Lots of Apple 1 computers @ VCF West

[dwight]

The value of Apple 1s are clearly a combination of many things. They're about a factor of 500x because they were Apples first product. There is no question about that. Other factors include limited run. The fact that may were turned in for credit to get an Apple II made them even rarer.
Value is what the buyer will pay.
At $600+ they were not attractive to me at the time because at that time, I could get a working, used, S-100 for $400.
Even when the Apple II came out, its limited expansion were not of interest to me.
Apple's hardware design was poor ( the disk system is an example ). Another was blowing out printer interfaces because you tuned them on in the wrong order. Even the selection of the 6502 was based on how cheap one could make a computer for the masses ( not saying that the 6502 wasn't a good design, only that the selection was based on cost, not quality received ).
Rare is not equal to valuable. Rare and desired combine to make value. If I didn't expect to make a profit I'd not personally buy an apple 1 for more than $200. I don't have the funds to buy one at the current rate.  Like many stocks, I personally think it is over valued. I think that some day the value will drop. I couldn't guess as to how much. The only people growing up today that would pay anything like that amount, would only pay that much because they expected to make a profit. It is just an investment. As a museum item, it is interesting.
I do wish I'd bought one when I started. I'd not have it today, though. When the value went over a few tens of thousands, I'm sure I'd have sold it.
All stated, buy me, are just opinions. Done take offense as none was intended.
Dwight


________________________________
From: cctalk <cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org> on behalf of corey cohen via cctalk <cctalk at classiccmp.org>
Sent: Monday, July 8, 2019 8:10 AM
To: Chuck Guzis; General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts
Subject: Re: Lots of Apple 1 computers @ VCF West

The high price isn’t a Steve Jobs distortion field.  The Apple-1 was collectible in the 1980’s before Jobs became the one we all remember.  The Apple-1 was really the 1st collectible personal computer and it was produced in very limited numbers for a very short time and was tied the grandparent to the Apple II and all other Apple products.

As for the replicas being more reliable, only if they are built using modern sockets with modern caps and TTL chips where possible.   The original boards still differ a lot from the replicas because the techniques used to make the PCB boards are no longer used or legal due to environmental laws and the dying art of how they made PCBs in the 70’s.

As for why a replica can cost so much, look at the prices for some of the items on the Apple-1 like the ceramic 6502, the shift registers or RAM.  They aren’t expensive because they are on an Apple-1, but there are people who collect those vintage chips also.

Cheers,
Corey

corey cohen
uǝɥoɔ ʎǝɹoɔ
Sent from my iPhone

> On Jul 8, 2019, at 11:02 AM, Chuck Guzis via cctalk <cctalk at classiccmp.org> wrote:
>
> On 7/8/19 7:43 AM, Ethan O'Toole via cctalk wrote:
>>> Actually the cheapest Apple-1 reproduction is just over 4 figures.  A
>>> reproduction with date correct components cost as much as 5 figures.
>>> A work-alike like a replica-1 is cheap, maybe $150
>>
>> No idea why people would go 5 figures on a replica that is still a replica?
>>
>> The only reason for the high price on the original is Steve Jobs
>> (reality distortion field.)
>
> Practically speaking, what's the difference between a close working
> replica and the original?  Are the bits somehow imbued with some
> additional spiritual property?
>
> The replica may actually be more reliable.
>
> --Chuck
>
>
>