The machine built in 1976 representing human ingenuity and vision in the field of computers was sold for $400,000. It is the first Apple-1 computer and what is remarkable is that it is still functioning and was priced at $666.66 when launched in 1976.
Auctioned yesterday by John Moran Auctioneers in Monrovia, California, it is one of 200 Apple-1 computers which had been designed, built and tested by Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs.
Commenting about this machine, Corey Cohen, an Apple and technology historian said: "What we have with the Apple-1 is sort of like the holy grail of vintage computer collecting.”
The machine goes by the name "Chaffey College" since the person who bought it originally was a professor at Chaffey College in Rancho Cucamonga, California. It was resold to a student in 1977 when the professor wanted to buy an Apple-II computer. Remarkably, this unidentified student kept till now.
The machine was sold as motherboards, with cases, while the keyboards and monitors were sold separately.
Interestingly, koa wood was used to make the case and there are only six known cases like this in existence according to the auction houses.
Native to Hawaii, this was plentiful in the 1970s but due to grazing and logging have become rare.
Designated as the first Apple product, the Apple-1 was the start of the personal computer industry. What also made it different from the products of that age was that it came with a warranty. "It was guaranteed to work. Prior to that, there were other computers. They were kits. They mostly didn't work when you got them,” remarked Cohen.
The original price of $666.66 reflects Wozniak pesonality. Talking to Morning Edition, Cohen revealed: "While that sounds pretty ominous, 666, it's because Steve Wozniak likes repeating numbers. Even his own phone number at the time had a repeating number."
