Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

will iMac G4 value rise over time?

L

ls206

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Feb 1, 2009
18
0
UK
Hi,

I'm asking on behalf of my parents who have an old G4 (700MHz version) iMac.
they were thinking of selling it, but I wondered whether it would be worth keeping it for a while if the value starts to rise with time.

I'm not really clued up on "antique" apples, but I know some people like to collect them.

what's the best plan of action?
Sell now, or pack away to sell another year/decade.

Thanks for reading.
 
I would not rule out the value of the G4 iMac several decades from now. In my opinion, it may prove to be one of the most unique personal computers which was made over the past decade. Even if it does not draw value as a collectible, it could yield profound sentimental value as a unique piece of computing history.
 
If you mean like, in 50 years, maybe.

In the more immediate future, no, they'll only go down.

I'm hunting for a affordable 1.25GHz G4 20 inch, 1.5GB Ram, Airport + Bluetooth right now as it happens. :D
 
Computers do not go up in value. They either retain decent value (such as the Cube and TAM) or depreciate more slowly than average (Mac Pro).

Its not cheaply or easily upgradable, its slow, its a PPC, its stuck with a small LCD screen and Apple sold gobs of them. Other than its unusual form, the iMac G4 really has nothing that would warrant a much higher than average price for a 700mhz computer.
 
Maclarny said:
I would not rule out the value of the G4 iMac several decades from now. In my opinion, it may prove to be one of the most unique personal computers which was made over the past decade. Even if it does not draw value as a collectible, it could yield profound sentimental value as a unique piece of computing history.
Click to expand...

Amen. I can't imagine selling mine, simply because it marks a time where design was at the pinnacle of being as grand as the machine it housed. Historical. :)
 
SkippyThorson said:
Amen. I can't imagine selling mine, simply because it marks a time where design was at the pinnacle of being as grand as the machine it housed. Historical. :)
Click to expand...

That is what you think. Well, it will be worth (maybe) something in a couple of hundred years! The problem is, the electronics in these machines will least maybe 20-30 years (modern stuff has a guaranteed life of what? 5 years?).

A letter on paper will always have some value. Why? Because you can read it/use it also after some 100 years later. The same can't be told for a computer, since it won't work. It will be just like any tech-crap, that you can see in today's technical museums (aka old locomotive, old plane, old car etc.).

It will have a value only in the case, that there will exist one or maybe a couple of them (but not some 100.000 pieces).
 
opeter said:
That is what you think. Well, it will be worth (maybe) something in a couple of hundred years! The problem is, the electronics in these machines will least maybe 20-30 years (modern stuff has a guaranteed life of what? 5 years?).

A letter on paper will always have some value. Why? Because you can read it/use it also after some 100 years later. The same can't be told for a computer, since it won't work. It will be just like any tech-crap, that you can see in today's technical museums (aka old locomotive, old plane, old car etc.).

It will have a value only in the case, that there will exist one or maybe a couple of them (but not some 100.000 pieces).
Click to expand...

Perhaps you didn't read what I said. I'm not selling it only because of sentimental value. Never did I argue it would be worth millions.

You just argued my personal belief that it was a historical design. Why on earth would you go off rambling about it's innards decaying and thus having no resale value? I was and am aware of that.
 
Im a bit sentimental over Apple stuff. Funny cos we use pc's at work but I got an old 11e, an early Macintosh, a G3 a G4 17" an eMac. Just love em . All but the first 2 are connected to the internet. Just won on eBay the Anniversary model - totally useless for anything but what an icon of design! They got no value but I just love the design of each. Sad really!
 
opeter said:
That is what you think. Well, it will be worth (maybe) something in a couple of hundred years! The problem is, the electronics in these machines will least maybe 20-30 years (modern stuff has a guaranteed life of what? 5 years?).

A letter on paper will always have some value. Why? Because you can read it/use it also after some 100 years later. The same can't be told for a computer, since it won't work. It will be just like any tech-crap, that you can see in today's technical museums (aka old locomotive, old plane, old car etc.).

It will have a value only in the case, that there will exist one or maybe a couple of them (but not some 100.000 pieces).
Click to expand...


I don't know, my Apple ][+ still works. :D Although the power supply to my ROM 03 //gs died a year ago. :(

Back on topic, I have sold some of the old Apple // stuff on ebay and made a pretty penny. I would sell now though, 20 years have past to make the Apple // worth something.

Hugh
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back