Apple I computer fetches $374,500 at NY auction - Reuters
NEW YORK, June 15 |
NEW YORK, June 15 (Reuters) - A rare, still-working Apple I Computer from 1976 sold at Sotheby's auction house on Friday for $374,500, or more than 500 times its original retail price.
The computer, one of only a handful in full working condition, had been estimated to sell for about $150,000 at the auctioneer's sale of books and manuscripts.
The Apple computer, built by the company's founders Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak, included the original cassette interface, operating instructions and BASIC computer language user's manual. But like all Apple 1's, it did not come with a monitor or power supply.
Two bidders competed for the machine, the first compact computer to allow casual users to type on a keyboard and operate basic programs. An anonymous telephone bidder prevailed for a final cost of just under $375,000 including commission.
The Apple founders created the personal computer in 1976 and presented it at a Palo Alto computer club, but there were few takers at the time. Paul Terrell, owner of a retail chain called Byte Shop, placed an order for 50 of the machines and sold them for $666.66 retail - once Wozniak and Jobs agreed to assemble the circuit boards rather than offer them as kits, Sotheby's said.
The pair then produced 150 more and sold them to friends and other vendors. Sotheby's said fewer than 50 original Apple 1s are believed to survive, with only six known to be in working condition.
Other highlights of the sale, which took in a total of $2.67 million, included an unpublished F. Scott Fitzgerald story, "The I.O.U.", which sold to an unidentified U.S. institution for $194,500, far above the $75,000 pre-sale estimate, and an autographed letter from Oscar Wilde calling his work, "The Ballad of Reading Gaol", his swan song. It fetched $134,500, or more than three times the estimate.
Another unpublished Fitzgerald story, "Nightmare", from the early 1930s, doubled its pre-sales estimate and sold for just over $80,000, while artist Andy Warhol's illustrated book from 1954, "25 Cats Named Sam and One Blue Pussy", also doubled its estimate, selling for just under $60,000.
Aides stop former RSS chief from speaking to media - Times of India
PUNE: Former Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief K S Sudarshan was stopped from interacting with the media by his own men at a function held at Balgandharv Rangmandir on Thursday.
Sudarshan, who was in the city to attend a felicitation programme, was seated in the audience and not among dignitaries on the stage. When some media persons requested him to speak, Sudarshan readily agreed. However, his aides sitting nearby immediately surrounded him. They said that Sudarshan does not speak to the media without prior permission. Sudarshan looked puzzled by the reaction of his own men. "Why will I not speak? I am going to speak to them," he said. However, his aides did not relent and told the media persons to go away. "You need to understand the RSS system. Don't insist and go away. I know you are going to ask him about RSS," one of his associates said. Sudarshan remained a mute spectator as the journalists left the scene.
Sudarshan's early years as the sarsanghachalak were tumultuous with the BJP in power at the Centre. The Sangh Parivar came under attack for the post-Godhra riots in Gujarat and the Jinnah controversy triggered by Advani during a trip to Pakistan. Sudarshan, who retired in 2009 citing health reasons, made headlines for making controversial statements. In 2010, the Sangh had to express regret over one such statement he made against Congress president Sonia Gandhi. The Sangh had then clarified that Sudarshan's views on the Congress president do not represent the views of the organisation.
Sudarshan has kept a low profile since then and is guarded from making any statements, said an RSS worker present at the functioN.
Rory & Donald set to miss cut as McDowell flies flag - ESPN.co.uk
Defending champion Rory McIlroy could be set to miss the cut at the US Open after a lapse in concentration saw him miss a two-footer on the final hole of his second round.
McIlroy, looking to bounce back after a difficult opening round on Thursday, reached the par-three 8th, his final hole of Friday's round, at nine-over for the tournament - but a moment of absent-mindedness saw him make a hash of his tap-in for par.
That mistake means it is very likely he will miss the cut at Olympic Club - joining playing partner Luke Donald on the sidelines over the weekend.
Donald, the world No. 1, had all-but ended his tournament chances with a 79 to begin proceedings and, while a follow-up 72 was respectable, his 11-over total for 36 holes will see him miss the weekend's action in San Francisco.
The cut is expected to be around eight-over but could well slip to nine-over - although that will not be a problem for the third member of McIlroy's group, Lee Westwood, who will have a chance to move up the leaderboard in the second half of the tournament after finishing five-over.
European hopes are currently riding with 2010 US Open champion Graeme McDowell, who endured a difficult finish to his round but nevertheless sits among the clubhouse leaders at one-over.
One-under when beginning his round on the ninth on Friday, the Northern Irishman reached two-under for the tournament at one point but Olympic's formidably difficult front nine eventually punished him - as four bogeys and a solitary birdie left him just over par overall.
The only man ahead of him in the clubhouse, however, was playing partner and fellow former champion of this event Jim Furyk - the 2003 winner flying under the radar to card a second round of 69 after an opening 70 and become the first man (so far) to be under par after 36 holes.
Nevertheless, the marquee group of the morning involved the three top-ranked Europeans - but none of them lived up to their billing as Westwood was the only one who just about kept himself in tournament contention.
Donald was far more precise than in his damaging opening round, but nevertheless could not get in position to threaten the cut-line - with a failure to birdie the short par-four seventh (his 17th) ultimately sealing his fate.
McIlroy gave himself a chance at eagle at the same hole which would have almost certainly sealed his participation over the weekend, but was forced to settle for a birdie that left him likely needing to pick up another shot at his last, the par-three eighth.
An iron shot to 15-feet set up that opportunity, but McIlroy was not able to make the putt as it slid narrowly to the right. It was then that disaster - or, more accurately, human fallibility - struck, as the defending champion rushed his par attempt and saw it lip out.
Forced to settle for 10-over, it will take a lot of poor play from the afternoon starters for him to now make the cut.
Elsewhere, big-hitting Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts and 23-year-old American John Peterson are also both well placed at one-over for the tournament, after second rounds of 69 and 70 respectively.
Pre-tournament hot tips Hunter Mahan, Jason Dufner and Matt Kuchar are well-placed alongside Aaron Watkins at three-over.
Sergio Garcia, Ernie Els, Charlie Wi, Martin Kaymer and Nick Watney - he of the Thursday albatross - are all four-over, while Ian Poulter and John Senden are level with Westwood in the clubhouse at five-over.
Steve Stricker is also four-over for the tournament after the round of the day so far, a two-under par 68 that included an eagle at the 17th after he holed out from the fairway.
Players waiting to see if they will make the cut at nine-over include Casey Martin, Bill Haas and former champion Lucas Glover.
Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and first round leader Michael Thompson are among the afternoon starters.
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