Sam Ismail wrote:
On Wed, 10 Jun 1998, Doug Yowza wrote:
Prices will
only go up. Online auctions are still in the early adoption
phase, and they're not making any new Old Computers, so supply continues
to go down while demand goes up. You'll be able to retire on your
Sinclair ZX-81 at this rate.
One could only hope. But I question your assertion of supply going down.
I predict that supply could in fact go up! As people get word that morons
are buying up old computers like they were gold, all the old Apple ][s and
PETs and SYM-1s and what-not will be dug out of the closet/attic/cellar
and thrown up for bid. There are still plenty of computers out there.
Only some can be classified as truly rare, but nobody knows this for sure.
The very definition of "speculation"as it relates to collecting.
There's no doubt this has been happening on eBay. More and more older
computers are being listed with descriptions like "Collectors Look!
Antique Computer!!!" Then you read the description and the sellers say
things like, "We're not sure what this is and we have no way to test it,
but surely some collector will be interested..." Gee, how about a test
where you plug it in and turn it on?
--
mor(a)crl.com
http://www.crl.com/~mor/