The Briefing Room

General Category => Science, Technology and Knowledge => Computers => Topic started by: Fishrrman on August 26, 2018, 01:22:52 pm

Title: Functioning Apple computer built in 1970s up for auction
Post by: Fishrrman on August 26, 2018, 01:22:52 pm
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/aug/25/functioning-apple-computer-built-in-1970s-up-for-a/ (https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/aug/25/functioning-apple-computer-built-in-1970s-up-for-a/)

Functioning Apple computer built in 1970s up for auction

(https://twt-thumbs.washtimes.com/media/image/2018/08/25/old_apple_computer_auction_69105_c4-0-1996-1162_s885x516.jpg?e135e10baf7266151c2517826b564c6ee7f3e7f8)

By - Associated Press - Saturday, August 25, 2018

BOSTON (AP) - A piece of computer history that helped launch a trillion dollar company is hitting the auction block.

A fully functioning Apple-1 being auctioned by Boston-based RR Auction in September is one of only 60 or so remaining of the original 200 that were designed and built by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak in 1976 and 1977.

It was restored to its original, operational state by Apple expert Corey Cohen. The system was operated without fault for approximately eight hours in a test. It even includes the original keyboard from the 1970s.

It shows the humble beginnings of Cupertino, California-based Apple, which recently became the world’s first publicly traded company to be valued at $1 trillion.

The Apple 1 originally sold for about $666. It could get $300,000 or more at auction.

More at URL above...
Title: Re: Functioning Apple computer built in 1970s up for auction
Post by: Elderberry on August 26, 2018, 01:34:40 pm
If I could a only got one of those.

Instead my first computer was the SYM-1.

The SYM-1 was a single board "trainer" computer produced by Synertek Systems Corp in 1975. It was designed by Ray Holt who also designed the first microprocessor chip set used in the CADC for the F-14 Tomcat. Originally called the VIM-1 (Versatile Input Monitor), that name was later changed to SYM-1.

(http://oldcomputers.net/pics/sym-1.jpg)

I had a dumb terminal for it similar to the VT100

Title: Re: Functioning Apple computer built in 1970s up for auction
Post by: Suppressed on August 27, 2018, 02:35:15 pm
If I could a only got one of those.

Instead my first computer was the SYM-1.

The SYM-1 was a single board "trainer" computer produced by Synertek Systems Corp in 1975. It was designed by Ray Holt who also designed the first microprocessor chip set used in the CADC for the F-14 Tomcat. Originally called the VIM-1 (Versatile Input Monitor), that name was later changed to SYM-1.

(http://oldcomputers.net/pics/sym-1.jpg)

I had a dumb terminal for it similar to the VT100

It's amazing how fast things progressed from that point.
Title: Re: Functioning Apple computer built in 1970s up for auction
Post by: dfwgator on August 27, 2018, 02:37:55 pm
It's amazing how fast things progressed from that point.

(https://assets.hongkiat.com/uploads/vintage-tech-ads/10-megabytes-hard-disk.jpg)
Title: Re: Functioning Apple computer built in 1970s up for auction
Post by: Gefn on August 27, 2018, 02:41:57 pm
I still have a functioning Mac from 1994 running OS 7.5

It’s not worth much. But I do love it.
Title: Re: Functioning Apple computer built in 1970s up for auction
Post by: Snarknado on August 27, 2018, 11:55:11 pm
Wow, so $3500/10 MB = $350M/TB.

I remember in the late 80's a coworker bragging about the unbelievable deal he got on a SCSI drive - less than $1000 for a whopping 1GB. But then I suppose the $80 I spent last year on a 4TB WD portable will be just as good for a laugh 30 years from now...
Title: Re: Functioning Apple computer built in 1970s up for auction
Post by: Elderberry on August 28, 2018, 12:08:45 am
The only storage my SYM-1 had was cassette tape. I fully populated its onboard memory to 4K. I was given a Basic EEPROM, but I mostly programmed it in Assembly.
Title: Re: Functioning Apple computer built in 1970s up for auction
Post by: Elderberry on August 28, 2018, 12:16:18 am
Wow, so $3500/10 MB = $350M/TB.

I remember in the late 80's a coworker bragging about the unbelievable deal he got on a SCSI drive - less than $1000 for a whopping 1GB. But then I suppose the $80 I spent last year on a 4TB WD portable will be just as good for a laugh 30 years from now...

In the early 90's I had a co-worker who hated SCSI, so he gave me a bunch of 4GB full height drives. I had a case that held 8 drives, 4 by 4 on the same level. I had about 6 drives in it. I used it as a foot rest under my desk.
Title: Re: Functioning Apple computer built in 1970s up for auction
Post by: Suppressed on August 29, 2018, 02:16:10 pm
In the early 90's I had a co-worker who hated SCSI, so he gave me a bunch of 4GB full height drives. I had a case that held 8 drives, 4 by 4 on the same level. I had about 6 drives in it. I used it as a foot rest under my desk.
@Elderberry  I love it!

Each time I've built myself a machine, I get a nice large full tower with about 10 drive bays!  I never had so many connected at once, but I would swap out data drives by switching cables.  I just yesterday ordered a 4-port SATA controller card, though, so I can hook up some of my old drives (my old backup desktop died recently--hardware failure, whether PSU, Mobo, or whatever).  I'm getting some GREAT advice here!