Power Macintosh

Twentieth Anniversary Macintosh

Code Name: Spartacus

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Overview

Details

• introduced May 1997 at $7,499, discontinued
• requires Mac OS 7.6.1 through 9.1 (requires special version of Mac OS 8)
• CPU: 250 MHz PPC 603e
• bus: 50 MHz
• CPU performance: 237, MacBench 4
• RAM: 32 MB (expandable to 128 MB, accepts two 168-pin 5V 60ns or faster EDO or FPM DIMMs)
• VRAM: 2 MB VRAM
• Video: 12.1" 800 x 600 at 8- or 16-bits, ATI 3D RAGE II chip set
• L2 cache: 256 KB, expandable to 1 MB
• hard drive: 2 GB IDE drive
• CD-ROM: 4x
• PCI slots: 1 7" slot
• 1 Comm Slot II, filled with 33.6kbps GeoPort modem
• ADB ports: 1
• DIN-8 GeoPorts: 2
• SCSI: DB-25 connector on back of computer
• upgrade path: none
• dimensions (HxWxD): 17.25"x16.5"x10.0" (43.8x41.9x25.4 cm)
• weight: 14.9 lbs. (6.8 kg)

Online Resources

• Low End Mac's best classic Mac OS deals. Best online prices for System 6, 7.1, 7.5.x, Mac OS 7.6, 8.0, 8.1, 8.5, 9.0, 9.2.2, and other versions.
• Low End Mac's Compleat Guide to Mac OS 9, 2008 edition, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2008.05.12. Declared dead by Steve Jobs 6 years ago, Mac OS 9 remains fast and stable, but Classic software hasn't kept up with Web changes. What Macs support OS 9, where to buy it, and how to update to version 9.2.2.
• The good, the bad, and the ugly of Apple design, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2008.10.15. Apple has produced some beautiful computers and iPods over the years, but also a few of the ugliest and most ungainly computers ever seen.
• The 25 most important Macs, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 2009.02.17. The 25 most significant Macs in the first 25 years of the platform, continued.
• Why you should partition your Mac's hard drive, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 2008.12.11. "At the very least, it makes sense to have a second partition with a bootable version of the Mac OS, so if you have problems with your work partition, you can boot from the 'emergency' partition to run Disk Utility and other diagnostics."
• Attractive and ugly Macs, discontinued MacBook Pro value, and writing with TextEdit, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2008.10.30. Readers weigh in on the good, the bad, and the ugly of Macintosh design over the past 24 years.
• The compressed air keyboard repair, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2008.07.24. If your keyboard isn't working as well as it once did, blasting under the keys with compressed air may be the cure.
• 10 cult Macs adored by collectors, Tamara Keel, Digital Fossils, 2008.05.13. Macs are not only noted for their longevity, but also by the passion which collectors have for some of the most interesting models ever made.
• TAM I Am, James & John, RetroMacCast, 2006.12.25. Looking at the 20th Anniversary Mac, classic Mac scanners, and the MacMania cruise.
• Web browser tips for the classic Mac OS, Nathan Thompson, Embracing Obsolescence, 2006.01.03. Tips on getting the most out of WaMCom, Mozilla, Internet Explorer, iCab, Opera, and WannaBe using the classic Mac OS.
• The best browsers for PowerPC Macs and the classic Mac OS, Nathan Thompson, Embracing Obsolescence, 2005.12.16. Two browsers stand out from the pack: iCab 3 is modern and remains under development, and WaMCom brings Mozilla to older Macs.
• Guide to G3 Accelerators for Level 2 Cache Slot
• Twentieth Anniversary Macintosh, Justin Mayrand
• Twentieth Anniversary Macintosh Upgrades, Mac Speed Zone
• The Twentieth Anniversary Macintosh, Apple Europe
• Twentieth Anniversary Macintosh: Technical Specifications, Apple TIL
• Apple Spec: Twentieth Anniversary Macintosh

Caution

• Steve Wozniak noted on Go2Mac.com that, "A volume over 4 GB will not work in a TAM. It causes what appears to be total death in a short time, like when enough of it gets used."

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