Klára Jelínková People collect different things these days. It can be postage stamps, porcelain, autographs of famous personalities or even old newspapers. American Henry Plain has taken his collecting to a slightly different level and currently has the largest private collection of Apple prototypes in the world.
In the video for CNBC he explains how he got into collecting in the first place. After graduating college, he decided to improve G4 Cubes computers as a hobby in his spare time. He was also looking for work at the same time, and in the process of searching he came across a transparent Macintosh SE and discovered how rare Apple computers really are. He became interested in other prototypes and gradually collected them.
It is certainly a unique collection that no one else in the world has. In his collection, we can find rare Apple products and especially their prototypes, which Plain likes to collect the most. According to CNBC, his collection includes 250 Apple prototypes, including never-before-seen models of iPhones, iPads, Macs and accessories. He collects not only functional equipment, but also non-functional ones, which he tries to put back into operation. He even sells repaired models on Ebay, investing the money he earns in other unique pieces.
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However, his sales also caught the attention of Apple's lawyers, who were not too pleased that he was selling prototypes of Apple products on the Internet. Plain was therefore forced to withdraw some items from the eBay offer. Even that did not stop him, however, and he continues to collect rare prototypes. According to him, he would stop collecting only when he would connect with a museum that would allow him to display all his precious pieces.
However, Plain collects all these devices only for personal enjoyment. He mentions in the video that he likes finding them and keeping them "reviving" and doesn't want these devices to end up in e-waste. After all, they are pieces that tell history, especially that of Apple. He says he loves the devices as much as their stories. You can view the entire collection not only in the attached video, but also on his personal pages, where you can see how much he owns as a result and help him, for example, with the search for other prototypes.
