If you’ve ever wanted to have a piece of computer history, now’s your chance. There’s currently what’s billed as functional. Apple-1, a first-line computer model launched by the company in 1976, available for sale on eBay. However, it is not really cheap and will bring you back 1.5 million dollars.
Apple-1 is a rare piece of memory sought after by Apple fans. Even the story of the origin attracts you. According to Cult of Mac, the computers were designed and built by Steve Wozniak and were wholesaled by Steve Jobs. To pay for manufacturing costs, Wozniak sold its HP-65 computer and Jobs sold its Volkswagen van.
Apple-1 is for sale on eBay, which the seller claims to have a certificate of authenticity from Apple-1 registry, is special because it seems to be one of the 50 sold to Byte Shop, one of the first personal computer stores. The product list specifies that the Apple-1 is in the original wooden Byte Shop KOA case and also includes the original power supply and Datanetics Version D keyboard.
The seller, who goes by the krishmiti, says that the Apple-1 is an unmodified NTI board in almost perfect condition. The package also includes a Sony TV-115 and a video modulator. (Depending on the Cult of Mac, users had to add their own keyboard and monitor or use a TV for the latter).
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Now, let’s talk about the specifications of this technological dinosaur. It had an 8-bit MOS 6502 microprocessor running at 1 MHz. In terms of memory, it included 4KB by default, but that could be increased to 8 KB or 48 KB using expansion cards. Only 200 Apple-1 computers, and a few pre-production boards, have been made. Their starting price was $ 666.66.
Decades later, these devices bring much higher prices. In 2010, an Apple-1 computer in its original packaging with a letter signed by Jobs sold for $ 210,000. Meanwhile, in 2014, an Apple-1 computer was sold at auction for $ 905,000, which is the highest known price anyone has ever paid for a vintage Apple computer, although this seller obviously wants to break this record.
There is only a small amount of Apple-1 at present, partly due to age, according to Cult of Mac. Apple also allowed buyers to trade their Apple-1s with Apple II, which became the first company mass market computer.
This is not the first time Krishmiti has tried to sell its Apple-1. He tried to sell it for $ 1.75 million in 2019, but probably did not get any benefit, because it lowered the price by a notch. Is an Apple-1 worth $ 1.5 million? We may find out soon.