Here’s What People Paid for Cutting-Edge Technology in the ’80s
The 1980s brought us bulky personal computers, camcorders, and the first brick-to-your-ear cell phones — but they didn’t come cheap. Back then, buying cutting-edge technology meant spending a small fortune, often for devices that seem hilariously outdated today.
Here’s what the latest, greatest 1980s technology would’ve set you back when each item was first released.
IBM PC
Debut year: 1981
Price: $1,565
Price adjusted for inflation: $5,677
You can still scrounge up the O.G. IBM PC on eBay for $400-$1,300 if you’re looking to get back to basics with the first widely available personal computer, which sold for over $1,500 when it came out, without a hard drive.
Macintosh Computer
Debut year: 1984
Price: $2,495
Price adjusted for inflation: $7,728
Complete, still-in-the-box, original Macintosh computers are listed for as much as $8,000 on eBay, which is about as much as their original (adjusted) price in ’84.
Sony CDP-101 CD Player
Debut year: 1983 (released in 1982 in Japan)
Price: $1,111
Price adjusted for inflation: $3,585
It’s hard to imagine that the first CD player cost $1,000 during its debut. These days you can get them for a much more modest $400 on eBay (which is still pretty pricey if you ask us).
Sony Betamovie Camcorder
Debut year: 1983
Price: $1,395
Price adjusted for inflation: $4,502
If you were a well-off family during the ’80s and ’90s, your parents probably recorded every waking second of your birthday parties, Christmas morning, and first steps with their camcorder. While these were nearly $1,400 in 1983, the highest asking price you’ll see for the Betamovie on eBay these days is $70.
Nintendo Entertainment System
Debut year: 1985
Price: $200
Price adjusted for inflation: $598
Nintendos are one of those things that are heavily inflated on eBay. You might find them for as low as $20, or you could see a listing as far north as $300,000. We’d feel comfortable placing our bets on which system will sell faster.
Sega Mark III
Debut year: 1986 (released in 1985 in Japan)
Price: $200
Price adjusted for inflation: $576
You won’t find this video game console any cheaper on eBay than its original $200 asking price, and you can also expect to see it listed for as much as $1,000, depending on its condition.
Nintendo Game Boy
Debut year: 1989
Price: $90
Price adjusted for inflation: $235
The Game Boy where it all began lists for as low as $130 on eBay, but mint consoles with unused games are listed for astronomical asking prices in the (sometimes hundreds of) thousands.
Motorola DynaTAC 8000X Cell Phone
Debut year: 1983
Price: $3,995
Price adjusted for inflation: $12,892
We know brand-new iPhones aren’t exactly cheap, but they’re typically sold with the convenience of being able to loop payments into your phone bill. If you wanted one of the first cell phone bricks, you’d have to shell out almost $4,000 for one. In true full-circle fashion, you can expect to pay that price today for one on eBay, too.
Cordless Phones
Debut year: 1980 (originally showcased at the 1962 World’s Fair)
Price: $400
Price adjusted for inflation: $1,623
Hoping to catch some privacy that the cord on your phone wouldn’t allow for? The cordless phone offered it for a couple hundred bucks. These are pretty obsolete nowadays and don’t cost much more than $50 if you’re in the market for a vintage option on eBay.
Commodore 64
Debut year: 1982
Price: $595
Price adjusted for inflation: $1,991
The most expensive Commodore 64 system on eBay is still brand new and has a $2,300 asking price.