The Apple I's Rarity is a Reminder of Computing's Humble Beginnings The impending auction of the "Hatfield" Apple I computer has set off a familiar drumbeat: this artifact from computing history will fetch a handsome price, and the lucky buyer will bask in the reflected glory of Steve Jobs' signature.
As we consider what the Apple I truly represents, it's worth pausing to examine its significance. The machine that once sold for $666.
66 now fetches half a million dollars, a testament to the inflation of nostalgia and the rarity of surviving pieces from computing's formative years.