A unique melted terminal of the French information network Minitel, rescued from a fire and representing a unique work of art reflecting the era of technological development, is being sold at auction on eBay.
Melted Terminal
Background to the World Wide Web
Alcatel Minitel 2 device, manufactured in 1993, was part of Minitel - online -service provided by France Telecom from 1982 to 2012. Originating as an experiment to reduce the cost of printing telephone directories, it has grown into a popular way to shop online, book flights, send emails and more. In fact, it was one of the world's first successful online services, foreshadowing the modern Internet.
Terminal Features
The Alcatel Minitel 2 terminal was equipped with a monochrome display for displaying text, although later, color modifications appeared for an additional fee. France Telecom customers received the basic Minitel model free of charge in exchange for giving up paper telephone directories.
Unique exhibit
A Minitel 2 up for auction was rescued from a fire. Despite the fact that the screen and keyboard remained virtually undamaged, the terminal body was completely melted. The seller claims to have discovered a fragment of a document possibly printed on this terminal.
Work of art
The melted terminal is positioned by the seller as a work of art, a kind of artifact reflecting the era of technological development. The opening bid at the auction was €450, but the price has now been reduced to €430. The auction will last until Sunday, June 23.
Glossary
- Minitel is a French information network, the predecessor of the Internet, operating from 1982 to 2012. It was an online service for making purchases, booking tickets, sending messages and other services.
- Alcatel is a French telecommunications company, manufacturer of Minitel terminals.
- France Telecom was a French telecommunications company that provided Minitel services.
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Discussion of the topic – Minitel's Molten Terminal - A Work of Art Priced at €430
The melted case of an Alcatel Minitel 2 computer, salvaged from a fire, is being sold on eBay in France as an art object for €430, despite its unsuitability for practical use.
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Éléonore
Wow! I remember how my parents used such a terminal to search for information and communicate online 🤯 It’s a pity that it was not kept in working condition, it would be interesting to try it in action.
Günther
Yes, Minitel was a real breakthrough in those days 🤖 Can you imagine, you could shop and book tickets without leaving your home? This was the future!
Francesca
And I like that the seller positions this charred terminal as a work of art 🎨 A kind of symbol of the past and future in one bottle. I wonder who will decide to buy it?
Igor
Hmm, I don’t know... 🧐 430 euros for a melted piece of plastic? I think it's too expensive for a regular antique. Unless it might be interesting for collectors or museums.
Станислав
Yeah, the price is too high 💰 For this money you can buy a normal budget laptop or smartphone, as mentioned. But apparently the seller is counting on nostalgic Minitel fans.
Grumpy_Pawel
Ew, just don’t tell me about these modern things 😒 In my time, everything was human: newspapers, magazines, books. And not these internets and minibodies of yours. Pointless waste of money!
Lola
I would buy this terminal just out of curiosity 🤩 I can imagine what stories it could tell if it could talk! How many people communicated through it, what news they learned...
Pablo
The minitel was truly revolutionary for its time 💥 But now it’s just a rare exhibit. Although, maybe some retro technology collectors will be interested. The main thing is that the seller does not inflate the price too much.