The best joke about this auction is the fact that the description itself may become invaluable. It's a one of a kind hoax So for posterity's sake Fetch this: 1976 APPLE ONE (APPLE I) ANTIQUE COMPUTER This beautiful 1976 Apple-I Computer is the very first computer that started the Apple Computer Company from its legendary beginning in Steve Jobs' family garage. This computer includes all original: motherboard, cassette interface daughterboard, Operation Manual (with schematic inside), BASIC User's Manual, and cassette interface pamphlet, plus as an added extra, the book, "Woz: The Prodigal Son of Silicon Valley", by Doug Garr, Avon Books, 1984, which describes in great detail the history of the beginning of Apple Computer Co. Though I used this computer for a number of years a long time ago running its 4K BASIC language interpreter, it is being sold for display purposes only, not as a working unit. It is in very good condition and would make an extremely impressive and prestigous historic display not to mention its terrific investment value. EVIDENCE OF ITS RARITY 1. According to Steve Wozniak in a Byte Magazine interview in 1984, only 200 of them were actually made and of those only 175 were sold. Over the last 23 years many of them were likely discarded as obsolete, so very few of them have survived to today. 2. Very few people have *even heard* of the Apple-I -- exactly because of the fact it is so rare. Just ask a few friends -- or at work -- "What does an Apple-I Computer look like?" If you could ask 10,000 people that question, you'd likely get 9,999 blank looks and the response "A what?" This indicates to a degree that the Apple-1 is rare because it is so little known. 3. Another fact demonstrating its rarity is that even those few people who are familiar with it, usually incorrectly refer to it as the Apple-I using a Roman numeral I rather than the Arabic number 1. This is because of the non-rarity of the Apple-II and the assumption that the first Apple also had a Roman numeral designation. Thus the rarity of the computer is also shown by the general lack of knowledge of the correct name of the Apple-1, even by those small number of people who are aware of its existence. 4. Its rarity and historic importance is also demonstrated by the fact that one is displayed in the Smithsonian Museum in Washington D.C. The Smithsonian is probably the most important museum in the United States and likely the world, for exhibiting the originals of the most important inventions of our time. A LITTLE HISTORY OF THE APPLE-1 Steve Wozniak designed this computer and Steve Jobs largely did the sales and marketing for it. Here is a portion of page 72 of Doug Garr's book "Woz: The Prodigal Son of Silicon Valley": "First they [Jobs and Wozniak] needed investment capital. Jobs had an old VW microbus and Wozniak had a fancy H-P [Hewlett-Packard] calculator. They sold them both and raised about thirteen hundred dollars. Jobs would ride his bicycle around Silicon Valley, and Woz would have to borrow a calculator or do his arithmetic by hand. They needed a space to work. Jobs commandeered his family garage..." On page 74: "During 1975-76, the time Jobs and Wozniak built those first computers (then called just the "Apple" and now known as the Apple I), their business didn't exactly flourish. Only about 175 computers (Apple I's) were sold." WHAT IS THE VALUE OF THE APPLE-1 IN 1999? On my web page http://members.cts.com/sd/d/dave314x I have provided *actual images* of the verifiable documentation of the value of this item in specific years: Here is a summary of that documentation on my web page: 1976 $ 666 (new) - Byte Magazine, Dec. 1984, page A69, column 1, Interview with Steve Wozniak. 1984 $ 12,500 - Book: "Woz, The Prodigal Son of Silicon Valley, ISBN 0-380-88484-4, published 1984, states on page 106, middle-of-page: "(The Apple I is considered a valuable antique, and today it can fetch between ten and fifteen thousand dollars.)" 1997 $40,000+ - Computer Resource Magazine, Oct. 31, 1997, Vol. 5, No. 5, Article "The Retro Computer Revolution" by Bob McPhail, page 24, col. 1, middle-of-page: "(The Apple I isn't really considered a realistic collectible since the estimated price on one of these if it was put on sale would be in the $40,000 range according to some collectors)." - Internet link to Computer Science Club, Univ. of California at Davis http://wwwcsif.cs.ucdavis.edu/~csclub/museum [last updated 7/4/98] (A clickable link is on my web page at: http://members.cts.com/sd/d/dave314x). The Computer Club states: "The estimated current value of an Apple I exceeds $40,000!" 1999 $ 59,000+ - Estimated using compound annual growth rate of 21.5% which were the actual increases in the period 1976-97. 2009 $ 414,000+ - Projected using the same compound annual growth rate of 21.5% that actually took place in the 21-year period 1976-97 and applying it to the 10-year period 1999 to 2009. MATH CALCULATIONS OF VALUES FOR 1999 AND 2009 The computer increased in value from 1976-1997: $666 to $40,000 which is a 60.06 times increase (40,000/666). Theoretically, if you had deposited $666 in XYZ Bank in 1976 and without any further deposits at anytime, you saw in 1997 that you had a balance of $40,000 -- how much would the interest rate have been in the preceding 21 years, if it had been compounded annually? The answer is 21.5% because 1.215 times itself for 21 years (1.215 to the 21st power) is 59.72 which is very near to 60.06 In equation form: 666 x (1.215)^21 = 39,773 which is approx. 40,000 THE VALUE OF APPLE-1 IN 1999 To calculate the estimated value for 1999 using the 1997 value of $40,000+ we merely add 2 years of compounding to the 1997 value. The 1997 value is 40,000+ and 2 years of compounding is 1.215 multiplied by itself 2 times: (1.215)^2 = 1.4762 The 1997 value ($40,000+) x 1.4762 = $59,048+ [Note: I have carried the "+" sign through the equation because these are MINIMUM values.] So the estimated value for 1999 is $59,000+ by using the 1997 value of $40,000+ (which came from two independent verifiable sources) and then adding 2 years of compounding at the same compounding rate that actually existed in the 21-year period '76-'97. WHAT WILL THIS APPLE-1 LIKELY BE WORTH IN 2009? -- WHEN YOU WANT TO RETIRE? -- WHEN YOU MAY WANT TO BUY A NEW HOME? -- WHEN YOU MAY WANT TO START YOUR OWN BUSINESS THAT WILL REQUIRE SEVERAL HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS JUST TO GET STARTED? -- WHEN YOU NEED TO PAY FOR YOUR CHILDRENS' HIGHER EDUCATION AT A HIGHER-QUALITY COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY? The answer is: about $400,000 if the same rate of increases that actually occurred in the last 20+ years continues for just 10 more years. This is a projection of what the value of the Apple-1 would be if the same rate of increase that actually existed in the 21-year period '76 thru '97 continues for the 10-year period 1999 thru 2009. This assumption is conservative because as time marches on, and items get older and older, their historic importance increases at an accelerated rate, not a linear rate (a linear rate is the same exact rate each and every year). Consider valuable Van Gogh, Rembrandt or Renoir paintings auctioned at Christie's or Sotherby's. They sell items at increasingly higher and higher prices at an accelerated rate not a linear rate because the prices are not based on a painting's original value (say a thousand dollars equivalent) but are instead based on what the last (most recent) price was. One asks "What did it sell for last time?" not "How much did this painting sell for when Van Gogh originally sold it as new?" It is a conservative approach to using a linear rate: a 21.5% increase each and every year for the 10-year period '99 -'09, rather than an accelerated rate where 21.5% increases, say to, 25%, then 28%, then 30%, etc. The reason the $ 414,000 projected value in 2009 "seems" high is because the historic growth rate of 21.5% is itself so high. And that rate has already been determined by the marketplace. It is just a simple fact that this valuable Apple-1 has historically had very high increases in value since its inception. That's very good for the owner. You want to be the next owner. You want to own something that has a very high annual compound appreciation rate. Albert Einstein was once asked: "What is the most powerful force in the Universe?" After a moment of thought he responded: "Compound interest." This Apple-1 is a terrific way to get more than 21% annual compound interest on your money. 10-year U.S. Treasury bonds provide only about 6% interest and that's simple interest NOT compound interest. This Apple-1 antique is truly is a very special investment opportunity. If you have no interest in computers, history, or technology, but are interested in a very high-growth investment, then this Apple-1 is for you. If you are also interested in computers, history and prestige -- this deal is even juicier! A FEW QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Q. Why are you selling it? A. For the MONEY! Right now, I have some very specific things I would like to buy and do, but to be able to do so, I am willing to sell my Apple-1 which I have owned for almost 20 years. Q. Why not wait until 2009 when you'll get a really super price? A. I want to buy some things NOW, and do some things NOW. I prefer not to wait 10 more years. I've already waited almost 20 years. Q. Shouldn't it be worth less since it is being sold as a non-working model? A. No. Antique electronics that are exhibited in a museum or elsewhere are not expected to run as new for several reasons: risk of damage from heat, fire, and smoke due to aging components which have changed values and normally get warm or hot, like resistors, transformers, power transistors, inductors, and IC's. Also, replacing with new parts would reduce its value as an antique because it is desirable to have all original parts. There would be substantial risks and costs associated with trying to keep a very old device in working order due to lack of documentation for maintenance and repair, not to mention finding a *reliable* source to buy replacement parts of obsolete components. Also consider the specialized training required of an employee to maintain and repair an antique device -- with no factory or store support to answer technical questions for a product that has long since had its technical support terminated. One would be hard pressed to recall visiting a museum that had any antique electronic devices actively working, like a 1955 transistor radio, a 1938 TV-kinescope, or a 1921 vacuum-tube radio. The purpose of such exhibits is simply to show what the device looked like in real life rather than having to resort to a photograph. A Model-T Ford that is on exhibit in a museum is no less valuable just because it doesn't travel down a road on its own power using ancient fuel for an ancient engine. The fact that an antique device still works like new or not is just not important in determining its present value. TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF SALE PAYMENT. Form of payments accepted are: cashier's check, money orders, personal checks, and bank wire. Once all payments clear my account, I will ship within 24 hours. Payment must be in U.S. dollars. INSURANCE. Buyer agrees to buy and prepay shipping insurance in an amount that at least covers the dollar amount of the sale. SHIPPING. F.O.B. Oceanside California. I will ship any method requested by Buyer. Buyer agrees to prepay all shippping and insurance costs and fees. Seller will ship internationally. Seller will immediately mail to Buyer, under separate cover, copies of all shipping and insurance documents once they have been created, as well as immediately e-mail or fax to Buyer notification of actual date and time of shipment with appropriate information to enable tracking of the shipment. MORE INFO. More info and photos -- including verifiable documentation for valuation analysis is available at my web site: http://members.cts.com/sd/d/dave314x It's definitely worth the click. HAVE SOME QUESTIONS? E-mail me at dave314x(a)cts.com Sipke de Wal