Tech News Summary:
- A house clearing in London uncovered two of the three surviving models of the world’s first desktop computer, the Q1, released in 1972.
- The discovery was made by waste company Just Clear during a routine house cleanup, and the computers are now on public display at Kingston University in Surrey.
- The Q1 Corporation played a significant role in laying down the foundation for modern computing devices, and the find serves as a reminder of the importance of preserving history through unexpected discoveries.
During a routine house clearance in a small town in England, an unexpected and exciting discovery was made. A rare piece of computing history was uncovered, hidden away in the attic of the property.
The vintage computer, a Sinclair ZX80, was found amongst a collection of old electronics and books. This particular model, released in 1980, was one of the first personal computers to be made available to the general public. It was a groundbreaking piece of technology at the time, boasting a 1KB of memory and a revolutionary price tag of just £99.
The current owner of the property, who wishes to remain anonymous, was stunned to find such a rare and historically significant item in their possession. “I had no idea that this old computer was worth anything,” they explained. “I was just planning on throwing it away with the rest of the old junk.”
Upon further research, it was discovered that the Sinclair ZX80 is now considered a highly sought-after collector’s item, with only a small number still in existence. It is estimated that in good condition, the computer could fetch a price of several thousand pounds at auction.
The owner has since decided to put the vintage computer up for sale, and it is expected to attract a significant amount of attention from technology enthusiasts and collectors alike.
The discovery of the Sinclair ZX80 serves as a reminder that valuable and historically significant items can often be found in the most unexpected places. It also highlights the importance of properly assessing and valuing items before discarding them, as they may have far more worth than meets the eye.