Future Collectables

From: Hans Franke <franke_at_sbs.de>
Date: Mon Nov 9 11:30:53 1998

> Any collector will tell you that a lot depends on rareity. An item produced in
> the millions is less valuable than one produced in the thousands. Prototypes
> of popular machines will be very valuable. Machines that bombed in the market
> will be valuable. Accessories and documentation that disapears readilly will
> be valuable.

Just depending. Even #1 all time sales items can be more
valuabel than a lot rarer and more interesting speciemen
of the same time - just think about the VW (Beatle), a
car built in more units than almost any other car in the
world, build over a timeline longer than most oter car
(especialy longer than all other mass market car) but he
outclasses all compareable cars when it comes to the $$$
peaople are ready to pay to get one.

A bit like the APPLE II - maybe in 10 years they will be
like a Kaefer. Or take the Altair a computer clearly never
realy too be considered rare but the prices just outrun
any other old computer (only the Apple 1 will perform
higher, but it is also a lot more rare).

> 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.

The only new thing is a brute marketing. No new idea at all.
Wasn't the Mac itself the same thing ? And unpack'n'go is not
new at all. Even in the x86-PC world a lot of ready to use
machines are available. Nobody is willing to try something
real new (Or do I just see it to pesimistic?).
(OT: I guess the usual iMac owner would also like to drive a new beatle :)

> How many computers of today will survive when crashes
> become totally unacceptable.

iMac still crashes like any other Mac ...

> It will be 20 years though, before it gains value
> as a collectable. Any limited edition iMac that Apple may make will be
> collectable. This is going to be the first computer for millions of people.

Possible - but still the PC is leading also here. For every
new iMac first time computer user a dozend of PC ones grew up.

I just remember having heard all this once upon a past timeline...

Gruss
H.
(OT2:
 I belive Apple had the strange luck to define three times a new world:
 - the Apple II as a modular expandable all in one Computer,
 - the Mac as ready to use consumer GUI system,
 - and the Newton as first usable and real 'pad' orientated pen device.
 And they did screw it up all tree times.
 - killed the II with every way they could
 - avoided at any cost placing the Mac als general consumer product
 - and stoped the Newton just when it was finaly ready to use.
 eventualy this will make all Apple products it on topic again)


--
Ich denke, also bin ich, also gut
HRK
Received on Mon Nov 09 1998 - 11:30:53 GMT

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