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Besides being one of the first personal computers, you had to build it yourself. And when I say "build", I mean they literally did not have even 2 pieces connected. Every nut, bolt, washer, and IC were loose on bags.
Plus they are just plain cool.
I bought my first one in early 1976. Cost about $1200 with a 1 MzHz processor, and I think I splurged and got it with 4K of RAM.
if you had one today, in working condition, it would cost you $5000.
Warning: if you find one, and the seller says he doesn't know if it works, I can almost guarantee it won't. ICs sitting unused, in sockets, for 50 years NEVER work. There are 100s of ICs and it only takes one to fail.
The good news is they are easy to repair, if you know what you are doing.
Plus they are just plain cool.
I bought my first one in early 1976. Cost about $1200 with a 1 MzHz processor, and I think I splurged and got it with 4K of RAM.
if you had one today, in working condition, it would cost you $5000.
Warning: if you find one, and the seller says he doesn't know if it works, I can almost guarantee it won't. ICs sitting unused, in sockets, for 50 years NEVER work. There are 100s of ICs and it only takes one to fail.
The good news is they are easy to repair, if you know what you are doing.