Power Macintosh

Twentieth Anniverary Mac

Twentieth Anniversary Macintosh

Code Name: Spartacus

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The Twentieth Anniversary Macintosh (or TAM) was a radical changefrom existing computers. The slim unit (under 4" deep) uses the samekind of LCD screen usually found in laptops. Stereo speakerssurround it, along with a large subwoofer for really solidbass.

The keyboard is also like that on a PowerBook. It has no numerickeypad, but does include a trackpad. TAM even uses a 2.5" laptop harddrive, the first desktop Mac to do so. (The second was the original Mac mini, introduced in2005.

According to MacSpeedZone,installing a 512 KB level 2 (L2) cache boosts performance by 15%, goingto 1 MB by 27%.

In all, Apple built 12,000 TAMs.

Although Apple broke the mold after building the TAM, I expectthat within a couple years computers will typically ship with abuilt-in LCD monitor - and the iMac will be a much thinner,lighter machine that we know today.

Several TAM users have reported support for 24-bit video using theATI January 2002 retail drivers. Especially see the posting by RudyV. Pancaro on the Twentieth Anniversary Macintosh forum.

Details

introduced 1997.03.20 at $7,499, discontinued 1998.03.14
Part no.:
Gestalt ID: 512
upgrade path:

Mac OS

requires Mac OS 7.6.1 through 9.1 (requires special version ofMac OS 8)

Core System

CPU: 250 MHz PPC 603e
Level 2 cache: 256 KB, expandable to 1 MB
bus: 50 MHz
ROM: 4 MB
RAM: 32 MB (expandable to 128 MB, accepts two 168-pin 5V 60nsor faster EDO or FPM DIMMs)

Performance

CPU performance: 237, MacBench 4

Graphics

GPU: ATI 3D Rage II
VRAM: 2 MB VRAM
Video: 12.1" 800 x 600 at 8- or 16-bit. 24-bit video supportpossible with ATI January 2002 retail drivers noted above, although the displayitself only supports 18-bit output (6 bits per color channel).

Drives

floppy drive: 1.4M
hard drive: 2 GB 2.5" ATA/EIDE drive, 128 GB maximum, newer drivesmay requires a different drive bracket or modification of the originalbracket.
CD-ROM: 4x

Expansion

ADB ports: 1
SCSI: DB-25 connector on back of computer
serial ports: 2 DIN-8 GeoPorts
PCI slots: 1 6.88" slot
other expansion slots: 1 Comm Slot II, filled with 33.6kbps GeoPort modem

Physical

dimensions (HxWxD): 17.25"x16.5"x10.0" (43.8x41.9x25.4 cm)
weight: 14.9 lbs. (6.8 kg)

Online Resources

Upgrading the Twentieth Anniversary Macintosh. Good upgrade advice, although some products are no longer available.
Low End Mac's bestclassic 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'sCompleat Guide to Mac OS 9, 2008 edition, Charles Moore,Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2008.05.12. Declared dead by Steve Jobs 6years ago, Mac OS 9 remains fast and stable, but Classic softwarehasn't kept up with Web changes. What Macs support OS 9, where to buyit, and how to update to version 9.2.2.
The good, the bad,and the ugly of Apple design, Charles Moore, MiscellaneousRamblings, 2008.10.15. Apple has produced some beautiful computers andiPods over the years, but also a few of the ugliest and most ungainlycomputers ever seen.
The 25 mostimportant Macs, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 2009.02.17. The 25 mostsignificant Macs in the first 25 years of the platform, continued.
Why youshould partition your Mac's hard drive, Dan Knight, Mac Musings,2008.12.11. "At the very least, it makes sense to have a secondpartition with a bootable version of the Mac OS, so if you haveproblems 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, CharlesMoore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2008.10.30. Readers weigh in on thegood, the bad, and the ugly of Macintosh design over the past 24years.
The compressed airkeyboard 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 bycollectors, Tamara Keel, Digital Fossils, 2008.05.13. Macs are notonly noted for their longevity, but also by the passion whichcollectors have for some of the most interesting models ever made.
TAM IAm, James & John, RetroMacCast, 2006.12.25. Looking at the20th Anniversary Mac, classic Mac scanners, and the MacManiacruise.
Web browser tips for theclassic 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 MacOS.
The best browsers for PowerPCMacs and the classic Mac OS, Nathan Thompson, EmbracingObsolescence, 2005.12.16. Two browsers stand out from the pack:iCab 3 is modern and remains under development, and WaMCom bringsMozilla to older Macs.
Guide to G3 Accelerators for Level 2Cache Slot
TwentiethAnniversary Macintosh Upgrades, Mac Speed Zone
Twentieth Anniversary Macintosh: Technical Specifications, Apple TIL
Apple Spec: TwentiethAnniversary Macintosh

Caution

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

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