[11986] in Commercialization & Privatization of the Internet
The Computer Museum NR
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Nancy Teater)
Thu Apr 28 20:23:38 1994
Date: Thu, 28 Apr 1994 05:25:23 -0800
To: com-priv@psi.com
From: nrt@hamilton.com (Nancy Teater)
PRESS CONTACTS:
The Computer Museum
Carol Welsh
(415) 323-1909
Enterprise Integration Technologies
Nancy Teater
(415) 321-0252
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FIRST-EVER INTERNET AUCTION PRODUCES
RESULTS FOR THE COMPUTER MUSEUM
PALO ALTO, Calif., April 28, 1994 - Collectors and Internet enthusiasts
still have two days to bid on some rare computer memorabilia in the
first-ever high-tech charity auction. The auction, which benefits the
educational programs of the Boston-based Computer Museum, started on April
22 and is being conducted though electronic mail entirely on the Internet,
24 hours a day, ending April 29 at 8:00 p.m. (EST). The auction includes
more than 60 computer items and a unique assortment of goods and services
donated by industry leaders. It was made possible by software created and
donated by Enterprise Integration Technologies of Palo Alto, Calif.
"Bidding has been the hottest on personal computing items," said Carol
Welsh, director of the West Coast office of the Museum. "People who are
bidding believe these things will increase in value and be worth some real
money 20 years from now. They're not only bidding for nostalgia's sake;
some are making an investment." Welsh said that bidding has been spirited,
with closing bids being 150% higher than the opening bid.
The featured item for today, April 28, she said, could be a "real bargain,"
a Network General "Sniffer" debugging tool valued at $9,000, for which the
highest bid is currently $3,000. On April 29th, bidders can battle over
the entertainment selections that Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates would bring
with him if stranded on a desert island (with electricity).
Welsh said the items already sold include: A Gortex jacket distributed to
the Apple Lisa computer development team, for $250; an operating and coding
manual for the SWAC computer, one of the first ten commercial computers in
the U.S., for $60; and a signed copy of a computer guide plus a companion
"underground" movie that cover the tedious process of punch cards and batch
programming, for $130.
Those who want to participate in the Computer Museum First Internet Auction
are instructed to send electronic mail to "auction-info@auction.tcm.org."
Instructions and a registration form are promptly returned via e-mail, and
as soon as the bidder has registered, a confirmation and list of Auction
items are automatically forwarded.
The Computer Museum is the only museum in the world devoted solely to
people and computers. It features more than 125 interactive exhibits which
include virtual reality, artificial intelligence, robotics and personal
computing applications. It is also home to the award-winning Walk-Through
Computer and the world's finest collection of vintage computers and robots.
Enterprise Integration Technologies Corp. (EIT), of Palo Alto, Calif., is
an R&D and consulting organization, developing software and services that
help companies do business on the Internet. EIT is also the project
manager for CommerceNet, the first large-scale market trial of electronic
commerce on the Internet.
End
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Nancy R. Teater Hamilton Communications phone: +1 415 321 0252
nrt@hamilton.com fax: +1 415 327 4660
