22 Apr
2002
22 Apr
'02
8:29 a.m.
--- Richard Erlacher <edick(a)idcomm.com> wrote:
BTW, when the NEXT boxes first came out...
The problem with these machines, as borne out by the market, is that they
weren't what the home user wanted.
They were never intended for the home market. The C-64 @ $595 on down
to $100 MSRP _was_.
I recently saw a NEXT cube for sale in a thrift store
complete with its
original (Black) laser printer for $10 for the whole shootin'match, and
it was running.
Virtually every computer ever made will sell for 1% or less of MSRP
approximately 10 years after it comes out. The original IBM PC-AT was
$5,000 with a standard configuration, ~15 years ago. Now... how much
would that same system, running, sell for? Not even $50. Same goes
for anything else you care to name. The only "exception" to the rule
are things that are so old that they start to appreciate again due
to scarcity and interest. I picked up a PDP-8/L for $35 in 1982,
MSRP $8,500 in 1968... I paid <0.5% (and got 80% of a second machine
for spare parts). Try and find a PDP-8/L now for $35. It's either
free or hundreds of dollars. I know more than one person who bought
a PDP-8/S long enough ago that they paid $50 or less. The last two
that sold that I am aware of went for $750 and $1700, still below the
1966 MSRP of $9,995, but up from $30-$50 + S&H.
I am not trying to justify the MSRP of a NeXT Cube. I am pointing
out that seeing *any* computer at a thrift store 10 years after its
launch for $10 is not unusual. 10 years after that, though, you
won't see them there at that price.
AFAIK, nobody bought it. I haven't been back to
see whether it's sold
yet, but it's been a couple of weeks.
If a NeXT cube showed up at a thrift store around here for $10, it
wouldn't last the day. Different market (plus more sharks cruising
the local waters, I suppose). PC-XTs for $15 don't move very fast,
though.
-ethan
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