geneb Posted April 22, 2021 Share Posted April 22, 2021 Along with the 7800 I posted about earlier, I've also got a 1400XL that I'm trying to value. I have no clue what it's worth, but from past discussions I've seen, it's somewhere between "a lot" and "I'll trade you my first born for it". I'd like to get an idea a bit more concrete than that. Photos: Thanks all! g. 6 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foft Posted April 22, 2021 Share Posted April 22, 2021 Half as much as a falcon? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faicuai Posted April 22, 2021 Share Posted April 22, 2021 (edited) 9 minutes ago, geneb said: Along with the 7800 I posted about earlier, I've also got a 1400XL that I'm trying to value. I have no clue what it's worth, but from past discussions I've seen, it's somewhere between "a lot" and "I'll trade you my first born for it". I'd like to get an idea a bit more concrete than that. Photos: Thanks all! g. What you got there is gram-by-gram, byte-for-byte possible the BEST XL (in keyboard-computer form) ever conceived. In an open, auction. you should easily expect $5,000 to $7,500, with confidence (assuming, of course, it is WELL TAKEN CARE OF, well preserved, and fully operational). If I were you, I would NOT sell it under ANY circumstance, and (if you do), you better pick / scan for solid / serious buyers. There you have it. Edited April 22, 2021 by Faicuai 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_The Doctor__ Posted April 22, 2021 Share Posted April 22, 2021 (edited) For me, it is simply worth the joy of using and caring for it. As for insane ebay or so called collector value, hell list it for $100,000.00 dollars people are simply out of their gourds over what they will 'invest' in these days. Buying at the top of the market is not exactly how to do that... but hey if they insist I still think it is much better if the things go to homes where they are lovingly used and cared for so they don't die in a box never providing an ounce of use in their intended roles they were designed for. Edited April 22, 2021 by _The Doctor__ 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+DrVenkman Posted April 22, 2021 Share Posted April 22, 2021 Maybe 4 years ago (?), one showed up here and on the A8 Facebook Group complete with 1400XL factory case badge. That one eventually sold on eBay for around $3,400 if I recall correctly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geneb Posted April 22, 2021 Author Share Posted April 22, 2021 Ooof. Thanks for the info. Now I'm not sure what I'm going to do with it. I should probably procure a power supply for it and see if it works. g. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+bob1200xl Posted April 22, 2021 Share Posted April 22, 2021 I sold one maybe 10 years ago on ebay for ~5K. All worked, with the Atari power supply. No badge Bob 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Justin Payne Posted April 22, 2021 Share Posted April 22, 2021 49 minutes ago, geneb said: Ooof. Thanks for the info. Now I'm not sure what I'm going to do with it. I should probably procure a power supply for it and see if it works. g. I can't predict the future but I don't see this retro furver lasting forever and I suspect this is around one of the best times to sell something like this to get the best price possible. Could the value go up? Sure, but as those who grew up with stuff like this, there is a point where they retire and interesting in having a collection might not be as important so might as well sell it while there is interest from the community. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danwinslow Posted April 22, 2021 Share Posted April 22, 2021 13 minutes ago, Justin Payne said: I can't predict the future but I don't see this retro fervor lasting forever and I suspect this is around one of the best times to sell something like this to get the best price possible. Could the value go up? Sure, but as those who grew up with stuff like this, there is a point where they retire and interesting in having a collection might not be as important so might as well sell it while there is interest from the community. I think this is correct. And, that's a beautiful system. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geneb Posted April 22, 2021 Author Share Posted April 22, 2021 49 minutes ago, Justin Payne said: I can't predict the future but I don't see this retro furver lasting forever and I suspect this is around one of the best times to sell something like this to get the best price possible. Could the value go up? Sure, but as those who grew up with stuff like this, there is a point where they retire and interesting in having a collection might not be as important so might as well sell it while there is interest from the community. It's going to boil down to selling it keeping it in my collection. I never started out being interested in Atari stuff, but now I find myself with a lot of it. I think right now I'm at 3 Atari 400's, 2 or 3 800's, a PAL 800XL, a NIB 600XL, a boxed 65XE and a boxed XEGS. Plus I think there's probably four 1050 drives and I think I recall seeing an 810. I've also got what I've been told is an un-released version of De Re Atari. The person that I got all this stuff from did 8 bit game development and also worked at Atari Coin-Op. I sourced a three rail power supply and the right DIN connector, so if nothing else I'll know if the machine works or not. g. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+slx Posted April 22, 2021 Share Posted April 22, 2021 1 hour ago, Justin Payne said: I can't predict the future but I don't see this retro furver lasting forever and I suspect this is around one of the best times to sell something like this to get the best price possible. Could the value go up? Sure, but as those who grew up with stuff like this, there is a point where they retire and interesting in having a collection might not be as important so might as well sell it while there is interest from the community. Very hard to predict. There will be a decline in the number of people who know what to actually do with 1980s computers but the 1400XL is so rare it is imho very unlikely to lose value long-term as long as the number of people wanting a "complete" Atari collection exceeds the number of units built (or some of them build stacks of 1400s). This might be different for "ordinary" Ataris. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tillek Posted April 22, 2021 Share Posted April 22, 2021 Sorry.... Couldn't resist. That said, it's about finding the right audience. What would really be nice, if it hasn't already been done... do more study on how it works and maybe improve some of the "modern" designs out there. 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+orpheuswaking Posted April 23, 2021 Share Posted April 23, 2021 Honestly if you don't need the cash I would keep it. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geneb Posted April 23, 2021 Author Share Posted April 23, 2021 21 minutes ago, orpheuswaking said: Honestly if you don't need the cash I would keep it. Probably the best advice in the whole thread, although I appreciate all the things you folks have told me. g. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gilsaluki Posted April 23, 2021 Share Posted April 23, 2021 Eagle Keeper or Eagle Flier? I recognize that patch. I was an Eagle Keeper. Acft Electrician (old school, not that Electro-Environment junk). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gilsaluki Posted April 23, 2021 Share Posted April 23, 2021 Correction. Electro-Environmental Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geneb Posted April 23, 2021 Author Share Posted April 23, 2021 22 minutes ago, gilsaluki said: Eagle Keeper or Eagle Flier? I recognize that patch. I was an Eagle Keeper. Acft Electrician (old school, not that Electro-Environment junk). "Yes". Also Eagle Owner. See https://www.f15sim.com I've found that maintainers are a lot more fun to talk to than the pilots. g. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gilsaluki Posted April 23, 2021 Share Posted April 23, 2021 Wow! Impressive. As a lifelong aircraft electrician, I have to say that is a very nice wire job. The string tie is very nice. Believe it or not, I still use string tie on a lot of my home wiring (automotive) projects. I use zip ties as well, but nothing like old string tie. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sugarland Posted April 23, 2021 Share Posted April 23, 2021 So if one sold for 5K ten years ago when the A8 market was a lot lower... If you do ebay it, be sure to publicize the auction around different retro computer forums and sites. IMO it needs a full test to see if it works since it's not a development prototype but a release prototype. As far as future market prices, it's all going up. I disagree with the notion that prices will collapse when our generation starts to die off in earnest. Ten years from now it will be worth a lot more than today unless Atari finally finishes the design and releases the 1400XL. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+ZuluGula Posted April 23, 2021 Share Posted April 23, 2021 8 minutes ago, Sugarland said: Atari finally finishes the design and releases the 1400XL. What would happen to the prices of original hardware if someone came up with 1:1 reproduction? Only recently we got here new motherboards for 800XL and XE computers, there are new keyboards in the work too. I know that making new molds for plastic cases is very expensive, but it isn't impossible. What would happen if someone make a short run of completely new 1400XL? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1200XL M.U.L.E. Posted April 23, 2021 Share Posted April 23, 2021 4 minutes ago, ZuluGula said: What would happen to the prices of original hardware if someone came up with 1:1 reproduction? Only recently we got here new motherboards for 800XL and XE computers, there are new keyboards in the work too. I know that making new molds for plastic cases is very expensive, but it isn't impossible. What would happen if someone make a short run of completely new 1400XL? Knowing how irrational people can be, the price of a 1400 would go up even more as a repro would just attract more attention. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R.Cade Posted April 23, 2021 Share Posted April 23, 2021 (edited) That's crazy money. There can't be THAT many people willing to drop $5k+ just to have one. I would be worried something might happen to those few people on Earth, so I would sell it. It serves no useful purpose to own one. Edited April 23, 2021 by R.Cade Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tillek Posted April 23, 2021 Share Posted April 23, 2021 27 minutes ago, 1200XL M.U.L.E. said: Knowing how irrational people can be, the price of a 1400 would go up even more as a repro would just attract more attention. Of course, if you're going to make a short run of anything.... 1450xld, right? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geneb Posted April 23, 2021 Author Share Posted April 23, 2021 4 hours ago, gilsaluki said: Wow! Impressive. As a lifelong aircraft electrician, I have to say that is a very nice wire job. The string tie is very nice. Believe it or not, I still use string tie on a lot of my home wiring (automotive) projects. I use zip ties as well, but nothing like old string tie. Thanks! I LOVE using waxed lacing cord. It makes for a much better wiring harness IMO. I'm pretty sure I've got enough if various widths that it will last me until the heat death of the universe. g. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sugarland Posted April 23, 2021 Share Posted April 23, 2021 31 minutes ago, R.Cade said: That's crazy money. There can't be THAT many people willing to drop $5k+ just to have one. I would be worried something might happen to those few people on Earth, so I would sell it. It serves no useful purpose to own one. Since it doesn't lose value, it's an investment. Important to ascertain it's market value and not pay over that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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