Re: Apple 2 Where/How much

[spec@vax2.concordia.ca (Mitchell Spector)]

In article markevans@my-dejanews.com writes...

>How hard is it to get a hold of a working Apple 2 nowadays,

    Depends which model your looking for. By far the most common (due
to it having an almost 11 year production run) is the Apple IIe model.
I frequently see these at thrift shops, garage sales, and if you walk
into most primary and secondary schools, your bound to see literally
dozens of them still hanging around.

    The next most common would probably be the Apple II Plus, which is
the predecessor to the IIe, followed closely by the Apple IIc (which
is basically a semi-portable version of the IIe with built-in "cards").
Actually I may have that backwards, it's quite possible there are more 
IIc's than II+'s floating in circulation. 

    After this would come the Apple IIgs (a 16-bit Apple II/Macintosh
kind of hybrid; Apple's Amiga contender) of which about 1 million were
manufactured. This is the most powerful Apple II model, and where most
remaining developement has moved to. Makes sense since it can do many
things not possible on 8-bit Apple II's, yet fully backwards compatible.

    Less common Apple II models include: The original Apple II with
Integer ROMs (circa 1977-1979), and the Apple IIc Plus--a souped up
IIc with built-in 3.5 drive, internal powersupply and accelerator.
There are also varients of each model of which some are less common
than others (i.e. B&H licensed II+, memory expansion IIc, Platinum
IIe, ROM 3 IIgs).

>and how much would one sell for?

    Well for the II Plus, IIe and IIc, assuming someone doesn't give
one away to you free, I would expect to pay from between $5 and $20
depending on what is included.

    The IIc Plus is a little less common, so I'd expect its starting
price to be higher than others (not by very much though). An original
Apple II that is unmodified would also probably be worth more, mostly
as a collector's item. I have a 1978 ][ with serial #11985 and I'm
hanging onto it. :)

    The Apple IIgs is worth more than 8-bit Apple II's, but you can
generally find a complete base system (CPU, 1 MB RAM, 3.5 and 5.25
floppy drives, RGB monitor, keyboard and mouse) for under $50. All
in all, if not given away, most Apple II's sell in the low to medium
double-digit price range. It has to be *heavily* loaded to be worth
over the $100 range. Now before anyone flames me, you have to put
things in perspective compared with going prices for used 32-bit PC
and Mac computers. The only time it is valid to ignore that is when
your selling a very rare item (e.g. LCD screen for IIc, SuperDrive
controllers, Video Overlay Cards) or a very, very heavily loaded
system (though I can't think of any example where it'd be okay in
my book asking some $300-$1,000 for _any_ Apple II setup).

Mitchell Spector
spec@vax2.concordia.ca