Pristine Dec Rainbow 100a

[Kurthamm]

I know a guy who has a complete 100a, color, printer and all the original software titles
His father purchased it and basically never used it. Original boxes and all. It even includes the vertical stand.
I am pointing him to ebay because I can't pay what this collection is worth. I think the colors of everything are true with no yellowing because it was stored in the boxes.

What would something like this he worth? When I say software, I mean they bought all the software for this thing. Lots of the software is unopened and all comes with original packaging and manuals.

My initial estimate is that the value is north of $1500 for the right person.

Let me know what you think or if you are interested. He would rather not deal with eBay

Thanks, Kurt

 

[PrintStar]

While the collection sounds pretty great, I think your estimate might be a bit optimistic. A list of software, or, at the very least, a count of the software packages might be helpful in determining its value. However, a few things to keep in mind are:

1. It is a 100A rather than the far more flexible 100B, which can boot directly from the hard drive.

2. Rainbows historically, at least in my experience, are not "high-value" collectible machines. They weren't particularly rare in the first place, and a lot of people see them as merely frustratingly incompatible MS-DOS machines. Simply because they have non-IBM floppy formats and don't run every MS-DOS program out of the box make them a bit less desirable.

The fact that it has a graphics board is pretty awesome. And I always loved the tower stands (I have three, I think). Both of those items are pluses. If your friend does manage to get $1500 for it, I'd be shocked, but I don't know what software is available. Of course I'd love to get my hands on it, but at this point I'm not looking to spend much money on these anymore unless its something truly exotic in the Rainbow world.

 

[Kurthamm]

Software included: DEC List Manager, Microsoft Multiplan 86, Ashton-Tate dbase II 86, Wordstar, Financier, TK!Solver, Condor 3, ReportStar, DR Graph, Personal Basic, Microsoft mbasic 86, Select 86, Poly-xfr CPM Comms, lotus 123 1A

 

[sysmgr]

I have two Rainbow 100Bs but there doesn't seem to be much interest in them - similar sort of spec graphics card, LA50 printer tower case etc

 

[Chuck(G)]

You might find some interest in the DEC collectors world, although the Rainbow doesn't quite fit the PIP/VAX world interests. The dual CPUs are kind of interesting, but the weight and the not-quite-PC compatible issues work mightily against the machine's value. Still, a great example of quality US manufacturing.

 

[PrintStar]

You might find some interest in the DEC collectors world, although the Rainbow doesn't quite fit the PIP/VAX world interests..

Some DEC people keep them around to format RX50s. But, yes, generally Rainbows tend to be disliked by the DEC-collecting peoples. I find their hatred amusing as the Rainbow was the most successful of DEC's three personal computer lines at the time (Rainbow, DECmateII, Professional).

Still, a great example of quality US manufacturing.

...unless it's a Singapore model. I think most 100A's are from Westfield, Massachusetts. A lot of Rainbows were manufactured in Singapore (and possibly Hong Kong), though. The serial number will tell you.

The software listed with this 100a is an impressive collection, but nothing terribly exotic except, perhaps, TKSolver!. I haven't seen boxed versions of a few of those before personally. If you really wanted to up the value, you'd need to have some of the original Infocom games with packaging for the 'bow. I saw a copy of Starcross for the Rainbow sell for somewhere around $300 once.

 

[Kurthamm]

Thanks for the excellent insights. I still think this is a unique unit almost transported to the present from 1982.

I recommended that the owner post on eBay and offered my help to test and write description.

Kurt

 

[barythrin]

Good answer. They'll get the most attention that way and probably get the latest price for whatever the demand ends up being. The pricing is difficult because you never know who or how eager someone is to get a boxed unit. If it's just for play I think the systems are still found for ~$150? although I could be off and often you'll find a less useful auction of just the system, no keyboard or monitor. I've always fancied one but I'm an opportunistic collector so I just do what I can when I can and usually keep it local. Regardless nice of you to help maximize their gain.

Any picture of the system turned on and working will help tremendously with the end price. A pic running some software included should also help add to the total.