Old technology doesn't usually turn a profit for people... it may just become an expensive paperweight.

It's stupid. The thing's in mass production and if they don't suddenly stop making iPhones, there will never be a real shortage of them.

Also, technology changes so rapidly, there's a good chance it won't even be compatible with anything in 20 years, nobody would even be able to use it for anything.

there's a good chance it won't even be compatible with anything in 20 years, nobody would even be able to use it for anything.

I wasn't really thinking someone would want to use it, but rather buy a piece of history, a bit of revolutionary technology. To...have. And be nerdly with.

there will never be a real shortage of them.

But a first generation one is different. Without question, there is a limited amount of them.

Disclaimer: I'm no expert about this stuff, and there are exceptions to every rule.

I just saw a 20th-anniversary Mac in eBay's completed auctions--it sold for about $500. Which sounds pretty good for an out-of-date computer, until you consider that, back in 1997, it cost almost 8 grand. If you're willing to hold onto the item for fifty or a hundred years, though, it might be a different story. To overgeneralize, collectible stuff is usually only worth significant bucks when it's really rare, really old, or in really good condition for its age and rarity. It'll be a while, if ever, before any of those things are true about an iPhone.

And, worse, I suspect that the iPhone will suffer the same fate as Beanie Babies and Death of Superman comics--they'll make millions of them, and more than a few people will buy them and hang onto them, absolutely convinced that the item will, someday, appreciate wildly (my father feels this way about James Patterson first editions, and more than a few of my pals feel this way about Halo collector's editions). And, with millions of the damn things manufactured, and thousands being horded, those people will almost certainly be wrong.

(That said, if anybody has an old G4 Cube sitting around, I'd love to have it.)

The initial order was 2 million iPhones. This, unlike the Wii and PS 3, is why there isn't money to be made reselling them today. Even though all of Apple store were out yesterday, they are getting restocked today. And don't forget Steve gave all Apple employees a free iPhone.

I doubt whatever eBay like thingy exists 30 years in the future would sell these as a collectable at much of a profit. Buying 600 lottery tickets would probably be just as sound of an investment strategy.

I love my iphone but it is just a phone.

And don't forget Steve gave all Apple employees a free iPhone.

Did he really? How far down does that go- did employees at the store get one?

collectible stuff is usually only worth significant bucks when it's really rare

So if I buy collectible stuff and go around smashing everyone elses, I might get somewhere...Looks like I've got some smashin' tuhdo.

Next Wednesday, an event will occur that will render all these concerns moot; the iPhone will, however, make an excellent projectile for slinging at mutants. So by all means, buy one! It may save your life, or the life of someone dear to you.

Did he really? How far down does that go- did employees at the store get one?

A co-worker of mine has a friend who works at the Apple store here in town. Co-worker reports that said friend is getting a free i-Phone at the end of the month.

You remember all of those fancypants cutting edge, revolutionary, historic etc. etc. NeXTCubes? Yeah, now you can get them for $100 on eBay. I don't think an iPhone is going to have much collector value for many decades.

All Apple employees -- including store employees -- working for Apple at least a year will get a few phone in a few weeks. Of course, they are on their own paying ATT for service.

I just bought a boxed, unopened, new-old-stock Sega Dreamcast for $125. They're pretty damn rare. They originally listed for $199. Will mine go up in price? Probably not. I don't care, because I'm gonna play it when my current one dies.

Nowhere else can you get real arcade gameplay on a console -- Sega games aren't ports of arcade games, they're the actual program running on hardware that's only been modified for loading from a CD.

Can you play House of the Dead with a gun controller on the iPhone? Can you? Huh?

Can you call porn hotlines and visit porn sites on your Dreamcast? Huh?

The Dreamcast has a built-in 56k modem, and web browsers (commercial and otherwise), Ethernet adapters and Linux distributions are all available. Plus it's region free (well, most games were region-free, and a region-switcher is available), and I'm pretty sure there were some 'adult' games released in Japan.

no one wants a 1G ipod, no one will want a 1g iphone in 5, 10, or 50 years

The Dreamcast still has some value because it is not that easy to replace. Sure, there (probably) are emulators available, but I don't think there are any "Dreamcast compatible" consoles. This is what they call "vendor lock-in".

With the iPhone, you just know that a second, and a third, and a fifth generation will follow, in addition to a variety of different product lines (just like with the iPod) and imitations.

no one wants a 1G ipod, no one will want a 1g iphone in 5, 10, or 50 years

It's strange to think that a Shrek cup or some promotional movie crap will be worth more than an old iPhone some day, but I guess you're right. Techy stuff doesn't go much beyond it's practical purpose.

So, what the hell should I invest in?

Forever stamps.

Barring any special aptitude or interest, probably something like index funds. Given what I know about your interests and aptitudes, maybe records.

I read somewhere recently that, because collecting objects usually rewards, or even requires, some kind of specific knowledge or effort or whatnot, it's usually only profitable (again, with exceptions, I'm no expert, etc.) when your time isn't worth anything. Your time is only not worth anything when you're doing something you enjoy. And this makes sense to me, if only because it reflects my own experience. I've probably made a few bucks here and there, over the years, from collecting things, but I could've probably made more money with a part-time job at a gas station and a passbook savings account.

All i can think is that it'd be a shame not to use it!

I'm typing this on mine while enjoying some tunes while (TMI)

This thing is too much fun to leave on the shelf!

So, what the hell should I invest in?

The Thomas Kinkade Timeless Memories Wall Cuckoo Clock will most certainly appreciate handsomely - if you can handle parting with those sweet melodic chimes! Best of all, it comes with a certificate of authenticity. You don't get one of those with your iThingamajigs!

Oh yes, and don't overlook the value of Precious Moments figurines. They're the physical manifestation of true love.

*vomits quietly into her wastepaper basket*

Can't put a price on true love.

Also, can't go wrong with throwback Jordans. There's a market that's guaranteed to never collapse. Tulipmania? What's that, some kind of festival?

*buys stock in wastepaper basket company, commence$ attempting to make world vomit*

Don't forget diamonds.

*buys Liberace's diamond-studded butt plug collection*

I'm not sure I'm doing this right...

People with brick phones aren't making much money. Now that's first gen!

That sounds like a really terrible idea, honestly.