The world of the collector is very particular. In most cases they are more than willing to teach their efforts and share information about each of your precious items, but the idea of ??selling is not something that passes through their minds, unless they are in a critical situation or wish to face a far more ambitious. Apparently someone has reached that point, because Sotheby's auction in mid-June as much as Apple I computer running. The system includes cassette interface, diagrams and manuals, and can be yours ... provided you have between 120 and 180 thousand dollars.
Now we know that Apple is a company known to rewrite some rules, but this "behavior" did not begin with the "iDevices" today. It was July 1976, and these two men, both named Steve, had a computer that did not use no lights or keys to be programmed. If you want to know even the smallest detail of the Apple I computer history (or should we say "motherboard" Apple I), under any circumstances can not miss Ariel wrote the article on that system. It has been almost 36 years since the launch of this system to market, and its value as a collectible item has skyrocketed. Are believed to be about fifty Apple I systems in existence, and only six in operation around the globe. In 2010, a unit with serial number 82 was sold for over $ 200,000 at auction at Christie's, in the presence of Woz himself, who added the prized item autographed letter.
Within a few days will be auctioned another Apple I computer, with the difference that this time will be Sotheby's who is responsible for the operation. The condition of the computer is functional, but also has a cassette interface, three manuals (interface, operation and Apple BASIC) and an advertisement which shows both the computer and the cassette interface. The document with the official description of the lot talking about an estimate on the price located between 120 000 and 180 thousand dollars, some experts believe that within reason given the status of the computer and the amount of extras that come with it. Still, this contribution is relative. The Apple I was sold by Christie's were not original parts of the system, but included a letter signed by the time Steve Jobs, which completely changed the conditions of sale.
The computer will not be alone, because in another batch any interested party may make an offer on a memo handwritten by the same supervisor Jobs for Stephen Bristow, during his brief stint at Atari. The price of the memo has an estimated value ranging from ten to fifteen thousand dollars, but again, that's relative. Sotheby's was responsible for selling the original contract marked the creation of Apple, signed by Jobs, Wozniak and Ron Wayne, who encouraged Jobs to found his own company. It was thought that the contract does not meet more than $ 150,000, when in fact the bidding ended at 1.6 million. With this reference, I honestly can not say exactly at what price will sell the Apple I, if it is sold. We'll find out next June 15.
An eBay user called aaps69 sold in the auction page of the first prototype iPad by $ 10,200. This tablet has two load ports (one on the bottom and one on the side) and uses the software used by Apple to test the performance of their devices, SwitchBoard.
The bidding started at $ 4,800, 10 times more than it costs the simplest model of the new iPad from Apple. However, throughout the day the price was rising to reach $ 10,200 in which closed sale. On the product, is "a functional representation" of one of the prototypes tested before Apple shipped the first ipad, according secures your vendor. For this reason, your hardware is unique because it has two connectors, but so is its software, it includes SwitchBoard, the test program of the company.
However, the ipad has been restored (Apple dismantles these prototypes with obzjetivo that can not be used), although the seller could not fix the screen, which responds only occasionally.
However, the prototype, whose identification number is intact despite not appear in photographs, with the beta version of ipad OS 3.2. Also, the seller said he had to include a new battery.
