Cult of Mac Exclusive: Surprise! Apple I Buyer is a “PC”
4:58 am, October 27th, 2009, Nicole Martinelli
On October 3, a collector bought a rare Apple 1 on eBay for $18,000. The computer, one of about 50 thought to be still in existence, had an estimated value of $14,000 – $16,000.
Back in July 1976, the Apple I sold for $666.66; there were 200 of them hand made by Steve Wozniak. Sold in a kit, it came with 4KB standard memory, you could bump up to 8KB or 48KB with expansion cards. You had to add your own case, keyboard and display. (If you’d like to see one, check out the Smithsonian.)
The seller of this Apple 1, Monroe Postman, wasn’t even sure if it would still work.
So, who would pay $18,000 for an Apple I?
A self-defined “PC person,” who believes that today’s Macs are overpriced. The collector, who wishes to remain anonymous for now, may one day launch a computer museum.
And perhaps trade that PC for a modern Mac.
Interview by Leander Kahney.
CoM: Why did you buy it?
I have been collecting vintage computers for number of years. Obviously, original Apple I is a dream for any serious computer collector and for me, this dream came through.
I have 150+ vintage computers in my collection, which I try to maintain in working order. Occasionally, I take some to local middle and high schools to show to the students. I have an exact working Apple I replica, which is always a hit. Students love playing Lunar Lander.
CoM: What are you going to do with it?
One of those days, I am planning to open a real “museum” for public and the Apple I will take one of the central places.
CoM: What does your spouse/significant other think of it?
Even though my wife is in the computer business herself, she does not pay much attention to my hobby. Obviously, $18K raised her brow, but she understood it in the end.
More pics, full interview after the jump.
CoM: Have you fired it up yet? What if it makes a funny burning smell?
Close examination of the circuit board and the components reveal no visible defects except for a small dent on one of the capacitors in the power circuit. The board itself is in excellent condition. Though everything seems to be in a good shape, I will not attempt to power it up to prevent any possible damage to the computer.
CoM: Did you get a good deal for $18K?
I am pretty happy with the purchase price, my limit was 20K. I feel that if there would be no BIN price, the bidding would’ve bring it out of my reach to somewhere around 25K.
CoM: Where did you get the money?
That’s an interesting question. I can tell you one thing, they are 100% earned.
CoM: What do you use for your day-to-day computer?
Unfortunately for Cult of Mac, I am a PC person and use PC at work and at home.
Apple makes great computers however, lack of competition and absence of outside hardware and software vendors makes them very overpriced though, I need to admit, that this picture is changing now. Who knows, maybe in a year or so I will switch to a Mac.
CoM: Have you ever met either of the two Steves?
I have never met either Mr. Wozniak. or Mr. Jobs and would really love to meet either of them.
Posted by Nicole Martinelli in News, Top stories, Vintage Tech | Comment on this article
It really galls me when people say that Apple has no competition.
I guess he’s never heard of Dell, Acer, Asus, Toshiba, Lenovo, and about 10,000 other PC vendors…….
Sigh.
Joe Anonymous, on October 27th, 2009 at 9:37 am
yeah, but do those (dell, acer, asus…) really constitute as competition? I think he’s saying that there’s no PC manufacturer that makes their hardware and software, and that’s why they can keep their prices down.
james tk, on October 27th, 2009 at 9:57 am
Back in ‘76, while going to oregon state, I traded a pair of JBL speakers for one of the original Apple I engineering prototypes. It didn’t have a case or a keyboard, but did come with a xerox’d stack of hand-typed and hand-written documentation.
I built a case, cobbled together a keyboard, and started hacking. Ten years later I gave it away, including the documentation, to a student at DeVry so I could buy a PC. Doh!
(Which reminds me about the ‘59 Gibson ES-335 I used to have…)
ty, on October 27th, 2009 at 11:08 am
Congratulations to the buyer.
I was a pc user for 15 years until earlier this year when i reached 22 years of age. I ended up making the switch, and its quite possibly one of the best decisons i have made in my life.
I would love to see an Apple I in the flesh. Made way before i was even born, and hand made by Mr Wozniak. Would really love it!!!
Got an Apple Tattoo earlier this year too, so i’ve truly fell in love with the brand
Andrew Macdonald, on October 27th, 2009 at 11:08 am
@andrew macdonald
I’ve been a PC user forever, decided to buy a macbook, now I’m a mac/pc user =P
james tk, on October 27th, 2009 at 11:18 am
“I am pretty happy with the purchase price, my limit was 20K”
“Apple makes great computers however… very overpriced”
Um, did the guy who just dropped $18K for a computer just call Macs expensive?
Why didn’t you ask him what planet he was from Ms. Martinelli?
I’ve got my money on Cognitive dissonanceotopia…
Church of Apple, on October 27th, 2009 at 1:46 pm
I love Apple but I don’t get people who collect anything just to stare at it. I understand if there is a profit involved but people who stare at things usually don’t care. I don’t get museums either. If I want to stare at something old I just google Joan Rivers.
Harden Stuhl, on October 28th, 2009 at 10:58 am
After spending 18K on what amounts to a giant baseball card. It has little inherent value, it’s simply rare. The one in the Smithsonian mitigates any real socio-anthro-technological importance. So I take anything this guy says about value with a grain of salt.
Apples are not overpriced, and they do have competition. Feature for feature, Apples are cheaper than competing products from every major computer manufacturer. Just because they don’t troll the shallows for cheap-crap buyers doesn’t change that. Would I buy a (new) MacBook or a mini for a young child or a bargain-hunting newbie? Heck no. But I did have my 80-year old mother upgrade her PC to a mini because the extra 200 bucks has made using a computer so easy that she now actually checks her grandkids’ Facebooks, chats online, and does a lot more than just her email and play electronic bridge. She even wants to know how to set up her Facebook page to share her pictures with the family!
THAT is real value.
imajoebob, on October 28th, 2009 at 12:27 pm
This anonymous buyer reminds me of Richard Garriott, aka Lord British.
Sean, on November 4th, 2009 at 3:03 pm