Turning Old Computers into Big Money

Got an old PC? I mean a really old PC. It might actually be worth some money to a collector, as the earliest generations of computers have now entered the realm of antiquity, and they're rare enough to merit collections in museums and from private aficionados. CNet has the story.

Among the most prized old computers: The Apple Lisa (pictured), a short-lived precursor to the Macintosh, which now sells for over $10,000. (Though in fairness, it didn't cost much less than this when it was released in 1983.) Early Xerox PCs, computers from the 1970s, and other early Apple equipment are all on the most-wanted list of vintage tech collectors.

You might be surprised how many computer museums there are popping up around the country. I live only a few dozen miles from several of them, including the Computer History Museum and San Jose's Tech Museum, but smaller ones (often run by individual collectors out of their garages, barns, or warehouses) can be found around the country and are frequently open by appointment. (Wikipedia has a list of major museums in the U.S.)

So, is that old PC in the attic worth something? Your best barometer for the value of a vintage computer is, as always, eBay. If you find a machine selling for more than a few hundred dollars, you might send an email to a few collectors to see if they have any private interest, especially if it's a machine they don't already own. Don't get your hopes up, though: Most old computers aren't worth more than $20 or so.

If you're just a curious computer historian, you can check out these old machines online, for free, as many cool vintage computing sites are online and available for your enjoyment. Here are some of my favorites. Happy surfing!

• Old-Computers.com
• Vintage-Computer.com
• Oldcomputers.net
• Digibarn.com