Sell my T61?

Should I sell my T61? It has the IBM logo.

 

Paraphased: Because my T61 has a tricolor IBM logo on the lid and on the palmrest, and thus has some inherent value, should I keep it?

Let's say, without knowing the exact condition and configuration of your T61, that you could get $300, net, if you sold it. If this amount can ease the monetary burden in purchasing something more useful, do so. If the T61 is still usable and its performance may be enhanced with some relative simple upgrades, keep it. However, if your financial situation is such that you can both keep the T61 and buy something else, more power to you!

 

If this is indeed what you're asking, the answer is no -- at least not because of the logo. The badges cost about $1/ea or less in bulk. You can swap them yourself quite easily. If that's the only reason you haven't sold the machine... well... sell it and don't worry about it!

 

Thanks for the replies.

I guess the only thing holding me back might be because it may be a collectors item in the future.

 

I kept mine. It worked for 3.5 years and I'll keep it as a backup machine. It just not worth it to sell it for $150 or so...

 

It won't.

Rare is the technological item that does not (by obsolescence) become a doorstop rather than a collector's item. While the T61 isn't completely obsolete yet, they were made in significant numbers that it will never show significant appreciation in value.

I have a Mac SE/30 in my basement somewhere as an example. They were hailed as the coolest machine of their time (`89-91), when it sold for $5-6,000.

If it was in mint condition, with all options, I might get $100 if I could find a really dedicated Mac-o-phile. Maybe an extra $25 if it was personally signed by Steve Wozniak.

 

I remember an episode of pawn stars that someone brought in anold mac from the 80s and got around 100 and they had tons of working accessories and software.

Honestly technology items like these only hold value to those who used them. The only reason I still have my dell vostro isnt because one day it would be worth something to someone. Rather it will be worth something to me when I can show my kids a working computer from that era. Thats if it still works by then (same goes for all of my computers) as I dont rest them on a shelf when m done.

 

A collector's item, given how many T61 are produced, i don't think it would be a collector's item, unless you hold it for 50 years or more. I think you should sell it.

 

Ah man, I knew I should've kept my Commodore 64. With that colorful Commodore logo it must be worth a fortune by now.

Seriously though, there are plenty of T61s around and even the non-IBM logo'd ones can have IBM logos for a couple of bucks on ebay. There's even a special edition IBM logo that's all metal, although that one will cost you $4 (shipping included!).

 

In the latter-90's, I sold a Commodore 128 with its power brick and a 5.25" 360k floppy disk for fifty bucks (I told him to make me an offer). Buyer got what he wanted, and I got more cash than I thought I'd get for a system that while geeky-cool, had gone out of production in 1989.

 

Could flash Middleton's modded bios with sata-II and dual-IDA to wring some more performance out of it and wait for SB systems to drop in price.

 

Is it the 4:3 variant?

 

Yes it is.