An original Apple-1 computer sells for $400k

Re:An original Apple-1 computer sells for $400k by jxf on Wednesday November 10, 2021 @08:09AM (#29174235)

In a number of high-value cases, no one spent any money at all, just transaction fees; they traded to themselves to give the appearance of a higher price.

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Re:An original Apple-1 computer sells for $400k by LadyCailin on Wednesday November 10, 2021 @08:54AM (#29174630)

Wait, are you talking about NFTs still or auction of physical goods?

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Re:An original Apple-1 computer sells for $400k by giarc on Wednesday November 10, 2021 @08:58AM (#29174667)

I assume your comment is tongue in cheek since this practice happens in both industries. Perhaps you can help me though, I've been trying to remember the term used for this for weeks. I seem to recall it being called something like "washing the pipe" or something like that....?

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Re:An original Apple-1 computer sells for $400k by mpmpmpmp on Wednesday November 10, 2021 @09:03AM (#29174700)

It’s typically referred to as a wash trade or a wash sale.

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Re:An original Apple-1 computer sells for $400k by vincentmarle on Wednesday November 10, 2021 @12:08PM (#29177142)

Probably referring to this: https://news.artnet.com/art-world/crypto-punk-500-million-sa...

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Re:An original Apple-1 computer sells for $400k by reginold on Wednesday November 10, 2021 @12:58PM (#29177857)

I thought a lot about this comment. I deeply would want that Apple-1 in a way, massive piece of Apple history. But then I think about owning it - what a pain. It needs to be in an air conditioned room, bugs nibble at it, dust gathers, where do I put it in my house anyway? It's so cool in my mind but the glory of having it seems less so.

However, with an NFT, there's no maintenance cost, it's always the same, it's pristine. I can do whatever I want with it, shrink it for socks, grow it to put on a blimp, make cakes, whatever.

For the first time I can see why people spend millions of dollars on hashes of pictures of randomly generated monkeys.

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Re:An original Apple-1 computer sells for $400k by jdonaldson on Wednesday November 10, 2021 @01:10PM (#29178034)

You can still make socks, blimps, or cakes with any sort of monkey image you want... or even non-monkey images. The technology is out there.

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Re:An original Apple-1 computer sells for $400k by op00to on Wednesday November 10, 2021 @01:29PM (#29178359)

I’ll just pirate your monkey picture.

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Re:An original Apple-1 computer sells for $400k by reginold on Wednesday November 10, 2021 @05:55PM (#29182093)

Haha yes of course, please do! The more the merrier, more of my monkey for everyone! There's always a record on the blockchain that it's indeed mine - or not if I so choose!

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Re:An original Apple-1 computer sells for $400k by op00to on Thursday November 11, 2021 @08:37PM (#29195410)

Dang foiled by NFTs again!

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Re:An original Apple-1 computer sells for $400k by LocalH on Wednesday November 10, 2021 @02:29PM (#29179358)

You right-clicker! /s

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Re:An original Apple-1 computer sells for $400k by melenaboija on Wednesday November 10, 2021 @07:59AM (#29174156)

I wish I had a hash of a 50 year old computer

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Re:An original Apple-1 computer sells for $400k by 0xTJ on Wednesday November 10, 2021 @08:39AM (#29174480)

Here you go: b4a457fa7a566ca23fb214b986ff19234234a0654dc786f348377990b53585abb7dc1fa91672ab15de0d87deb66133f5657f85a2662bd1f95de3743933d49982. It's the SHA512 hash of the full-size version header image of an Apple I from Wikipedia.

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Re:An original Apple-1 computer sells for $400k by melenaboija on Wednesday November 10, 2021 @09:53AM (#29175204)

Thanks man, I'll do some research for the part of making millions with it

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Re:An original Apple-1 computer sells for $400k by incanus77 on Wednesday November 10, 2021 @11:55AM (#29176960)

Please take this down; I own it.

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Re:An original Apple-1 computer sells for $400k by twalla on Wednesday November 10, 2021 @03:00PM (#29179829)

Sorry you only own a receipt you can use with a centrally controlled database to look up the location of a jpeg hosted on S3.

I'd be happy to purchase said receipt from you for 100 million dollars in the hope that a greater fool comes along and pays me 150 million for it.

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Re:An original Apple-1 computer sells for $400k by birdyrooster on Wednesday November 10, 2021 @01:11PM (#29178059)

Can I purchase 5% of it? My opening offer is $50,000

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Re:An original Apple-1 computer sells for $400k by BitwiseFool on Wednesday November 10, 2021 @02:53PM (#29179707)

This poster is cutting you short, my friend. I can offer you 2,718,281,828 eLon tokens. It's a revolutionary decentralized token that harnesses the utility of natural logarithm mathematics.

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Re:An original Apple-1 computer sells for $400k by 0xTJ on Thursday November 11, 2021 @07:31AM (#29187199)

Done deal, you now own 25 bits of the hash. I'll be sending out an invoice for the $48828.12 (adjusted down because you can't receive 25.6 bits of it).

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Re:An original Apple-1 computer sells for $400k by crossroadsguy on Wednesday November 10, 2021 @07:16PM (#29182792)

Wow. So something that’s essentially a piece of junk today has a valid absurdly high price just because there are absurdly high priced random digital thingies?

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Re:An original Apple-1 computer sells for $400k by heckerhut on Wednesday November 10, 2021 @07:53AM (#29174109)

Well an NFT has way more utility than this thing. It makes you part of an online community. Naturally it has a different value.

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Re:An original Apple-1 computer sells for $400k by mikestew on Wednesday November 10, 2021 @09:54AM (#29175217)

"...part of a community". Man, I didn't know Amway[0] had pivoted to NFTs. Speaking of business, did you know that as an Amway representative, you can become part of a community of small business owners! I mean, NFT owners!

[0]https://www.amway.com

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Re:An original Apple-1 computer sells for $400k by the_af on Wednesday November 10, 2021 @08:29AM (#29174382)

Owning and tinkering with retro computers makes you part of the retro computing fan community, which exists online and offline.

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Re:An original Apple-1 computer sells for $400k by JasonFruit on Wednesday November 10, 2021 @12:36PM (#29177514)

*which exists.

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Re:An original Apple-1 computer sells for $400k by the_af on Wednesday November 10, 2021 @02:56PM (#29179767)

True! I wanted to emphasize that "being online" (which the OP seems interested in) is not particularly important in itself, and that many interesting communities exist both online and offline.

Which, as you point out, can be simplified to "exist" ;)

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Re:An original Apple-1 computer sells for $400k by JasonFruit on Thursday November 11, 2021 @12:32PM (#29190611)

I suppose I'm trying to emphasizes the contrast between those communities, which have a functional existence, with the community of NFT-holders, which exists only in the most literal sense of the word.

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Re:An original Apple-1 computer sells for $400k by the_af on Friday November 12, 2021 @09:52AM (#29199783)

We are in violent agreement then.

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Re:An original Apple-1 computer sells for $400k by forgotmyoldname on Wednesday November 10, 2021 @09:42AM (#29175102)

I've been told this by various MLM salesmen multiple times. Seems NFT "investors" aren't hiding it anymore.

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Re:An original Apple-1 computer sells for $400k by spicybright on Wednesday November 10, 2021 @10:21AM (#29175551)

I could join a community of rich people throwing paper money onto fires too. But I wouldn't want to, therefore no value.

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Re:An original Apple-1 computer sells for $400k by worik on Wednesday November 10, 2021 @02:13PM (#29179101)

https://www.scotsman.com/whats-on/arts-and-entertainment/why...

Not easy...

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Re:An original Apple-1 computer sells for $400k by TigeriusKirk on Wednesday November 10, 2021 @10:38AM (#29175807)

You're correct that buying a BAYC nft does make you a member of a very active community. It's very much a club membership.

But owning a prime piece of vintage computing history gets you into a community too. And owning one is as much as status play as BAYC is.

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Re:An original Apple-1 computer sells for $400k by dehrmann on Wednesday November 10, 2021 @11:49AM (#29176877)

This has more utility because, assuming it works, it's a general purpose computer. You might even be able to mine crypto with it.

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Re:An original Apple-1 computer sells for $400k by LegitShady on Wednesday November 10, 2021 @07:55AM (#29174122)

You can join online communities for free, but then again there's not much value in joining online communities.

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Re:An original Apple-1 computer sells for $400k by Loughla on Wednesday November 10, 2021 @10:13AM (#29175435)

I think you just hit on something there, though.

There isn't an easy way to flex your status online, unless you're a celebrity, or put in the work to become an influencer.

For people with money, there isn't a simple way to come to places like HN and just be important because you have money. There isn't a way to show people how wealthy and powerful you are without contributing.

But NFT's allow you to show people how much disposable income you have, and therefore how much better you are than the unwashed masses, without needing to really do anything of substance.

Or maybe that's just my own personal bias and confusion about NFT's in general showing?

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Re:An original Apple-1 computer sells for $400k by LegitShady on Wednesday November 10, 2021 @11:37AM (#29176690)

There are cheap nfts and expensive nfts, and the only people who care already have nfts. Its not a general flex it's a flex to other nft memers which is a low status flex no matter what.

Its like walking around with a Gucci billboard on your forehead - you think youre flexing but youre actually just demonstrating clown shoes.

Nobody cares how expensive your nft is. They have no use anywhere. Its like having the fanciest clownshoes - you're still a clown.

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Re:An original Apple-1 computer sells for $400k by detaro on Wednesday November 10, 2021 @10:25AM (#29175600)

I think that's certainly a factor, especially when it comes to the meme-y stuff - which is what has been getting a lot of the attention. From other niches I get that impression a lot less - can't really impress people with the fact you could spend $20 ;)

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Re:An original Apple-1 computer sells for $400k by ddingus on Wednesday November 10, 2021 @01:03PM (#29177928)

No, that resonates. Truthy.

It is like that "I'm Rich" app someone from Germany(?) made for iOS. Priced it at the max and a few people bought it!

What they got was an app that displayed a picture of some expensive, fantasy ring with an equally fantastic gemstone set in it.

Total status signaling!

Of course the general failure on that one was the lack of network effects. Someone could see the app was on a phone, and or could see the displayed picture should the user leave it running.

Seriously lame, but still there appeared to be at least a few takers.

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Re:An original Apple-1 computer sells for $400k by krustymeathead on Wednesday November 10, 2021 @10:36AM (#29175779)

I do think you're onto something here. I've heard about "right-clicker mentality" [1] in relation to NFTs, which seems to align with your description of its utility as a wealth signal.

[1] https://www.vice.com/en/article/5dgzed/what-the-hell-is-righ...

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Re:An original Apple-1 computer sells for $400k by zohch on Wednesday November 10, 2021 @08:42AM (#29174517)

Cite?

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Re:An original Apple-1 computer sells for $400k by speedcoder on Wednesday November 10, 2021 @02:00PM (#29178871)

While "crypto" is the same length as "money" it means "cryptocurrency" which is way longer than "cash". This link explains it: https://youtu.be/kc4Ob6LAv8Y

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