Should I Keep My Old APPLE Computers, Gadgets And Accessories? Are They Even Collectible?

Apple products are not known for being cheap. In fact, they’re so expensive as compared to the products of their competitors that they’ve been dubbed as the “Rolls Royces” of computers and other electronic gadgets, but it’s also true that Rolls Royces are much sought after and collected cars.

But being an Apple user myself, I long ago realized the reason why many of Apple’s long time customers keep buying Apple products year after year despite their increasing prices. For one, even old Apple iPhones have good resale value.

This is because a lot of people especially computer programmers and digital graphics content creators desire to belong to the Apple ecosystem. It has been statistically proven that Apple customers are the most profitable group of customers when it comes to digital product purchases.

There is no way to access this profitable group of customers unless you are using Apple products yourself. This is contrary to what many Apple detractors are saying that Apple customers only want to buy Apple products for social prestige.

1) First Generation iPad (Estimated Value: US$ 55)
First released in 2010, Steve Jobs was made fun of by Apple detractors because of the iPad. There are Apple detractors who dubbed the iPad as a “totally unnecessary product with no practical use.”

They pointed out that it was just practically a big iPhone and nothing else. They stated that it couldn’t even fit in one’s pocket making it cumbersome to carry or put in a bag. But Steve Jobs proved them wrong when iPad created a totally new electronic gadget product category with billions in sales annually for Apple.

2) iMac G3: (Estimated Value: US$ 300)
First released in 1998, it quickly won the hearts of electronic product users and enthusiasts. While the personal computers back then where bland colored like white, light gray or black, iMac G3s come in 13 different bright colors.

Also, Apple was way ahead of its time when it designed the iMac G3s to be semi-transparent, letting the owner see the inside parts of the computer. This style would later on be revived by other manufacturers of computers who made their computer completely transparent.

Also, unlike the other personal computers it then computed with, it was decidedly visually and ergonomically appealing. It had rounded edges as compared to other computers with sharp edges which made it appear smooth.

It also integrated the computer monitor and hardware together. This not only enabled the iMac G3s to be more compact as compared to its competitor computers but this characteristic also made it very cute looking.

3) Apple Macintosh: (Estimated Value: US$ 500)
Released in 1984, this was the granddaddy of all of Apple’s other groundbreaking line of products to follow. Without the Macintosh there would be no MacBooks, iMac and no MacOS. You might say that Apple is what it is today because of this product.

The Macintosh was actually the result of Apple’s failed product which is called the Lisa. This precursor to Macintosh was much bigger, harder to use and was very expensive as compared to the Macintosh.

You can say that the Macintosh was Apple’s way of redeeming themselves after their costly mistake with the Lisa. The Macintosh was so successful that Apple computers are still called “Macs” even to this day.

The Macintosh also became a favorite of digital graphics creator because it has a superior graphics editing function that most competitor computers didn’t offer or offered at a much higher price.

4) iBook G3: (Estimated Value: US$ 2,500)
Released in 1999, what the iMac did for computers, the iBook did for laptops. Affectionally dubbed as the “clamshell” because of its outer shape, it was definitely very different from its competitor laptops who all looked like small suitcases.

The iBook also came in bright colors unlike its competitor laptops which came with boring colors such as white, light gray and black. It so stood out from the rest of its competitors that it quickly became a status symbol item for those wanting to be hip back then.

5) Apple Lisa: (Estimated Value: US$ 36,000)
Released in 1983, it was a big commercial failure for Apple. It was such a failure that Apple experts always like to point out to it to emphasize the point that Apple could make mistakes too in a big way.

But make no mistake, it was an innovative product for its time. Before it was released on the market, most computers required its users to know basic coding in order for them to be able to use them.

The Apple Lisa was the first computer to come with a mouse and a graphical user interface which was very groundbreaking for its time (1983). However, its price tag of nearly ten thousand dollars made it nearly unaffordable which resulted in its commercial failure.

As a result, Apple didn’t make a lot of them and because of this and its high price, not many people owned them. This combination is its biggest draw as a collectible: its rarity. This is why it’s expensive to own them today.

6) Apple 1: (Estimated Value: US$ 900,000)
The first Apple computers to be ever sold. Only 200 were ever built which made them very rare.

1) Original iPod: (Estimated Value: US$ 9,000)
Released in 2001, it was a groundbreaking product that allowed you to store multiple digital audio and later on video files in a device that could fit in your pocket. Its fad lasted for two decades and could have lasted more if Apple haven’t introduced the iPhone.

2) Original iPhone: (Estimated Value: US$ 20,000) Released in 2007, it was a groundbreaking product which combined the features of a phone, music player and a web browser all in one small device that could fit in your pocket. It was the first truly “smartphone”.

At first, Apple’s competitors dismissed the iPhone as a purely fad product that would stop selling as soon as consumers stop being inquisitive about it. But they were mistaken, the iPhone became the number one selling cellphone in its debut year.

It also successfully became the top selling cellphone in terms of profitability in the succeeding years. Apple’s share of the cellphone market grew and grew until its competitors started to also offer the same iPhone features in their cellphones.

A manual for the original Apple Computer sold for US$ 12,296. It is even more interesting to note that the manual wasn’t even in mint condition. What made it so expensive was its rarity of which only 65 are still known to exist today.

However, it is to be noted that the package also included two old photos of Wozniak and Jobs that were signed by Wozniak himself. But don’t get disheartened if you do not have such kinds of vintage Apple manuals.

Even newer Apple manuals and boxes including the paper bags can still sell. There is even a blackmarket for such paper products. This is because almost everyone knows that used Apple products when sold in their original packaging command a much higher price.

1) Apple Swiss Army knife (Estimated Value: US$ 95)
Originally given to Apple Employees, they’re now considered collectibles and originals are hard to find.

2) Rainbow Themed Apple Shirts: (Estimated Value: US$ 100)
These vintage Apple shirts are so desired that they are being counterfeited.

3) Apple Vintage Wristwatch: (Estimated Value: US$ 425)
Before the Apple Watch, this was Apple’s first foray into watches. These watches were ordinary leather strapped watches with the distinct Apple logo in them together with the words: “Think Different” motto in its center.

4) Apple Employee Hoodie: (Estimated Value: US$ 2,025)
These were given to Apple employees in 2011.

5) Mickey’s Mac Club Pin: (Estimated Value: US$ 5,000)
Made exclusively for the Macintosh User Group at Walt Disney Studios in the early 1990s but was quickly discontinued because of an Apple dispute with Walt Disney. This made them very rare.

6) Apple Sneakers: (Estimated Value US$ 15,000?)
These sneakers were not commercial products but were meant for Apple employees back in the 1990s. Only a few are known to still exist. Heritage Auctions listed one with an asking price of US$ 15,000 but there were no takers.

Your Apple product doesn’t even need to belong to the list above to have a good value. Apple supports even most of its oldest PCs, laptops, iPhones and other gadgets even though they may be decades old.

As has been said, Apple products are treated as status symbol items and many desire to own them even the used ones. Also, many Apple product owners are generally satisfied with their Apple products which for them is worth the high price tag.

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