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Comment by brc | Hacker News Reader

I see a bit more stuff about NeXT getting posted around, I suspect this is because of Jobs' passing.

It got me wondering : although a commercial failure, this computer made a big impact. I wonder if, in 20 years time, all the cool kids will have an old NeXT on prominent display in their home? What other bits of hardware/software combos are going to be classics?

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You are looking it from the wrong point of view. NeXT IS really successful. Its technology is the heart of millions of devices, from computers to phones, and even part of the culture of the manufacturing process spill over to Apple. NeXT's team as well, starting from Jobs was the starting point of Apple renaissance.

NeXT might have failed, but it failed upwardly. http://news.cnet.com/Apple-acquires-Next,-Jobs/2100-1001_3-2...

I think there were only about 50,000 NeXT machines ever sold, so there may not be enough to go around for all the cool kids.

That's what I mean - with a very limited supply, unique (and durable) design, first-machine-on-the-web status and the steve jobs connection, I can see this becoming an investment grade collectible at some point. They cost between $500 and $2000 for the cube (which will undoubtedly be the one to have) now, I can see a future scenario where they are going for 10 times that at auctions, particularly if they have provenance (ie owned by a famous person, Next developer, used at a demo by jobs, etc).

Well, I have a Cube and a mono slab. If you're right, I'm set for retirement.

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