24 years later, Twentieth Anniversary Macintosh still serves [Setups]
NETVUE Solar Panel for Bird Feeder Camera only, Type-C Charger, IP65 Waterproof for Outdoors, Continuously Power Supply, 360° Swivel Bracket
25% Off
Solar Panel Charger for Ring Camera, Compatible with Ring Stick Up Cam Battery, Ring Spotlight Cam Battery, Not for Spotlight Plus/Pro, Waterproof, 6W Fast Charging (White)
$19.99 (as of 19:48 GMT +00:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)So what do you do with a TAM now?
The Bose audio figures greatly into how Cbaltz2 utilizes the TAM, besides as a cool historical keepsake. As his posts heading notes, “The speakers still sound excellent!”
Setting up the senior devices, however, was a bit difficult, Cbaltz2 said. Luckily, however, he didnt have to carry out surgical treatment on the frail old TAM.
” I utilized an HDMI to S-Video converter to get video from my iMac into the S-Video port of the TAM,” Cbaltz2 kept in mind. “The Apple TELEVISION Tuner software on Mac OS 8 didnt support complete screen for some factor so I had to utilize a program called BTV View– worked completely! Didnt have to open or customize the old TAM at all!”
A rich persons Mac, circa mid-1997. Image: Benoît Prieur/ Wikimedia Commons
TAMs came loaded with a 2GB hard disk drive, SCSI slots, a 4x CD-ROM optical drive, an Apple floppy Superdrive, a TELEVISION tuner, an FM tuner, a remote control, an S-video input card and a special, 75-key ADB keyboard with leather palm wrests and a trackpad instead of a mouse.
It even had a custom-made Bose audio system with a subwoofer built into the power-supply “base system.”
Starting in March 1997, Apple shipped 11,601 TAMs in five countries to commemorate the at-times-profitable and eventful twenty years given that Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak integrated the business in 1977.
As soon as linked, the modern-day iMac treated the TAM as an audio gamer and a second display.
” Video [goes] out from the iMac utilizing a USB-C to HDMI adapter, then an HDMI to S-Video converter brings the signal into the TAMs initial video and audio inputs,” Cbaltz2 said.
Jobs was, obviously, not with Apple during the TAMs advancement. With Apples acquisition of NeXT at the end of 1996, he would return. Jobs discontinued the preposterous product in March 1998.
Then a tech showcase, now not entirely outdated
The TAM system worked as an innovation display of its time. It worked on a 250 MHz PowerPC 603e processor and featured a 12.1-inch active-matrix LCD that could display approximately 16-bit color at either 800 x 600 or 640 x 480 pixel resolution.
By the time of its release in March 1997, the over-the-top-shelf powerhouse understood as the Twentieth Anniversary Macintosh had actually seen its initial price of $9,000 cut to $7,499, or about $12,000 in todays dollars.
The interesting-but-still-hopelessly unaffordable system– for a time delivered door-to-door and established by tuxedoed concierges– stopped working in the market. It went on to become a collectors item.
These days, a Twentieth Anniversary Macintosh, or TAM, typically sells for around $1,500. Redditor Cbaltz2 kind of scored when he picked one up a while back on eBay for $800. And remarkably, he discovered a great usage for it in the here and now.
This post contains affiliate links. When you utilize our links to buy products, cult of Mac may make a commission. Read our reviews policy.
Who needs tiny-but-awesome Bluetooth components when you can have an unusual piece of Apple history playing your tunes?
Store these products now:
These days, a Twentieth Anniversary Macintosh, or TAM, typically sells for around $1,500. Jobs was, of course, not with Apple during the TAMs advancement.” I utilized an HDMI to S-Video converter to get video from my iMac into the S-Video port of the TAM,” Cbaltz2 kept in mind. “The Apple TV Tuner software application on Mac OS 8 didnt support complete screen for some reason so I had to use a program called BTV View– worked completely! Didnt have to open or modify the old TAM at all!”
If you wish to see your setup included on Cult of Mac, send some high-res pictures to info+setups@cultofmac.com. Please offer a comprehensive list of your equipment. Inform us what you like or do not like about your setup, and fill us in on any unique touches or obstacles.