Original Apple I computer gets $630,000 at auction

posted by Maxwell R. / Dec 14, 2012, 12:50 AM

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

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21 Comments

1. chunk1x

Posts: 248; Member since: Jun 25, 2011

The guy paid too much for this junk.

posted on Dec 14, 2012, 12:52 AM 18

2. PhenomFaz

Posts: 1236; Member since: Sep 26, 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 Dec 14, 2012, 12:56 AM 3

21. Nadr1212

Posts: 741; Member since: Sep 22, 2012

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

posted on Dec 14, 2012, 9:31 PM 1

13. aaronkatrini

Posts: 242; Member since: Jun 06, 2012

Pretty much like any other Apple product!

posted on Dec 14, 2012, 4:26 AM 2

3. tiara6918

Posts: 2263; Member since: Apr 26, 2012

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

posted on Dec 14, 2012, 12:59 AM 7

4. wendygarett unregistered

You can take my house key :)

posted on Dec 14, 2012, 1:31 AM 3

5. Lawliet

Posts: 160; Member since: Jul 02, 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 Dec 14, 2012, 1:38 AM 2

6. eisenbricher

Posts: 973; Member since: Aug 09, 2012

lol 'Stove' Wozniak

posted on Dec 14, 2012, 1:59 AM 6

10. Topcat488

Posts: 1415; Member since: Sep 29, 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 Dec 14, 2012, 2:10 AM 0

11. Maxwell.R

Posts: 218; Member since: Sep 20, 2012

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

posted on Dec 14, 2012, 2:23 AM 1

15. eisenbricher

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 Dec 14, 2012, 5:51 AM 0

7. groupsacc

Posts: 232; Member since: Feb 28, 2012

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

posted on Dec 14, 2012, 2:03 AM 0

8. Edmund

Posts: 656; Member since: Jul 13, 2012

Hold onto that nexus Q

posted on Dec 14, 2012, 2:03 AM 1

9. RaKithAPeiRiZ

Posts: 1488; Member since: Dec 29, 2011

in 20 years the htc G1 will worth the same

posted on Dec 14, 2012, 2:08 AM 0

16. ash29

Posts: 58; Member since: Oct 28, 2011

Why was htc G1 the first phone????

posted on Dec 14, 2012, 6:43 AM 0

17. DetroitTech

Posts: 66; Member since: Nov 02, 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 Dec 14, 2012, 8:17 AM 0

12. phil2n

Posts: 519; Member since: Apr 30, 2012

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

posted on Dec 14, 2012, 2:24 AM 0

14. someones4

Posts: 627; Member since: Sep 16, 2012

Hipsters like to buy junk.

posted on Dec 14, 2012, 5:43 AM 0

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 Dec 14, 2012, 10:47 AM 0

19. cripton805

Posts: 1485; Member since: Mar 18, 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