Altair 8800a on EBAY - test-drb@ccmp.vtda.org

1 Oct 2001

Hi,
Please understand I dont collect for economic gain.  I'd have to
hit the big one to pay back for some of the machines I built
new back when.  I collect to have the machine I could not afford
back when but wanted to experiment with.  So happens along
the way some of them became interesting as so called rare
items.  To me my Altair was a relly poor machine and the NorthStar
I replaced it with was far superior, yet the first is collectable even
though it was truly a peice of junk compared to even the IMSAI.
Anywho I'll look when time permits.
Allison
-----Original Message-----
From: John Galt &lt;gmphillips(a)earthlink.net&gt;
To: classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org &lt;classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org&gt;
Date: Monday, October 01, 2001 9:15 PM
Subject: Re: Altair 8800a on EBAY
...
 I see where you are coming from, but given the recent
return of some of my
...
 "real" investments, it's hard to imagine
this computer being any worse;)
Thanks,
George Phillips
Well, my "real" investments have not been doing
----- Original Message -----
From: "Louis Schulman" &lt;louiss(a)gate.net&gt;
To: &lt;classiccmp(a)classiccmp.org&gt;
Sent: Monday, October 01, 2001 7:34 PM
Subject: Re: Altair 8800a on EBAY
> On Mon, 1 Oct 2001 18:40:02 -0400, John Galt wrote:
>
> #I have been considering buying one of these machines as an investment.
...
 > #While I am a computer programmer by trade, I have
no clue how to operate
...
 > #or program one of these things which really does
not matter since I would
...
 > #be buying it as an investment.
>
> Well, if you are considering this as an investment, I would also consider
...
 rubies, pork belly futures, penny
> stocks, and going to Las Vegas.  You could call this an investment, but it
...
 would really be nothing but a crap
> shoot.  If we are seriously talking investments, this isn't it.
>
> There is no basis to assume anything about future value.  Other forms of
...
 antique electronics have not
> become that valuable.  You can still buy a working Atwater-Kent radio for
...
 a reasonable price.

 Anyone who follows eBay can tell you that prices go up and down.  Most have gone
down in the last year.
> You can barely give away a Kaypro.
>
> So, buy it to enjoy it.  Otherwise, I'd look to real investments to make
...
 money.

 JMO
 Louis