Vintage computers aren't your typical collector's item, but some of the earliest PCs from the 1970s and 80s are already starting to command big bucks in working condition. This is particularly true of models that preceded the volume production IBM PCs and Apple Macintoshes, such as MITs Altair 8800 (1975) and 680 (1976) kit computers, Apple IIs with low serial numbers (1977), early Commodore 64’s (1982) and Apple Lisas (1983).

Aside from the above, there are plenty of vintage computer names to collect, including Compaq, Kaypro, Amiga, Sinclair, Franklin, Xerox, Digital Equipment, Atari, Heathkit, Texas Instruments, and Silicon Graphics. With vintage computers, displayability is key, so make sure you get all the accessories, software, manuals and power cords you'll need to run your vintage machine.

Also, keep your eye out for vintage computer-related paper items and ephemera. Some early magazines, like the famous January 1975 Popular Electronics issue featuring the Altair 8800, can fetch over $100.

Show & Tell

Now these are antiques by now right ! I still have several boxes LOL  - Officeby Manikin
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The L.E.A.D. 2.5 Word Processor - Officeby pw-coll…
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radio shack tandy trs 80 antique computer - Officeby popscol…
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Chips Etc.

Chips Etc.

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Computer History Museum

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Collect computers? This California-based museum's website has several excellent online exhibits, including an exten… [read review or visit site]

Old-Computers.com

Old-Computers.com

This gallery of over 900 vintage computers is notable for its comprehensiveness. Each model includes a text descrip… [read review or visit site]

Classic Computer Magazine Archive

Classic Computer Magazine Archive

If you collect early computers, you'll enjoy this site. Assembled by Kevin Savetz and a group of volunteers, with p… [read review or visit site]

IBM Archives

IBM Archives

An extensive collection of computer-related artifacts and reference information, plus a detailed history of IBM. St… [read review or visit site]

Oldcomputers.net

Oldcomputers.net

Steven Stengel's showcase of old computers from the 1970's and 80's. Also includes a reference section on old compu… [read review or visit site]

Classic-Computers.org.nz

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Terry Stewart's deep dive on vintage computers features an exhaustive tribute to the Dick Smith System 80, a TRS-80… [read review or visit site]

Early Office Museum

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This site showcases pre-1920 office antiques, including paperweights, writing ink, paper fasteners, seal pressers, … [read review or visit site]

The Vintage Knob

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Recent News: Computers

Source: Google News

When your laptop dies
Los Angeles Times, May 25th

At the ripe old age of 6, this was a "vintage" computer that required a trip to the central repair facility, where they keep antique parts. I shuffled home, powerless except for an equally outré cellphone, feeling quite the antique myself. Those of us...Read more

Hunt for world's oldest WWW page leads to UNC Chapel Hill
News & Observer, May 24th

A global quest to find the first World Wide Web page has led to an antique computer at UNC-Chapel Hill. A primitive iteration of that World Wide Web home page, created about a year after the birth of the web, has been preserved on a NeXT computer at...Read more

Do You Plan on Saving Any of Your Belongings for the Future?
New York Times (blog), May 24th

More than a decade ago, at a vintage computer fair in Silicon Valley, Dag Spicer had an opportunity to buy an original Apple-1 for $2,000. He passed. Any regrets? Not really, he said. “Of course,” Mr. Spicer added, “I could have paid off my mortgage...Read more

Used Computer, $116000 or Best Offer
New York Times, May 23rd

By STEVE LOHR. Published: May 23, 2013. More than a decade ago, at a vintage computer fair in Silicon Valley, Dag Spicer had an opportunity to buy an original Apple-1 for $2,000. He passed. Any regrets? Not really, he said. Bits...Read more

Maker Faire Detroit 2013 Applicant Deadline Approaching
Patch.com, May 23rd

home energy monitoring, rockets and radio control toys, sustainability, green technology, radios, vintage computers and game systems, electronics, electric vehicles, biology/biotech and chemistry projects, puppets, kites, bicycles, shelter (tents...Read more

You think Macs are expensive? Get a load of this $260000+ Apple
Register, May 3rd

According to the auctioneers Breker, only six of the vintage computers are in working condition today, and this one is expected to net roughly €200,000 or $260,000. According to an earlier estimate from auction house Sotheby's, fewer than 50 of the...Read more

Gallery: Apple Pop-Up museum and Vintage Computer Festival Southeast
Ars Technica, April 28th

Were you in Atlanta last weekend to visit the Apple Pop-Up Museum as part of the Vintage Computer Festival Southeast (VCFSE)? Some Ars readers were there, and we now have some photos from them (and organizer David Greelish) to show off how it went...Read more

Tech-Ausflugstipp der Woche: Vintage Computer Festival Europa
ITespresso.de, April 26th

Am Wochenende findet in München wieder einmal das Vintage Computer Festival Europa statt. Im Mittelpunkt der Vorträge steht 2013 das Thema “Lernen – mit und über den Computer”. Dem widmen sich auch viele Ausstellungsbeiträge. Das Wichtigste ist...Read more