I think you may be underestimating the "home" market. After all, the
Apple][ was a "home" computer. By comparison the C-64 among others were like
a baby's rattle.
My point, however, was that nobody seems to want that NEXT cube, since both it
and the associated printer and 19" monitor, mouse, and keyboard, were sitting
at the thrift store for a over a week, while the typical running PC setup,
priced between 40 and 80 bucks, seldom sits there for more than half a day.
I'd say it probably ended up out in their dumpster. That's what normally
happens to MAC's. It's not unusual to see several MAC's in the dumpster.
Dick
----- Original Message -----
From: "Ethan Dicks" <erd_6502_at_yahoo.com>
To: <classiccmp_at_classiccmp.org>
Sent: Monday, April 22, 2002 2:29 PM
Subject: Re: Micro$oft Biz'droid Lusers (was: OT email response format)
>
> --- Richard Erlacher <edick_at_idcomm.com> wrote:
> > BTW, when the NEXT boxes first came out...
> >
> > The problem with these machines, as borne out by the market, is that they
> > weren't what the home user wanted.
>
> They were never intended for the home market. The C-64 _at_ $595 on down
> to $100 MSRP _was_.
>
> > I recently saw a NEXT cube for sale in a thrift store complete with its
> > original (Black) laser printer for $10 for the whole shootin'match, and
> > it was running.
>
> Virtually every computer ever made will sell for 1% or less of MSRP
> approximately 10 years after it comes out. The original IBM PC-AT was
> $5,000 with a standard configuration, ~15 years ago. Now... how much
> would that same system, running, sell for? Not even $50. Same goes
> for anything else you care to name. The only "exception" to the rule
> are things that are so old that they start to appreciate again due
> to scarcity and interest. I picked up a PDP-8/L for $35 in 1982,
> MSRP $8,500 in 1968... I paid <0.5% (and got 80% of a second machine
> for spare parts). Try and find a PDP-8/L now for $35. It's either
> free or hundreds of dollars. I know more than one person who bought
> a PDP-8/S long enough ago that they paid $50 or less. The last two
> that sold that I am aware of went for $750 and $1700, still below the
> 1966 MSRP of $9,995, but up from $30-$50 + S&H.
>
> I am not trying to justify the MSRP of a NeXT Cube. I am pointing
> out that seeing *any* computer at a thrift store 10 years after its
> launch for $10 is not unusual. 10 years after that, though, you
> won't see them there at that price.
>
> > AFAIK, nobody bought it. I haven't been back to see whether it's sold
> > yet, but it's been a couple of weeks.
>
> If a NeXT cube showed up at a thrift store around here for $10, it
> wouldn't last the day. Different market (plus more sharks cruising
> the local waters, I suppose). PC-XTs for $15 don't move very fast,
> though.
>
> -ethan
>
>
>
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Received on Mon Apr 22 2002 - 19:11:26 BST