Original Apple I computer gets $630,000 at auction

Fetching more than double what was expected, an Apple I computer was sold through Auction Team Breker in Germany for €491,868 ($630,000) to an anonymous buyer late last month. The computer was expected to sell for between €120,000 and €200,000.

This Apple I computer is fully functional, and based on the video below, had all its original documentation, comes loaded with a tape drive, and cassettes to load BASIC. Steve Wozniak signed some of the pieces that came with the computer, which he used to build by hand back in 1976.

Back then, the computer sold for $666.66 ($500.00, plus 33% mark-up) and was basically an assembled circuit board. The buyer still had to provide a power supply, keyboard and display. The Apple I had a speedy 1MHz processor and standard 4KB of memory which could be expanded to a mega-48KB.

Apple’s first production computer has since become a collector’s item, commanding nose-bleed prices at high-profile auctions. Earlier this year, Sotheby’s sold a first generation Apple computer for $374,500. Apple’s status is certainly brining the area of vintage computer collecting to new heights. Check out the working Apple I that was just auctioned off in the video below.

source: Business Insider

21 Comments

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posted on 14 Dec 2012, 00:52 18

1. chunk1x (Posts: 248; Member since: 25 Jun 2011)

The guy paid too much for this junk.

posted on 14 Dec 2012, 00:56 3

2. PhenomFaz (Posts: 1236; Member since: 26 Sep 2012)

just goes to show after all advancements in tech and science humanity has accomplished....there are a still a few exceptions of nature out there!
OR
this guy was really high :)

posted on 14 Dec 2012, 21:31 1

21. Nadr1212 (Posts: 741; Member since: 22 Sep 2012)

How are any of its specs speedy??!!?

posted on 14 Dec 2012, 04:26 2

13. aaronkatrini (Posts: 242; Member since: 06 Jun 2012)

Pretty much like any other Apple product!

posted on 14 Dec 2012, 00:59 7

3. tiara6918 (Posts: 2110; Member since: 26 Apr 2012)

$630,000?! That guy could have bought tons of the new mac instead of this garbage

posted on 14 Dec 2012, 01:31 3

4. wendygarett (unregistered)

You can take my house key :)

posted on 14 Dec 2012, 01:38 2

5. Lawliet (Posts: 160; Member since: 02 Jul 2012)

Guys, keep your current whatever Apple product you have, because in years time, when you need money, you can sell it for this much.

posted on 14 Dec 2012, 01:59 6

6. eisenbricher (Posts: 973; Member since: 09 Aug 2012)

lol 'Stove' Wozniak

posted on 14 Dec 2012, 02:10

10. Topcat488 (Posts: 1396; Member since: 29 Sep 2012)

If it wasn't for Steve Wozniak, their wouldn't be Apple... Notice how in the graphics demo, whose picture came up first "1st". Nobody but the" Woz", da MAN!!! But at $666. back in 1976, shows how consistently high the price has been at Apple. 666 'o,o' the devil.

posted on 14 Dec 2012, 02:23 1

11. Maxwell.R (Posts: 217; Member since: 20 Sep 2012)

Thanks, must have been thinking "Woz" when writing his first name. ;-)

posted on 14 Dec 2012, 05:51

15. eisenbricher (Posts: 973; Member since: 09 Aug 2012)

One thing I love PA for is, humor. Articles are neither dull, nor too funny. Just the right sprinkled humor. Yeah but can't say this applies for all the editors.

posted on 14 Dec 2012, 02:03

7. groupsacc (Posts: 232; Member since: 28 Feb 2012)

I thought the original Apple computer was cased inside wooden chassis.

posted on 14 Dec 2012, 02:03 1

8. Edmund (Posts: 656; Member since: 13 Jul 2012)

Hold onto that nexus Q

posted on 14 Dec 2012, 02:08

9. RaKithAPeiRiZ (Posts: 1488; Member since: 29 Dec 2011)

in 20 years the htc G1 will worth the same

posted on 14 Dec 2012, 06:43

16. ash29 (Posts: 58; Member since: 28 Oct 2011)

Why was htc G1 the first phone????

posted on 14 Dec 2012, 08:17

17. DetroitTech (Posts: 66; Member since: 02 Nov 2011)

Not even close since millions of people adopted it. This is a classic collectors item as it was VERY niche. Nobody was into computers when this was released whereas everyone was into smartphones when the G1 was. There were MANY before it. Doesn't matter it was the first Android phone the same principles don't apply there. People spend ridiculous amounts of money for paintings that hang on a wall to be admired. This will share the same future. As it should. It wasn't the first computer by any means but one of in not the first personal computer packed in such a manner that still gets shipped today. Monitor, PC, input devices...

Not really sure what the first smartphone is considered...

posted on 14 Dec 2012, 02:24

12. phil2n (Posts: 487; Member since: 30 Apr 2012)

Typo error... its Steve Wozniak.
Don't try to murder his name

posted on 14 Dec 2012, 05:43

14. someones4 (Posts: 625; Member since: 16 Sep 2012)

Hipsters like to buy junk.

posted on 14 Dec 2012, 10:47

18. InspectorGadget80 (unregistered)

Who ever purchase this is a idiot and would go broke after spending half of a million dollars cause all u have is a paper weight and a computer made from wood that could easily burn on fire and now u take it apart?

posted on 14 Dec 2012, 15:37

19. cripton805 (Posts: 1484; Member since: 18 Mar 2012)

My teached had an Apple computer from the early 80's. Obviously a newer version. She couldn't use a newer computer and yet I couldn't figure out how to use hers! lmao