From School Computing

Computer Prices Over Time for Mainstream Computers A mainstream computer is defined as a machine that is purchased in volume for a lab or a representative group of users. Please add by date.

Note, to find the current -inflation adjusted- values for the prices below use the Inflation Calculator website. 
For example, the 2005 eqivalent value for the $3,205 cost of the 1981 Apple II is $7,171. 

Contents 1 1981 2 1993 3 1999 4 2005

[edit] 1981

• $3,205 : Apple II, 64Kb RAM, 1 MHz 6502 CPU, color monitor, 1 floppy disk drive, no software except BASIC

[edit] 1993

• $1,600 : Apple LC-520, 4Mb RAM, 25 MHz 68030 CPU, 640 x 480 color monitor, 80 Mb Hard Drive, CD-ROM Drive, 1 3.5" floppy, ClarisWorks, Quicken, HyperCard and other software.

[edit] 1999

• $1649 : Apple iBook, 802.11b wireless, 32Mb RAM, 300 Mhz Power PC CPU, 800 x 600 LCD, 3.2 Gb Hard Drive, CD-ROM, Appleworks and other software. No programming language included.

[edit] 2005

• $749 : Apple eMac, 256Mb RAM, 1.42 GHz PowerPC CPU, 1024 x 768 color monitor, 80 Gb Hard Drive, Combo Drive, iLife, AppleWorks and other software. No programming language included.
• $949 : Apple iBook, 802.11b/g wireless, 512Mb RAM, 1.33 GHz PowerPC CPU, 1024 x 768 LCD, 40 Gb Hard Drive, Combo Drive, iLife, AppleWorks and other software. No programming language included.