Only 20,000 Aquarius Computers sold?

[Rev]

I found this, how accurate is it?

 

Less then 20,000 Aquarius computers sold

It became the Mattel Aquarius, with its characteristic blue rubber keys and water resistant appearance - Mattel didn't belie its toy-nature. The Aquarius should compete in the market segments then controlled by the Texas Instruments TI 99/4A, the ZX-81 and ZX Spectrum, the Oric and the VIC-20. But instead of that, it turned out into a terrible failure: Mattel began manufacturing the Aquarius in June 1983 and already stopped with it in October 1983! Estimations are that worldwide less then 20,000 Aquarius computers were sold, while Mattel had expected to sell 100,000. Of course, this makes the Aquarius very interesting for today's collectors.

 

 

 

 

source: computermuseum

 

 

[JamesD]

That's not exactly specific. 10,000 is less than 20,000. So are 5000, 500, and 50.

And of the ones that sold I'd guess most were at blowout prices.

[mvdsteenoven]

Hopefully the Aquarius serial number database will bring us the answer. So keep posting!

[GrizzLee]

Hopefully the Aquarius serial number database will bring us the answer. So keep posting!

 

Yes, but how many were given away :-)

 

I thought they were used also used in promotions of investment holiday property and such.

 

How may were thrown away?

 

-Lee

Edited October 27, 2010 by GrizzLee

[the-topdog]

Yes, but how many were given away :-)

 

I thought they were used also used in promotions of investment holiday property and such.

 

How may were thrown away?

 

-Lee

 

Therin lies the rub. The database will only let us know how many were actually produced. The other variables are impossible for us to know without actual sales data from Mattel and Radofin... and if this data still exists, chances are slime to none that they would share them with us.

Edited October 27, 2010 by the-topdog

[jaybird3rd]

Yes, but how many were given away :-)

 

I thought they were used also used in promotions of investment holiday property and such.

 

How may were thrown away?

 

-Lee

Unfortunately, it probably isn't possible to get good sales data for the Aquarius. The Mattel sales records are the ones that are most likely to still be in existence, but they would only cover a short period. Radofin went into bankruptcy some twenty years ago, so I'm sure their sales information has long since been lost.

 

I'm also sure that a great many have been thrown away in the twenty-five years or so since the last of them were made, which is a shame. But what's amazing is that, for a low-budget computer that had such a short lifespan, a remarkable number have survived and can still be obtained fairly cheaply on eBay. I don't think I've paid more than about $35 shipped for a complete (unboxed) computer, with a Mini-Expander and a couple cartridges.

 

What's even more remarkable is that those Aquarius computers that are still around seem to have held up pretty well. I own six of them now, and although several of those are pretty beat up, I've never gotten a dead one. The hardware that was used and the construction is also of surprisingly good quality, especially considering the (relatively) low price point that these machines were targeted for.