When you shop vintage collectible software, the real decision often comes down to sealed history versus usable software. Here, two big-box releases sit at essentially the same price: IBM's 1987 PC DOS 3.30, still in damaged shrink wrap, and Broderbund's Apple Macintosh Print Shop Ensemble on CD. The listed price difference is one cent, USD 69.99 versus USD 70.00, so your choice rests on platform, format, and condition.
Quick verdict
If you want a completely sealed, never-exposed-to-dust piece of 1987 IBM history, accept the damaged outer shrink wrap and choose PC DOS 3.30. If you want Mac desktop publishing software on CD, listed as compatible with Apple Mac OS 6, 7, and 8 and positioned for academic or educational use, choose Print Shop Ensemble. Both are U.S. big-box collectibles.
Price and format at a glance
| Product | Listed price | Price bar | Platform | Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vintage 1987 IBM PC DOS Version 3.30 Big Box | USD 69.99 | IBM PC | Big box with partial shrink wrap | |
| Vintage Apple Macintosh Broderbund Print Shop Ensemble Big Box | USD 70.00 | Apple Macintosh | CD in big box |
Where each product wins
- Choose the IBM PC DOS 3.30 big box if the appeal is sealed history. The outer sleeve has not been removed, and the inner contents have never been exposed to dust. The trade-off is that the shrink wrap is scratched and broken in one spot, the box corner has slight damage, and the item is sold as-is and untested.
- Choose the Broderbund Print Shop Ensemble big box if you want a Mac desktop publishing program on CD. It is listed as brand new, works with Apple Mac OS 6, 7, and 8, and carries an academic/educational license with unlimited device use. The trade-off is that this is a classic Mac release, not a PC program.
Product notes
Vintage 1987 IBM PC DOS Version 3.30 Big Box Software - Partial Shrink Wrap
This is a collector's item first and a usable program second. The shrink wrap is still on, but the plastic is scratched in one area and broken in another, with matching corner damage on the box. The outer sleeve has not been removed, so the inner contents have not been exposed to dust. Because it remains sealed, it has not been tested and is sold as-is, with no returns accepted if the shrink wrap is altered, torn open, or removed. If you collect original IBM PC software and want a sealed, unopened piece from 1987, this is a strong candidate. The limitation is the packaging damage and the fact that you're buying an untested item.
Vintage Apple Macintosh Software Broderbund Print Shop Ensemble Big Box Version
For a Mac-oriented collection, this is desktop publishing software in a big box, in CD format. It supports Apple Mac OS 6, 7, and 8, asks for a minimum of 64 MB RAM and less than 50 MB of hard drive space, and comes in English. It also carries an academic/educational license with unlimited device use, so it suits a classroom or research setting. The trade-off is platform focus: this is an Apple Macintosh release, not an IBM PC program. If your vintage setup matches those Mac OS versions and you want desktop publishing software, this is the more usable choice.
Final choice by use case
Pick the IBM PC DOS 3.30 if your use case is preserving an untouched 1987 IBM release; the package remains unexposed inside damaged shrink wrap, but you accept an as-is, untested item. Pick the Print Shop Ensemble if your use case is running a classic Mac desktop publishing program on CD, especially in an academic or educational setting. With a one-cent listed price difference, the deciding factors are platform, format, and how much packaging wear you can accept.
