The history of computers and computer technology is still young, yet the advancements made in that short time are impressive. Much like other sought-after historical relics, the market for early pieces of computer technology is heating up as big ticket items hit the auction block. Video games are part of this market, with a sealed copy of Super Mario Bros. 3 fetching a world-record price last year, but not even Mario can compete with an original Apple computer.
In 2021 it might be impossible to fathom that Apple was once a small fish struggling to make it in the emerging world of personal computers. The now-ubiquitous brand is eyeing the possibility of making a self-driving car while continuing to churn out millions of laptops, tablets, and phones every year. However, in the late 1970s, things were small enough that some Apple computers were built by company founders Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak.
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The small production numbers and personal connection to Apple's founders are why an auction on eBay for an operational Apple-1 in a rare Byte Shop koa wood case is generating buzz. Going for the unbelievable price of $1.5 million USD, the original 1976 Apple-1 computer is said to have been built by Jobs and Wozniak, and features some unique wiring choices that make it a rare model.
One of only six known Apple-1s to have the koa wood case, the computer has a long, detailed history and has been verified to be the real deal by experts. Like coming across a Game Boy Advance prototype, this Apple-1 tells a story about the evolution of technology.
Other than a few small fixes to keep the machine running, everything about this Apple-1 is original, and the auction comes with a Sony TV-115 monitor - the Apple recommended monitor for the Apple-1. The monitor itself is an interesting piece of history, as according to the Apple-1 Registry, this particular Apple-1 was up for auction in 2019, but did not find a buyer. Big ticket auctions are seemingly making more headlines lately, like the sale of a Pokemon Trading Card Game booster box for nearly half a million dollars, so the market might be there for the Apple-1 this time around.
Only 200 Apple-1 units were ever made before the company moved on to the Apple 2, so it is astounding to think how production has changed since then. If Apple only produced 200 of its latest line of MacBooks, there would likely be outrage. This rare chance to own a piece of Apple history should certainly draw a lot of attention from collectors the world over.
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Source: eBay