Filed under: Hardware, Cult of Mac, Apple
Remembering Apple's 20th Anniversary Mac
Tomorrow
marks the 30th anniversary of Apple's existence. Since I
haven't seen a whole lot of rumors or speculation as to what awe-inspiring products Apple might launch (if any) in
celebration, I thought it might be a good time to reflect on TAM, Apple's Twentieth Anniversary Mac, of which only
12,000 were made. As a nice tech-related reality check: these 250 MHz powerhouses were introduced in 1997 for a
whopping $7,499.I'm not trying to waste my time on a prediction or stir up commotion. I simply thought it would be neat to reflect on how Apple celebrated their last decade's anniversary. Check out more details, specs and reminiscience of the TAM over at LowEndMac.
![TUAW [Cafepress]](http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/tuaw-cafepress-promo.png)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
pedro said 5:04PM on 3-31-2006
the best thing about the 20th Anniversary Mac was the startup chime. Easily the coolest startup chime of any Mac before or since.
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Colin P said 5:13PM on 3-31-2006
What exactly is the startup chime pedro?
Does ANYONE think that Apple will reveal a 30th anniversary mac tomorrow? I just don't see it happening, but damn would it be neat if they did..
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Jordan said 5:21PM on 3-31-2006
If you wanna hear the startup chime, download an app called the "Mactracker" and you can hear all the startup chimes you were ever curious about!
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Cheese said 5:31PM on 3-31-2006
STILL the coolest machine you can own, the radio/tv integration w/ remote w/ Bose sound...Awesome Still.
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Tom said 6:05PM on 3-31-2006
What? Apple's introducing a Thirtieh Anniversary Mac? That's what TUAW's saying?!
*goes to spread rumour*
;)
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ScottBruin said 6:17PM on 3-31-2006
I especially enjoyed this, from lowendmac.com:
"Although Apple broke the mold after building the TAM, I expect that within a couple years computers will typically ship with a built-in LCD monitor - and the iMac will be a much thinner, lighter machine that we know today."
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Denis Johnson said 6:22PM on 3-31-2006
At min, there will be a new ipod.
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om. said 6:24PM on 3-31-2006
Yeah, and nobody really wanted it.
They weren't able to sell all of them so the price dropped down to less than 1500 $ - at least in Germany.
I know a guy who bought one just two weeks before the price dropped. He was furious, as you can imagine.
Nevertheless it was a pretty sleek machine. I installed it in the guy's house. ;)
om.
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phlavor said 7:51PM on 3-31-2006
.nobody really wanted it.
Everybody wanted it, nobody could afford it and by the time that price drop came around, it was too underpowered to justify even that price compared to the G3s that had hit by then.
Ive all way had a dream of getting my hands on one, gutting it and putting the innards of an iBook in there. Thats the ultimate casemod in my eyes.
Damn, now one of you is going to beat me too it.
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Pedro said 8:24PM on 3-31-2006
Yup, what Jordan said. I should have added that. Mac Tracker has every startup chime. The 20th anniversary chime is keyed higher and delicate. Its not really a BONG, but a series of 3 smaller "pulses". Very neat sounding.
I do wish that Apple would update its startup chime. I was hopeing the intel macs would do that, but alas!
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weeee said 8:43PM on 3-31-2006
I remember that Jerry Seinfeld's apartment on "Seinfeld" had one of these. Then I licked the screen so much that they look the TV away from me. Does he still have it? Is that show still on the air?
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Pick said 8:51PM on 3-31-2006
#3, You forgot to add the URL of Mactracker, the URL is http://www.mactracker.ca/ .
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J said 12:01AM on 4-01-2006
What does "Anniversar" mean?
c'mon....
being.
paid.
to.
write.
just.
proofread.
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ac said 1:37AM on 4-01-2006
I actually loved this mac. I used it as my primary computer from 1998-2001 and it was great. the sound system by bose was especially awesome. everyone who saw it was amazed by its design, and it's really groundbreaking to this day. It's sitting in my garage in its box right now. I still use the leather CD case that it came with. I even still have the gold CD-ROMs that it came with.
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Mark said 4:48AM on 4-01-2006
Why was it released in 1997, shouldn't it be the Twenty-first anniversary mac?
@ zenegra, hmm you got some interesting points.....
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boembajee said 5:02AM on 4-01-2006
Yeah this mac was released a year after the 20th anniversary of apple. I don't think they would necessarely repeat such a delay but it also doesn't garantee they release something right on april 1st...
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