Own a Piece of Apple History

**Paul Daniel Ash** · 09-18-2009, 06:24 AM

image source: euthman via Flickr, Creative Commons license

Two historically-significant pieces of ancient computer hardware are going on the market. The first Macintosh Plus ever built is going on auction in October, and the owner of one of the last known Apple I units that were built by Steve Wozniak in his garage will be putting it for sale on eBay.

The 1 MB Mac Plus, serial number F4200NUM0001, was built in 1986 and given as a gift by Wozniak and Jobs to Gene Roddenberry. The auction includes the keyboard, external DS/DD 3.5" floppy drive and the padded carrying case. They're estimating a price of $800 - $1200, which is about half what it sold for new. No indication of whether AppleCare is available for this model.

The Plus was the first Mac to support SCSI, which would be standard on all Apple computers until 1998. The capability to extend storage beyond the floppy drives was no small innovation: back in the day, Word came on two disks. When it needed code on the other disk, and if your data was on a third disk, you had to eject and swap back and forth. It was awesome.

Meanwhile, an "82-year-old antique" computer enthusiast wrote into David Einstein's Computing Q&A column on SFGate.com to say he's selling his vintage 1976 Apple I, one of 30 to 50 of the original 200 or so handbuilt by Stephen Wozniak that are thought to still exist.

The MOS 6502-based computer was distinctive for the time, because you bought it as a fully-populated board rather than a pile of chips. Add a keyboard and a TV, and you were ready to go. The [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Altair_8800"],[/ame] (Intel 8080-based precursor of the PC/DOS/Windows family), by comparison, had to be programmed by throwing switches, and it talked to you through a row of LEDs.

When the Apple I first went on sale in July 1976 it was priced at $666.66, because Woz thought it "would be easier to type." Though someone auctioned off an Apple I for $50,000 at auction in 1999, Einstein suggests that $14,000–$16,000 is a reasonable price to expect for it.

**nikozen** · 09-18-2009, 06:37 AM

That's pretty impressive. I wonder when the auctions are going to start on eBay.

**vedavis** · 09-18-2009, 06:51 AM

Having entered the computer industry at the time all the Apple vs. PC started, it brings back such great memories. What a time it was!

**thinknoffcenter** · 09-18-2009, 07:53 AM

huh, i still have the apple II e i got for x-mas back in the 80's, man i feel old

**TrippleSinner** · 09-18-2009, 08:19 AM

thats what I started on an ol apple IIe playing where in the world is carmen sandiego

**rwin84** · 09-18-2009, 08:28 AM

I think this is so cool. Pieces of history.

**jerrykid323** · 09-18-2009, 08:28 AM

Originally Posted by thinknoffcenter

huh, i still have the apple II e i got for x-mas back in the 80's, man i feel old

uhhhhh,, you are !!!LOL

**thinknoffcenter** · 09-18-2009, 08:31 AM

Originally Posted by jerrykid323

uhhhhh,, you are !!!LOL

yup!!!!! I am, still got me ol commodore 64 that I learned basic on.....oops, think I just farted some dust...ha ha

**tudtran** · 09-18-2009, 08:31 AM

Wooooow

**chstriker11** · 09-18-2009, 08:34 AM

haha i still have my apple II+.. you know.. with the green lines, and only ran on ROM BASIC computer language. try that for old.

**Ticko** · 09-18-2009, 09:05 AM

Originally Posted by thinknoffcenter

yup!!!!! I am, still got me ol commodore 64 that I learned basic on.....oops, think I just farted some dust...ha ha

dont feel old they were teaching basic in high school when i was there 8 years ago. But they did refer to it as the "Forgotten" computing language lol

**StealthBravo** · 09-18-2009, 10:46 AM

Originally Posted by chstriker11

haha i still have my apple II+.. you know.. with the green lines, and only ran on ROM BASIC computer language. try that for old.

Is it on display or under a inch of dust in the attic?

**ifonemaniac** · 09-18-2009, 04:18 PM

I still have some cave etchings I made after I killed my first sabre tooth..man i feel old

**badass1469** · 09-18-2009, 05:52 PM

I smell old people!@!@

**one1** · 09-18-2009, 07:18 PM

Why would you sell these things????? Especially the one that was a gift. What an azz.The old guy seems to be selling his before he kicks off which is fine.

**StealthBravo** · 09-18-2009, 07:27 PM

Originally Posted by badass1469

I smell old people!@!@

The old people smell is horrible now one1 is in here

**ecd5000** · 09-18-2009, 09:47 PM

thats pretty cool.i used to work at a senior retirement village and one of the men asked what i had one day(ipod) he swears that he played in a jazz band with steve wozniaks father. he was going off about some guy who had built a computer and couldnt remember his name becuase he had seen the apple logo on the ipod. crazy huh

**one1** · 09-18-2009, 09:55 PM

Originally Posted by StealthBravo

The old people smell is horrible now one1 is in here

I smell like Burberry Weekend and don't you forget it.

**StealthBravo** · 09-18-2009, 10:05 PM

lmao

**one1** · 09-18-2009, 10:07 PM

....and it smells goooooood.

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image source: euthman via Flickr , Creative Commons license Two historically-significant pieces of ancient computer hardware are going on the market. The first Macintosh Plus ever built is going on