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The Most Collectible PCs of All Time

Is that computer in your attic a treasure...or trash? Here's the scoop on 19 historic digital antiques, worth from $10 to $10,000 and beyond.

Harry McCracken

IBM PC (IBM, 1981). Estimated units sold: hundreds of thousands; original price: $1565; current market value: $50 to $500

More formally known as the IBM 5150, Big Blue's first PC was a blockbuster that signaled the end of the early, wild-and-woolly days of the computer revolution. (It's no coincidence that nearly all of the most valuable antique PCs predate the 5150.) Lots of original examples are still out there for people who'd like to own the great-granddaddy of today's Windows Vista boxes. But it's also possible to get a taste of the IBM PC experience simply by running ancient software on your current computer (here's VisiCalc). (Photo courtesy of Vintage-Computer.com.)
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