Apple II

Few computers lasted like this one. First sold in June 1977 and not retired until 1993, the Apple II family sold about six million machines, so a collector can choose anything from an early original to a late, more capable model and still run a huge library. What makes it rewarding today is the open case. Expansion slots inside take add-on cards, such as the controller for the Disk II floppy drive that turned it into a serious machine. European buyers should note that early European models needed an optional card for color on a PAL display, so check what a UK or European machine came with before paying for one.