Thread
How rare is an original 128k?
How rare is the original 128k Mac?
How many do you think are still out there and able to turn on?
How many do you think are still out there and able to turn on?
In Australia, rare as hen's teeth.
Elsewhere, difficult to obtain. They don't come up very often at all, especially over here. You are more likely to chance upon one than find someone selling one legitimately. The best thing to do is get something similar, such as a Plus or an SE, as they are much easier to find (which is still not that easy).
To find one in working condition, you would be up for big coin.
Elsewhere, difficult to obtain. They don't come up very often at all, especially over here. You are more likely to chance upon one than find someone selling one legitimately. The best thing to do is get something similar, such as a Plus or an SE, as they are much easier to find (which is still not that easy).
To find one in working condition, you would be up for big coin.
Yeah, they pop up sometimes on ebay USA, but then there is the hassle and expense of shipping.
I am hoping, foolishly that one will pop up here in Oz for me.
But I was also curious about our American friends, how rare are they over there.
I am hoping, foolishly that one will pop up here in Oz for me.
But I was also curious about our American friends, how rare are they over there.
Oh brother. Not this again. In the US working 128Ks turn up routinely. I have been monitoring them on eBay and the average is about 52 a year. Hardly rare. And this does not count local Craigslist sales, nor garage sales, and Thrift shops around the country. In fact there are more 128Ks than the market for them.
But not in Australia. I've been looking for 6 months and can honestly say I've not seen an original 128K for sale. There was a 128K logic board recently, but that was it.
As far as a fully operational 128K in Australia, good luck. Seems our American friends are spoilt for choice...
As far as a fully operational 128K in Australia, good luck. Seems our American friends are spoilt for choice...
You guys have the rare black Mac TV & Director's Edition Performa. Seems like a fair trade-off (although I would prefer the Director's Edition Performa to a 128k any day).
We do have the black Performa 5400/5500, but we never got the Mac TV - in fact I think that was another one that was only sold in the United States...I don't even think they made a PAL version of the Mac TV, let alone sold it in Australia.
the Macintosh TV was never sold in Europe
on the other hand, the black Performa and black PowerMac was available
on the other hand, the black Performa and black PowerMac was available
Well, consider that the 1 millionth Mac were 6 Mac Plus computers. That means that fewer than 1 million 128k computers were manufactured. :-/
A Directors Edition Performa is better than you guys with the 128K, TAM, and Mac TV. Hell no!
Why not? It is far more capable than a 128k (but any Mac model could outrun a 128k), elegant, and very unique. Same with the TAM, and to a lesser extent, the Mac TV (never cared for it).
Interesting. I thought they were sold only overseas.
Just because it is more capable doesn't make it as sought after. I'd take a 128K any day over a Director's Edition. Just because the G3 B&W is more capable also does not make it as sought after.
Mac TV was never sold over here, although I wish it was. There was one for sale several months ago over here, and they were asking $600 for it. Not sure if it sold, but a nice machine.
Yea Verily! I'll take an original/128k over even a TAM. The TAM celebrated Apple's personal computing excellence, the original Mac is what showed the world what you could do with personal computers. This is not to say that if offered a TAM I'd knock it back.
Well, I'm the type of person that if I am going to collect something, not only must it be a good example to add to my collection, but it must have some useful qualities. For instance, my 512ke/Plus hybrid. It was worth purchasing/repairing because I have loads of programs on 800k floppies to run, and utilize. I also have an Apple SC20 drive filled with very good programs, like Adobe Illustrator 88, which I can run off the Plus (although it's better when I run it off my SE).
An original-stock 128 would just be a period-piece to add for the sake of adding in my case, hence why a Director's Performa, or a TAM would be a lot more valuable for me.
Fair point. If I had a 128K, I would not use it anywhere near as much as I use my TAM. I am finding myself only acquiring machines I will use, hence the G3 Wallstreet I hust picked up. It is my only laptop, and most likely will be my only one, unless another pops up somewhere.
I'll do you a deal. If I find a Director's Edition, I'll swap you a working 128K. Deal?
Yeah, if I had a working 128k to swap! (the oldest Mac in my collection is that 512ke/Plus hybrid, while the oldest non-Mac is a "non-working" Commodore VIC-20).
We both have a month to find one, I'll be near you next month driving from Montreal through to Niagara Falls.
Ok, PM me when you're in Ontario. If I don't find anything, and you manage to find a Director's Performa, cash is always the best option (unless you want to trade for an Amiga 2000HD, or a VIC-20).
Today, I saw an Australian HD20 auction and I immediately remembered this thread. The seller posts the title as: "Macintosh Hard Drive 20 (faulty? - has cable chopped off)"
http://cgi.ebay.com/Macintosh-Hard-Disk-20-faulty-has-cable-choped-off-/160505872128?pt=AU_Computers_Vintage&hash=item255ee53f00#ht_711wt_1141
Yes, friends, a hacked off cable would be the very definition of "faulty" now wouldn't it.
But the main reason for my posting this is that I see the seller says: "selling off my collection" and "accumulated over 30 years." You Australian Mac 128k seekers may wish to inquire if this hen has teeth. Perhaps he may have a Mac 128k ready for sale as well as a TAM, albeit with hacked off cables.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Macintosh-Hard-Disk-20-faulty-has-cable-choped-off-/160505872128?pt=AU_Computers_Vintage&hash=item255ee53f00#ht_711wt_1141
Yes, friends, a hacked off cable would be the very definition of "faulty" now wouldn't it.
But the main reason for my posting this is that I see the seller says: "selling off my collection" and "accumulated over 30 years." You Australian Mac 128k seekers may wish to inquire if this hen has teeth. Perhaps he may have a Mac 128k ready for sale as well as a TAM, albeit with hacked off cables.
I'm bidding on that HD20. if I can't get it working, it will make for a great HDD enclosure for something a tad more modern, but matching my 512k.
I reckon you and I must have outbid each other something fierce over the past few months!
Yeah, maybe we should check with each other. I'm happy to let you get something you're needing rather than me adding something to my gunna list.
Nah, I'm just kidding. I was interested because of the Rodime and I thought I could make a working system from the two. But honestly, I think I have enough toys to play with!
Tell me you didn't pay $71 for it!
Yep. Though one more bid and it would have been someone elses. Still, soldering iron at the ready and we'll see what I've got.
Nice! I would love to see one under my Mac Plus!
If the cable is chopped off, that would make it more difficult to test, right? So if he didn't test it, the drive could well be faulty. Or it could be fine. He didn't test it, so that's why he said faulty with a question mark after it.
Which is why I've taken a punt on it. To get a working HD20 sent down to Australia, typically from the USA, costs a mint. The little buggers can be expensive enough, but when the exorbitant courier costs are added on it is typically out of the question.
Like I said, if I can get it to work/connect, I win, if not, it becomes an interesting drive enclosure, and it still will work fine to lift my 512k up a couple of inches to a more comfortable viewing/operating height.
That is logical speculation about why the seller put the "?" mark there. But I have little doubt you are correct in that assessment. However, I myself have a somewhat strict definition of "faulty." If I sell something that only works when plugged in, and if the buyer cannot plug it in because there is nothing to plug in, then I say it is "faulty" insofar as the buyer cannot use it in the condition in which it was meant to be used. That was my original point and pun about the sellers use of the question mark. But as you may expect, I posted my previous comment with a sense of humor more than anything else, simply because I see a lot of these things on EBAY.
With that said, you Australian auction buyers may get what you want if you buy this HD20. I don't know. But it's your choice. You just need to find a way to plug it in, or otherwise find a use for what you get. And as jongleur properly points out, if you can live with the "fault," then you can get a good price on items like this. Whether or not it then becomes a "good deal" depends on what you can do with it once you have it.