Jimmy Grewal spent years creating his unique collection

The journey of passion began in Dubai.. An engineer acquires 400 old Apple devices.. Video

• Jamie: Collectibles aficionados have their eyes on technology, too.

  Photography: Patrick Castillo

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Passion and chance led engineer Jimmy Grewal, who lives in Dubai, to collect old Apple devices, until he now owns more than 200 computers, including two pieces of the first device produced by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak, which is for sale in an electronic auction that ends next Sunday.

The story of the collection owned by Jimmy began in 1995, when he bought his first computer by chance to use as part of a décor, and his passion continued until he formed his collection that includes the international company's publications.

And about his journey with the world of “Apple”, Grewal, who studied economics and informatics and works on managing a company in electronics and defense systems, told “Emirates Today”: “The story began when I was very young, specifically when I was five years old, when I was studying at the American School. In Dubai, she was using Apple devices in 1982, and after a while the family bought a computer from the same company, so I used those devices.”

He added: "After I started my studies at the university, I was obsessed with the new versions of the devices, not the old ones, and at that time I went with a friend to buy used furniture sold by the university, and there was a group of old computers sold by weight, and he was calculating the price of the black and white computer for one pound per kilogram, while the color For two pounds.

At the time, Grewal bought the first device in his collection for $22, to use as a decor in his room, then bought more, and after he finished his studies in 1999, he owned about 10 devices.

Phase

The computers that Grewal bought in the first stage of 1984, which is one of the company’s first productions, increased his passion for devices after entering the labor market, when he found a job at “Microsoft”, and he was in the department specialized in “Apple” computer software, and by virtue of his work he was visiting the company Once or twice a week, this prompted him to complete the construction of the group, explaining that he stored the devices in a room that experienced water leakage, but the computers were not damaged and the water did not reach them, which prompted him to store them in a secure room.

Today, the Indian engineer owns 186 computers, and up to 200 parts are added to the devices, that is, more than 400 parts for Apple.

Regarding the way in which he obtained the first piece in particular, which is offered for auction, he explained: “In 1999, when I was working at (Microsoft), I met a person who owned a piece of the first device issued by (Apple), and he asked for 25 thousand dollars, and I did not have the amount.” At the time, but I was convinced that if I continued collecting devices, I should have the first piece, because it is the beginning of the story, and since that time nearly 25 years have passed, and in 2017, Christie’s contacted me, discussions began on the price, and I paid them a sum for the device.”

Regarding the state of the parts he owns, he indicated that he is working hard to ensure that they are in good condition, noting that today's world is the world of technology and high technologies, but the first device for "Apple" was designed more like a hobby, but it formed the seed through which it was launched. The following computer series.

Regarding those interested in buying this rare piece, he noted that it attracts investors and museums in the first place, and those who collect devices, especially since collectibles enthusiasts have also turned their eyes to technology.

And about not collecting new devices from the same company, he saw that history is the one that carries the value, because everything that Apple produced after the iPod and the iPhone is considered familiar to people.

public space

Grewal pointed out that he put one of the first “Apple” productions up for auction with the aim of creating a place to create a public space in which to display the devices he owns to the public, especially school students, noting that the space he seeks to establish is not a museum, as museums often require a budget. big.

As for the pieces that are dear to Grewal, and that he cannot put up for sale, it is a device that his family bought, and a second that he received as a gift from his teacher, and it is the first “Apple” piece that entered the UAE in 1978. As for the most recent pieces he owns in the place, the first iPod and the first copy of the "Iphone".

Regarding storing and caring for collectibles, he noted that he is working hard to isolate them from moisture, because devices made of plastic can over the years break without being touched by time and the transformation of their materials.

He believed that the old devices are able to withstand more, considering that the best solution is to make three-dimensional models from these devices to preserve their shape for history.

• Two items that are dear to Jimmy's heart that he cannot sell: the first device that his family bought, and the other that he received as a gift from his teacher.

to watch the video,

Jimmy Grewal:

• “The first device in my group I bought for $22, to be used as a decoration in my university room.”

• “It is history that carries the value. Everything that Apple produced after the iPod and the iPhone is considered familiar.”

Steve Jobs

Engineer Jimmy Grewal confirmed that the late Steve Jobs presented devices that proved to fail, such as the Lisa device, which sold for 10 thousand dollars, and its price was very high, and it is not considered one of the devices available to the public, and two years later he produced another device that was put up for 2000 dollars, and he was expelled from the company because of the failure of two devices consecutive.

He confirmed that Jobs then established a private company for him, through which he produced a device that achieved great success, through which he was able to return to the company until he became its president, after which successes continued.

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