9 Nov
1998
9 Nov
'98
3:30 a.m.
Any collector will tell you that a lot depends on
rareity. An item produced in
the millions is less valuable than one produced in the thousands. Prototypes
of popular machines will be very valuable. Machines that bombed in the market
will be valuable. Accessories and documentation that disapears readilly will
be valuable.
Just depending. Even #1 all time sales items can be more
valuabel than a lot rarer and more interesting speciemen
of the same time - just think about the VW (Beatle), a
car built in more units than almost any other car in the
world, build over a timeline longer than most oter car
(especialy longer than all other mass market car) but he
outclasses all compareable cars when it comes to the $$$
peaople are ready to pay to get one.
A bit like the APPLE II - maybe in 10 years they will be
like a Kaefer. Or take the Altair a computer clearly never
realy too be considered rare but the prices just outrun
any other old computer (only the Apple 1 will perform
higher, but it is also a lot more rare).
Yes the iMac will be collectable because it is taking
a lot of new people into
the land of computerdom. It is a revolutionary device, the thought of
unpacking it from the box, plugging it in and going to work is very attractive
to new computer users.
The only new thing is a brute marketing. No new idea at all.
Wasn't the Mac itself the same thing ? And unpack'n'go is not
new at all. Even in the x86-PC world a lot of ready to use
machines are available. Nobody is willing to try something
real new (Or do I just see it to pesimistic?).
(OT: I guess the usual iMac owner would also like to drive a new beatle :)
How many computers of today will survive when crashes
become totally unacceptable.
iMac still crashes like any other Mac ...
It will be 20 years though, before it gains value
as a collectable. Any limited edition iMac that Apple may make will be
collectable. This is going to be the first computer for millions of people.
Possible - but still the PC is leading also here. For every
new iMac first time computer user a dozend of PC ones grew up.
I just remember having heard all this once upon a past timeline...
Gruss
H.
(OT2:
I belive Apple had the strange luck to define three times a new world:
- the Apple II as a modular expandable all in one Computer,
- the Mac as ready to use consumer GUI system,
- and the Newton as first usable and real 'pad' orientated pen device.
And they did screw it up all tree times.
- killed the II with every way they could
- avoided at any cost placing the Mac als general consumer product
- and stoped the Newton just when it was finaly ready to use.
eventualy this will make all Apple products it on topic again)
--
Ich denke, also bin ich, also gut
HRK