Apple _1_ on ebay???

['Computer Collector Newsletter']

Yeah, something smells fishy... I am looking at the seller's other
auctions... one is for a old (early/mid-1990s) NEC tablet computer, and he
says it's "a great way to try out and play with a tablet PC" -- implying
that it's a modern "Tablet PC" with the up-to-date Windows apps, etc. -- and
also that in order to "not disturb the original packing, I did not test this
item.  I have every reason to believe it works."  His other auction is for a
TRS-80 Model 3, and he emphasizes that "I understand how important this item
is to history."  Geez, it's not an Apple 1, it's a TRS-80, ya know?  :)

So either he's really stupid or really a scammer.

-----Original Message-----
From: cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org [mailto:cctalk-bounces at classiccmp.org]
On Behalf Of Richard Beaudry
Sent: Friday, July 01, 2005 11:55 AM
To: cctalk at classiccmp.org
Subject: RE: Apple _1_ on ebay???

>I  have not have to time to look at ebay recently.  I just did and saw 
>this:
>
>http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=80286&item=52131
>40640
>&rd=1
>
>Somebody has put an Apple 1 up, it has been there for five days and 
>nobody has mentioned it here???

There's no guarantee it's an Apple 1.  The seller says only he can see
"wires and cards" inside.  Perhaps it is an Apple ][ in a wooden case?
 Nobody knows, and without pictures, nobody will know.

My take is that the seller knows full well what it is, and is hoping people
will think it is an Apple 1 (and judging by the questions at the bottom,
they do).  People will then drive up the price to some outrageous level.
When they get it and realize it's just a //e that someone threw in a wooden
case (or maybe not even anything in the Apple line), they'll get mad, but
there's nothing they can do because he described it accurately .....

Cynical, yes, but most likely true :-)

Rich B.