Get this TAM while its overpriced
- Thread starter phunguss
- Start date
Would *maybe* be worth half that if it had 100% of the original boxes and accessories, etc. But hey, at least it's not one of these units being advertised for literally $20k. LOL
I'm probably going get hit for saying this by TAM fans, but I've never understood the appeal of the TAM. It has a "unique" design to be sure, but not one that I personally find aesthetically pleasing. Beauty really is in the eye of the beholder, of course. Even so, the display is small, the LCD tech back when it was released wasn't that advanced.
Moreover, it isn't fast with only a 250 MHz PPC 603ev processor. Remember that the G4 Cube with its 450MHz G4 wasn't all that speedy, and that's why we Cube owners gleefully upgraded to 1.2GHz and faster CPUs when those upgrades became available. If you watch the video of that TAM on EBAY, the boot time into OS 9.1 is pretty painful. That's why PPC really isn't that fun until you cross the 1GHz threshold. Then it starts to fly quite nicely.
I'm guessing the TAM probably appeals most to audio lovers who are into vintage Macs, as the TAM has a pretty nice sound system that is integrated well into the body of the machine. The boot chime too is especially nice. But as I demonstrate in my recent Long Boot Chimes video, you can now flash the TAM boot chime to a ROM-inator installed in your Macintosh 128K 512K or Plus. There's something magical about flipping the switch on a 128K Mac and hearing the TAM chime!
It's probably a worthwhile machine to have in a large vintage Mac collection, but I myself am certainly not considering one. As that $5,500 asking price on EBAY shows, it's not for the financially faint of heart either.
Moreover, it isn't fast with only a 250 MHz PPC 603ev processor. Remember that the G4 Cube with its 450MHz G4 wasn't all that speedy, and that's why we Cube owners gleefully upgraded to 1.2GHz and faster CPUs when those upgrades became available. If you watch the video of that TAM on EBAY, the boot time into OS 9.1 is pretty painful. That's why PPC really isn't that fun until you cross the 1GHz threshold. Then it starts to fly quite nicely.
I'm guessing the TAM probably appeals most to audio lovers who are into vintage Macs, as the TAM has a pretty nice sound system that is integrated well into the body of the machine. The boot chime too is especially nice. But as I demonstrate in my recent Long Boot Chimes video, you can now flash the TAM boot chime to a ROM-inator installed in your Macintosh 128K 512K or Plus. There's something magical about flipping the switch on a 128K Mac and hearing the TAM chime!
It's probably a worthwhile machine to have in a large vintage Mac collection, but I myself am certainly not considering one. As that $5,500 asking price on EBAY shows, it's not for the financially faint of heart either.
By the way, I spotted a $4,000 TAM on FaceBook with a G3 processor upgrade...
Link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1724146854327686
Link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1724146854327686
Wonder what mine would go for then, given that it has a 500MHz L2, max RAM, buzz-free PSU, CommSlot II NIC. Not that I'd sell it: I got it for a very nice price from a collector who knew it would have a good home.
I agree I get way more wear out of my 7300 and MDD. However, I like the look of the TAM, it doesn't take up a great deal of room on a desk, and the sound system is fabulous. The video input is also nice. One of my recurrent get around tuit tasks is a fast floppy booter so you can just play CDs in it instead of waiting for the whole OS to come up.
I agree I get way more wear out of my 7300 and MDD. However, I like the look of the TAM, it doesn't take up a great deal of room on a desk, and the sound system is fabulous. The video input is also nice. One of my recurrent get around tuit tasks is a fast floppy booter so you can just play CDs in it instead of waiting for the whole OS to come up.
Yeah, for me it has nothing to do with the speed of the machine, how useful it is/was, the screen size, or any practical considerations whatsoever. The keyboard is mushy and terrible, the display has become dim with age, and the plastics are so brittle they snap apart with just an errant glance.
I happen to find it beautiful, but TOTALLY understand how many people think it's hideous or even just "meh". But, more than that - whenever I have people over and show them my collection, do you know which machine they gravitate towards and have the strongest reaction to? The TAM. Every single time. It's just so wildly unique and totally different to any other computer that most people have seen in their lives, myself included. And the rarity, killer sound system, and small form factor help too.
for anyone who doesn't know, this machine is listed for (and will probably realistically fetch) such a high price is because (1) it belongs to the YouTuber "Action Retro" (Sean Malseed), and has been featured on his channel numerous times, and (2) the CPU has actually been *swapped* with a G3. Not upgraded with a Sonnet card, but literally replaced on the motherboard. It is very cool!
That's @Action Retro -- and that's the most legit reason to need to part with one's collection, good on him.
Oh, certainly, Colin. Helping one's mother in need is always paramount. I applaud Sean for making an excellent decision to do that.
But of course, the decision was probably logical too.
When pondering one's vintage Mac collection, it's hard to find a model that sells for as much as a TAM, assuming one doesn't also own a LISA. And in the case of Action Retro, his has a special G3 mod installed too. But for reasons I mentioned earlier, I think that once you own a TAM, you may be enamored with it for a time, and then when it comes time to ponder parting with one Mac in your collection (regardless of reason), the TAM may prove to be a rather painless cut. It can bring in some fast cash, and you probably won't mourn the loss too terribly much. You had your time with it, and that's enough — "Been there. Done that."But for other Macs in the vintage lineup which carry less resale value, I can't help but feel they find a more solid place in our hearts. One reason is that they don't sell for thousands of dollars, so you feel more at ease upgrading, hacking and modding them yourself. Would you do that on a $4k+ TAM? I personally would probably not. It's risky. Yet another reason many of us value "cheaper" Macs is because some of us are old enough that those Macs were our first or second computers we ever owned. Nostalgia and attachment go hand-in-hand. Not sure how many people can say their first computer was a TAM though.
Again, this isn't to slight the TAM or its fan base as much as it is to ponder the machine and it's appeal, and wonder at the often surprising amount of monetary value the market continues to give it. Like Spock, I find this all very FASCINATING.