows, iDoors hell even an iGarage!
Hey Boglione. I have an apple 2 I will sell you for 50 k...
not rare enough...
I here stores of these old macs selling all the time.
I DON'T CARE!
It's like purchasing one of the original Star Wars props or a discarded piece of the "Status of Liberty" before she had a make-over back in the 1980s.
What is a status of liberty?
I'd much rather have original SW props.
It's still worthless trash. At least you can drive an antique car. Sit in antique furniture. Sure it's rare, so is Motorola's first cell phone (DynaTAC). I think I would rather have a useless DynaTAC than a useless Apple I. If apple ever goes out of vogue that Apple I will be worthless.
Can it play Crysis?
Some things stay the same and some things change. Apple are still as over priced as they ever were (I lol'd at the $666 price tag), however apple has long stopped being the innovative company that it once was, unless were talking about apple's ability to come up with new ways to fleece people of their money
Some fanbois pays anything for a "religious" icon it seems, why not donate the money to charity at least it will be put to some good use!
don't let apple see this. they probably still have a warehouse full of them.
If apple ever goes out of vogue that Apple I will be worthless.
Apple, as with every little thing, will go out of vogue. But that computer will always increase in value as it is a key piece of computing history.
It's still worthless trash. At least you can drive an antique car. Sit in antique furniture. Sure it's rare, so is Motorola's first cell phone (DynaTAC). I think I would rather have a useless DynaTAC than a useless Apple I. If apple ever goes out of vogue that Apple I will be worthless.
Well you can still have a lot of fun with a vintage or older computers.One game that was awesome on those old compact Mac's was MAZE WAR which was the very first first person networked shooter and originally was created in 1972 or about 2 decades before Wolfenstein 3D.The 1985 Macintosh version was pretty true to the original.They made a Super Maze War sequel which I didn't like as much.Maze War was also played on the Xerox Alto too.
I found the first version of Microsoft Flight Simulator for the original Macintosh too.
However my favorite retro gaming is not on a Macintosh but rather DOS PC Games (liked the Amiga too).
better stick the receipt beside the thing, with a big note "Not Junk" lest some house cleaner throws that eye sore thing away.
If you look up "overpriced" in the dictionary, there's a picture of an Apple logo. This sale just cements the definition.
At the time it was the only personal computer that could be used straight out of the box, requiring the end-user to supply the monitor, keyboard and power supply." - That's not *really* "out-of-the-box" now is it?