Apple’s first computer made by Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs auctioned for $400,000

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<strong>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.</strong></p>
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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.</p>
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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.”</p>
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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.</p>
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The machine was sold as motherboards, with cases, while the keyboards and monitors were sold separately.</p>
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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.</p>
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Native to Hawaii, this was plentiful in the 1970s but due to grazing and logging have become rare.</p>
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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.</p>
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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."</p>