Prototype Macintosh 128k on eBay - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Mint.
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 17, 2012, 08:53:10 pm
content: http://www.ebay.com/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160781780426&ssPageName=ADME:X:RTQ:US:1123I wonder how the guy got it

author: siliconmix
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 17, 2012, 09:20:39 pm
content: looks like money laundering to me

author: T4P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 17, 2012, 09:57:03 pm
content: Wozniac eh

author: MikeK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 17, 2012, 11:23:09 pm
content: Some people just don't know what to do with their money.

author: free_electron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 18, 2012, 12:10:54 am
content: nah, it's not that rare ... this is production run #6. there were 200 of these machines built.wake me when you have a wire-wrapped board ...

author: JonnyBoats
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 18, 2012, 05:48:52 am
content: And only $1,500 to ship it!

author: codeboy2k
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 18, 2012, 05:56:10 am
content: Quote from: JonnyBoats on April 18, 2012, 05:48:52 amThat's probably accurate. He's in Canada, our shipping costs are through the roof. totally out of control.

author: slateraptor
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 18, 2012, 06:12:23 am
content: Quote from: codeboy2k on April 18, 2012, 05:56:10 amIf what you say is true, then the seller will likely drive his happy ass across the border and ship from WA to maximize profits.

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 18, 2012, 09:15:22 am
content: The comment about money laundering is interesting. The price for this item seems totally disproportionate to what I would expect it to be worth. It isn't the 1st prototype or unique. Mnd you, I personally wouldn't choose a MAC computer to do such a crime. Better to keep a low profile and 'sell' an expensive car or boat that has a far higher value and lower sale profile.A colleague of mine sold an old SAAB car to a chap overseas and was amazed that the GBP9000 transaction activated the eBay/PayPal 'anti money laundering process' and he had to wait quite some time before they released the money to him. I think ebay and PayPal have become very aware of the potential for such crime but if this is legit they will certainly be pleased with their commissionAurora

author: wtkevin
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: April 18, 2012, 11:06:24 am
content: heh, ebay doesn't seem to appreciate old Saabs then, but now that it's gone it will get higher prices for collectors.... Much like this Mac prototype, it's just that bit more special.

author: Mint.
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 18, 2012, 08:43:28 pm
content: One ting I don't understand. Is what is the point in buying something so old. Wouldn't it break apart in a couple of years?

author: MikeK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 18, 2012, 10:53:04 pm
content: Quote from: Mint. on April 18, 2012, 08:43:28 pmIt's not to be used. You just look at it.

author: Mint.
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 18, 2012, 11:35:33 pm
content: Quote from: MikeK on April 18, 2012, 10:53:04 pmYeah but I'm wondering how do you store something like that.

author: quantumfall
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 19, 2012, 08:59:17 am
content: He's just fishing / testing the marketWould this be a museum piece ? I'd rather see what was sold in the end, the finished version.I remember our receptionist getting one in 1984, she liked the spray paint application.Most of us "Engineers" thort it was to small and gimmicky. We likes our ACT Apricot PCs unfortunately this fruit named manufacturer disappeared.

author: G7PSK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 19, 2012, 09:06:15 am
content: I had an Apricot dating back to the 1980's only sent it to the graveyard this year as I had stored it on a shelf such that sunlight fell on one side of it, when I took it down last time to fire it up which I did every few years just to keep the floppy's fresh the plastic case disintegrated where the sun had hit it to such an extent that I only had half the case. Storage needs to be in a dark inert atmosphere.

author: quantumfall
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 19, 2012, 09:29:10 am
content: Quote from: G7PSK on April 19, 2012, 09:06:15 amWas it all plastic ? did it have RF shielding ?The Apricot PC was a nice design, small compact with 3.5'' floppys or an 10 megabyte Hard Disk, the keyboard had an LCD display above the keys you could program to show the function.The IBM PC had the replaceable cards which was a winner in the end I think with all the cheap clones later.Along with dot matrix or daisy wheel printers in acoustic hoods the old days Ha Ha.

author: G7PSK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 19, 2012, 11:58:53 am
content: the main unit had a lot of metal boxes inside.The one I had was the two floppy one,no hdd. The monitor had very little shielding and the keyboard was a special for the computer with a funny plug and socket (about 20 pins) and made to clip into the main unit for transport. I was sad to see it go but there was no saving it .