Future Collectables - Mac, iMac & Atari comments

From: Innfogra_at_aol.com <(Innfogra_at_aol.com)>
Date: Sun Nov 8 18:14:31 1998

In a message dated 11/8/98 3:06:25 PM Pacific Standard Time,
dastar_at_ncal.verio.com writes:

<<
> Yes the iMac will be collectable because it is taking a lot of new
> people into the land of computerdom. It is a revolutionary device, the
> thought of unpacking it from the box, plugging it in and going to work
> is very attractive to new computer users.
 
 Apple used that trick before. It was called the Macintosh.
>>

True, the Macintosh was a revolutionary concept and the 128K original is now a
collectable. Many people bought Macs as their first computer. This generates
popularity, time generates nostalgia.

E-mail is pushing many computerphobic people into needing to use a computer.
This is a new step in the revolution which is going to bring a great majority
of people into the computer revolution. Apple & Jobs recognized the movement
and, yes, used the trick again. This is generating huge sales for Apple and in
20 years down the road, nostalgia.

Lets look at a simplistic history of the Mac collectables. The hottest of the
predicessors is the Xerox Alto followed by the Xerox Stars the 8010 (limited
production, very collectable) and 6085 (pretty, beginning to be a
collectable).
All of the Lisas are collectable as are any parts, documentation and software.
The 128K original Mac is collectable as are parts, documentation, software and
the original boxes. I suspect that early 512K Macs are growing in
collectability. Right now Mac+s are a glut on the market. Early serial
numbers, originals and limited editions will be valuable in the future. The
production runs on the Mac + were huge. Untill the glut disappears prices will
be depressed. Now is the time to buy parts machines. I doubt the Mac+ will
ever be a great collectable, there are just too many of them. Many people will
want one for nostalgia reasons only. Maybe in 50 years or so they will be
valuable.

I don't know the later Macs. Some I am sure are and will be collectables.

The iMac will be a collectable because many will use it as their first
computer. Most will move on to newer machines. Some of the originals wioll go
ionto the closet when people upgrade. Most will go to the used market. When a
new generation of power (64 bit machines) becomes availiable most imacs will
go to scrap. This will be the bottom of the market. This will be the best time
for the true collectors to buy parts, however most won't recognize it. As they
become scarce they become collectable and prices rise. At this time most
documentation and software is hard to find. Original boxes nonexistant. The
machines that are buried in the closet start showing up on the collectors
market.

Top prices are obtained by having the origional boxes, documentation and
software. Collectors pay a premium for this. This was exhibited in the record
sale price of the recent Atari 1200XL on e-bay. This unit was the only totally
complete system I have seen on ebay. Original boxes! If you look at the
completed sales of Ataris most sales of 1200XLs are in the $30 to $100 range
for complete systems without documentation, SW and boxes.
Paxton
Received on Sun Nov 08 1998 - 18:14:31 GMT