Functioning Apple 1 Sells for $375,000 at Sotheby's Auction | Hacker News Reader

Functioning Apple 1 Sells for $375,000 at Sotheby's Auction

macrumors.com

32 pointsneovive12 comments

Not a bad return... I wonder how many of these still function? This one came with verified original manuals as well.

Now who wants the two working Commodore PET's I have in the closet!

The Apple I went on sale in July 1976 at a price of US$666.66. Given that this was 36 years ago, that implies roughly a 19% rate of return.

does this factor in inflation?

I have a TI-99/4A in working order, with all original manuals, and a 1983 warranty repair slip from TI.... Only $50,000!

I should have held on to my old Apple IIe. That was such a great computer. My first word processor ... Bank Street Writer.

Can someone compare this with buying an equivalent amount of Apple stock at the time and seeing which gave a better return?

Apple I was released in 1976, but Apple only went public in 1980.

The Apple I went on sale in July 1976 at a price of US$666.66. Given that this was 36 years ago, that implies roughly a 19% rate of return.

Assuming you could invest $666.66 in Apple in 1976 at a generous $10 million valuation, it would be worth many tens of millions now.

That means the 7-year-old laptop I just replaced has been a fantastic investment!

Probably bought by a time traveller who NEEDS a functioning Apple 1 to save their world

How much would an IBM 5100 in similar, functioning condition be worth, actually? I imagine the fascination with Apple alone would be enough to spark interest in the Apple 1, but is there mich of a collector's market for old computing antiques in general?

Not nearly as much, I imagine.

The 5100 was sold for 7 years and cost $8,975. I imagine there were thousands made, and nearly all were sold to corporations. One sold on ebay for $3400. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXQHacn3M34

There were only 200 Apple I computers ever made. It is much more rare and significant to the history of personal (home and hobbyist) computing.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com