In 1994, Apple released the QuickTake 100 Digital Camera as part of a collaboration with Kodak at the introductory price of $749 US. The QuickTake was capable of storing eight images at a resolution of 640x480 pixels using 1MB of Flash memory and produced 24-bit color images. The device could capture 32 images if you chose the lower 320x240 resolution.
Around February 1997, Apple launched the updated QuickTake 200 for $600 US. This model was designed and manufactured by Fuji, but it fell victim to the chopping block as one of the first products Steve Jobs discontinued when returning to Apple later that same year.
Both the QuickTake 100 and 200 digital cameras have found their way onto eBay as the legal battle between Apple and Kodak over digital imaging patents continues to escalate. The Eastman Kodak Company just filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy this week.
Some of the patents sitting at the center of that legal debate involve Apple's long forgotten QuickTake camera. Apple is claiming ownership of the digital photography patents asserted by Kodak, and has now formally "asked a bankruptcy court to block Kodak from obtaining loans using certain patents as collateral," according to a detailed report by AppleInsider.
"Apple’s research and development activities was pioneering work on digital camera and imaging technology and related hardware, software, and user and communication interfaces." said the court filing.
It's safe to imagine that this pioneering camera technology Time Magazine included last year in their list of "100 greatest and most influential gadgets from 1923 to the present", may actually be a steal based on current eBay prices.
A 1994 QuickTake 100 camera is listed at a Buy It Now price of $35, while the QuickTake 200 listings are selling at a Buy It Now price of $153. For my money, the collaboration with Kodak seems to be the better choice. Both the drama surrounding that device and the fact that it's Apple's original release make the QuickTake 100 a fabulous grab.
For a close-up look at some vintage 1998 San Francisco photos taken with Apple's QuickTake 200 digital camera, check out Blake Patterson's photo stream.
How much would you be willing to pay for one of the top 100 most influential gadgets created since 1923?
[Download QuickTake 100 or 200 owners manual PDF]
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