Author Topic: Who's this dealer's dealer? (Read 4142 times)

xsphat · « **on:** Wed, 03 December 2008, 13:03:56 »

andb · « **Reply #1 on:** Wed, 03 December 2008, 14:38:28 »

Yeah, I saw that and my jaw hit the floor. But what's odd is that my current Model M is from him, and friends have bought 3 more (the refurb M for $39), and a couple apple extended 'boards, and we all agree he's a great seller with really clean, solid keyboards. Maybe this one is the limited edition model with the golden keycaps?

itlnstln · « **Reply #2 on:** Wed, 03 December 2008, 16:05:10 »

The title for this thread is strong.

xyzzy · « **Reply #3 on:** Wed, 03 December 2008, 18:55:57 »

I noticed that auction as well and actually contacted the seller asking what was so special about it to bump its price to that of an IBM M15.

He answered that "there are a lot of collectors worldwide" and that the same model sold a few weeks ago for $750.

While I can't find track of that $750 sale in eBay (only another Leading Edge DC-3014 that sold for a more reasonable $120 - but it wasn't in good shape as the current one) and consider his $695 request a bit steep, who knows, he might find someone dying for that very 'board and willing to pay that price for it.

itlnstln · « **Reply #4 on:** Wed, 03 December 2008, 19:01:21 »

What's so great about this 'board that even a broke-a*s one received $120? Was Leading Edge one of the great companies that I, somehow, missed in computer history? To me this just looks like regular, albeit high-quality, keyboard from yesteryear. I would probably put it in the same class as a Northgate Omnikey variant.

alpslover · « **Reply #5 on:** Wed, 03 December 2008, 19:12:15 »

Quote from: itlnstln;13472

Was Leading Edge one of the great companies that I, somehow, missed in computer history?

leading edge was quite well known back in the day.

i did see one of these keyboards sell for about $750 a couple of weeks ago. i don't believe there is anything special about them other than their rarity.

itlnstln · « **Reply #6 on:** Wed, 03 December 2008, 19:21:17 »

I researched Leading Edge on Google, and found some old magazine screen shots, and I remember their ads in PC Magazine and Compute!, but never knew anyone that had one of their computers. I wonder if the blue sliders feel any different than the clicky or soft tactile Alps switches. They are probably just like the other Alps switches, and they just happend to have some blue plastic when they made those only adding to the enigma that is Alps switches.

iMav · « **Reply #7 on:** Wed, 03 December 2008, 19:24:37 »

I remember seeing them in Computer Shopper. Remember when that publication was HUGE? Pre-commercial internet age, I loved digging through my monthly Computer Shopper.

lowpoly · « **Reply #8 on:** Wed, 03 December 2008, 20:03:54 »

So it must be the specific model that's so rare?

Because this one is only ~$80:

http://cgi.ebay.com/VINTAGE-LEADING-EDGE-KEYBOARD-DC-2214-BLUE-ALPS-SLIDERS_W0QQitemZ290279897604QQcmdZViewItemQQimsxZ20081203?IMSfp=TL081203115003r15663

Is rarity alone enough to justify a high price? I don't think so.

itlnstln · « **Reply #9 on:** Wed, 03 December 2008, 20:05:37 »

Computer Shopper was like a damn phonebook. Comparision shopping was boatloads of fun.

I always enjoyed looking at all the new stuff coming out, too.

itlnstln · « **Reply #10 on:** Wed, 03 December 2008, 20:07:26 »

Quote from: lowpoly;13484

So it must be the specific model that's so rare?

Because this one is only ~$80:

http://cgi.ebay.com/VINTAGE-LEADING-EDGE-KEYBOARD-DC-2214-BLUE-ALPS-SLIDERS_W0QQitemZ290279897604QQcmdZViewItemQQimsxZ20081203?IMSfp=TL081203115003r15663

Is rarity alone enough to justify a high price? I don't think so.

This one is not BIN, though. I would like to see what the final price is for this one, though. I would imagine it will be nowhere near $700. Personally, I like the design more on this one than the other.

EDIT: BTW, your avatar reminds me of the leg lamp in Christmas Story.

D-EJ915 · « **Reply #11 on:** Wed, 03 December 2008, 20:15:30 »

Quote from: iMav;13477

I remember seeing them in Computer Shopper. Remember when that publication was HUGE? Pre-commercial internet age, I loved digging through my monthly Computer Shopper.

those 2.5" books were great

alpslover · « **Reply #12 on:** Wed, 03 December 2008, 20:43:39 »

Quote from: lowpoly;13484

Is rarity alone enough to justify a high price?

for a collector, probably.

ultimately, it's a moot point. high price doesn't need a justification as long as there is someone willing to pay it.

xsphat · « **Reply #13 on:** Wed, 03 December 2008, 20:57:05 »

Quote from: itlnstln;13453

The title for this thread is strong.

Thank you.

bhtooefr · « **Reply #14 on:** Wed, 03 December 2008, 21:01:33 »

I actually owned a Leading Edge N3SX/20.

It sucked the big one.

IIRC, Leading Edge was the computer arm of Daewoo. Yes, that Daewoo that's responsible for the Chevy Aveo.

itlnstln · « **Reply #15 on:** Wed, 03 December 2008, 21:17:47 »

According, to Wikipedia, you would be correct, bhtooefr. Leading Edge was purchased by Daewoo some time after they had been making computers.

bhtooefr · « **Reply #16 on:** Wed, 03 December 2008, 21:20:47 »

Quote

In 1984, they began to use Daewoo parts, and in 1989, they were acquired by Daewoo, as part of their recovery from Chapter 11 bankruptcy.[1] In October, 1995, Daewoo sold the company to Manuhold Investment AG, a Swiss electronics company.

And my machine was made in approximately 1990, IIRC. So, it was Daewoo-era.

cchan · « **Reply #17 on:** Thu, 04 December 2008, 05:37:45 »

Damn... I used to have a Leading Edge keyboard with blue ALPS iirc.... shouldn't have thrown it away as part of my technology divestment in eighth grade!!

wrench · « **Reply #18 on:** Sat, 10 January 2009, 08:51:12 »

Is there something particular about the 3014 that makes it collectible? Similar models aren't getting the same attention.

There's others, both active and sold, on Ebay with astronomical prices.

Therac-25 · « **Reply #19 on:** Sat, 10 January 2009, 13:07:59 »

That guy has an 84-key Model M up that I would buy for what the bid is at now ($95ish), if he had a Buy It Now button there.

I hate the fact that those were made as recently as 1999 by Unicomp. They obviously have all the parts and molds to make more, but just refuse.

xsphat · « **Reply #20 on:** Sat, 10 January 2009, 13:21:24 »

Word.

News:

Author Topic: Who's this dealer's dealer? (Read 4142 times)