Money Behind Retro Tech

THE MONEY BEHIND RETRO TECH The technology industry is ever evolving; new innovations outstrip and replace old technologies every few years, but that doesn't mean your old tech is entirely worthless. Retro tech is a big market, with some pieces selling for thousands or hundreds of thousands more than their original sale value. Retro tech profits at auction can range from modest to extremely high; this is mostly dependant on rarity, condition and collectability. Apple-1 Computer 1976 RELEASE PRICE $666.66 APPLE Only six working models exist. INFLATION ADJUSTED $2,729.26 Percentage Gain AUCTION PRICE 23,716%, $650,000 Air Raid video game 1984 Release Price Men-A-Vision $10 Only one boxed complete copy is known to exist. Inflation $22.42 Percentage Gain Auction Price 1,435% $31,600 Pulser P1 Watch 1978 7:32 Pulser Release Price $2,100 One of the world's first ever LED digital watches. Inflation $11,702.98 Auction Price $30,236 Percentage Gain 158% Commodore 65 prototype 0661 Commodore Release Price $400 International Very rare prototype. Inflation $714.63 Percentage Gain 3175% Auction Price $23,406 Light Telephone 1971 Release Price Nintendo $27 Very rare Japanese kids' toy. Inflation $155 Percentage Gain Auction Price 350% $700 Aerocar Release Price $25,000 Taylor One of these clocked up 1,103 hours total in the air. Inflation $214,617.65 Percentage Gain Auction Price 1530% $3,500,000 Retro tech can hold a great deal of nostalgia. The nostalgia market for retro gaming consoles is particularly popular, but nostalgia doesn't always translate into profit. Nintendo NES Release Price $199 Nintendo Inflation $466.54 Auction Price $360 Percentage Loss -23% Global Units Sold 62 million Atari 2600 1977 Release Price $199 Atari Inflation $766.79 Auction Price $800 Percentage Gain 4.3% Global Units Sold 30 million Commodore 64 2861 Commodore Release Price $595 International Inflation $1439.74 Auction Price $545 Percentage Loss -62% Global Units Sold 13 million Gamegear I661 Sega Release Price $150 Inflation $257.16 Auction Price Percentage $60 Loss -77% Global Units Sold 11 million Gameboy 1989 Release Price $89.99 Nintendo Inflation $169.46 Auction Price Percentage $45 Loss -73% Global Units Sold 119 million Mega Drive Release Price $189.99 Sega Inflation $357.77 Auction Price Percentage $60 Loss -83% Global Units Sold 40million New, innovative technologies are appearing all the time; some may be forgotten, but some will certainly become tomorrow's retro techs. FUEL O Nike+ Fuelband counts your athletic activities to help track your health and is one of the first of it's kind. Google Glass is a wearable computer. Innovative tech often becomes classic retro tech, and prototype versions often gain the most value due to their rarity. 3-D printers allow you to print fully 3-D objects; they have a variety of applications and are now available on the high street. Technologies which go on to gain value beyond their original retail price are often the rarest, the best loved or the most innovative and ground-breaking technologies of the day. Keep an eye on the innovations of today; they may be the retro techs of tomorrow. SOURCES PRESENTED BY Whats is your obsolete tech really worth? - www.pcworld.com Air Raid sale - www.cnn.com Apple-1 sale - www.bbc.co.uk Rare Gadgets – www.msn.com Google Glass - www.google.com Nike+Fuel – nikeplus.nike.com 3-D Printing - www.newscientist.com First 3-D Printer reaches highstreet - www.guardian.co.uk Ebay Auction Guides - www.ebay.com Nintendo Light Telephone - www.retrothing.com Aerocar – www.retrothing.com Rare Commodore 65 - www.retrothing.com C portable universe Pulsar