It’s amazing what turns up on eBay. Case in point: Over the Memorial Day weekend, a prototype for the first-generation iPad made headlines for having not one but two dock connectors -- but don’t bother bidding, because this sucker is sold.
Unlike many previous Apple prototypes that appear on eBay only to be removed at the company’s request before finding a buyer, a prototype first-generation iPad has been sold to the highest bidder for a cool $10,200 after fierce bidding between a mere seven members.
So why would anyone want an original iPad prototype? It turns out this item has two dock connector ports: One in the usual portrait position and another on the landscape side. Older Apple patent filings did indeed reveal that the company had been tinkering with just such a concept, but this prototype is the first real evidence that it actually exists in physical form.
“This is one of a VERY small amount of Apple prototype devices and you rarely see these on eBay,” the item description reads. “This iPad has 16GBs of capacity, and is incredibly unique. For starters, It has two dock connectors. Apple prototyped these iPads to have this connector late in the process and at the last minute decided to remove them. There are patent drawings and leaked casings that show the indents for both dock connector holes, but this unit has both dock connectors, and both are full functional for charging this iPad and connecting it to your computer.”
The prototype also runs Apple’s test software, called “SwitchBoard,” and is currently running a beta version of iOS 3.2. While the unit is functional, the touch screen itself does not currently work.
With a Buy It Now price of $10,000, the prototype iPad caught the attention of at least seven high-roller bidders who went back and forth 23 times before closing the auction on Monday night at $10,200. But hey, at least that includes free UPS Ground shipping, so that’s something…
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(Image courtesy of eBay user aaps69)
