Obtain this Unique, Functional Apple-1 Computer for Your Collection, Provided You Have a Million and a Half Dollars Spare
If you've got a hankering for some vintage tech nostalgia, then you're in luck! Currently available on eBay is a supposedly authentic Apple-1, the first model from Apple Inc. launched back in 1976. But be prepared to part with a hefty $1.5 million!
This rare gem of a computer has a captivating history. According to the legendary lore of Cult of Mac, Steve Wozniak crafted these bad boys by hand, while Steve Jobs peddled them wholesale. The duo went to such lengths as selling a HP-65 calculator and a Volkswagen van, respectively, to cover manufacturing costs.
What makes this Apple-1 special? For starters, it's one of the 50 that were sold to Byte Shop, one of the pioneers of personal computer stores. The eBay listing boasts a certificate of authenticity from the Apple-1 Registry, an original Byte Shop KOA wood case, the OG power supply, and even its original Datanetics Version D keyboard.
But wait, there's more! The seller, krishmiti, claims the Apple-1 is an unmodified NTI board in almost mint condition, and also throws in a period Sony TV-115 and a video modulator for good measure. In fact, back in the day, users had to bring their own keyboard and monitor, or improvise with a TV set.
So what's under the hood of this technological time capsule? It boasts an 8-bit MOS 6502 microprocessor running at a measly 1 MHz. The memory game is even more retro, with a default 4KB, but expandable to 8KB or a whopping 48KB using expansion cards. Back then, the price tag read a cool $666.66.
Fast forward to modern times, and these antique machines fetch astonishingly high prices. In 2010, a collector dropped $210,000 on an Apple-1 complete with an autographed letter by Steve Jobs. Fast forward to 2014, and an equally fortunate individual bagged an Apple-1 sold at auction for an eye-popping $905,000. And if krishmiti's timing works out, this Apple-1 might just break the record.
Despite the passing of time, Apple's early days are increasingly hard to come by. A significant portion of the initial Apple-1 production went by the wayside, either due to wear and tear or Apple's incentive to trade-in Apple-1s for the Apple II, their first mass-market computer.
In 2022, an original Apple I with the Apple I Registry's seal of approval set a new record by selling at a Bonhams auction for an impressive $905,000. This piece of Apple history found a new home at the Henry Ford Museum.
Now, will krishmiti find a taker for his $1.5 million Apple-1? We'll find out soon enough!
- The Apple-1's authenticity is further supported by its registration in the Apple-1 Registry, which holds the identifier 1845859476.
- If you're intrigued by the tech of the past and have a budget of $1.5 million, bringing home krishmiti's Apple-1 could be an exciting future investment.
- The unique history of the Apple-1 makes it an attractive piece for tech enthusiasts and collectors alike, worth the hefty price tag.
- Should the potential buyer decide to bring the Apple-1 home, they'll be joining an exclusive club of collectors who have shifted the tech world's registry of price records.
