Re: Cuture and Brand Loyalty (was: Math coprocessor for PC Transporter?)

[r_beaudry@hotmail.com (Rich Beaudry)]

"Bryan Villados" <news002@macgeek.org> wrote in message news:<QXoy9.71705$X9.24141804@twister.socal.rr.com>...

> I agree wholeheartedly with Jason's explanation... When was the last time
> you saw a simple VGA ISA card sell for $350? Someone sold their Second Site
> VGA Card for the Apple II series for that amount back on 05/15/2002.

Yes, but how many VGA ISA cards were produced vs. the number of Second
Sight cards?  And how many of those VGA ISA cards are still around vs.
the number of Second Sight cards?  I can go to almost any thrift store
or dump around and find an ISA VGA card ... Too bad I can't find a
Second Sight :-)

> However, let me extend Jason's idea one step deeper... The PC culture was
> never a "movement". Nobody wrote songs about the PC, idolize ex-IBM CEOs, or
> defend the PC platform spiritually. 

You've never seen a Mac vs. PC flamefest, have you? :-)

> All in all, this is probably the heart of why collectors are willing to pay
> zillions of dollars into legacy hardware and software, and others will not
> pay 5-cents for the same thing.

Collectors will always drive the market price up.  People who own an
Apple II and want some exotic card are competing against collectors
with deep pockets, and losing.  Perhaps if the market were their local
thrift shop, or a school dumping their stuff, an A2 owner may get
lucky.  Unfortunately, with the internet (Usenet and eBay primarily),
they are now competing globally for the same equally scarce parts. 
Prices naturally go up .... I'm not saying I agree with it, or that
it's right, but that's the way it is.  As someone who has sold and
bought on eBay, I know it works both ways... Great when you sell, bad
when you buy ...

Rich B.