Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Which "Vintage" Mac?
- Thread starter carve
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Well, what do you want? There are lots to choose from.
If you want a compact Mac, the Color Classic II is very nice but rare. There are a range of compact (all-in-one) Performas too. The best perfomance will come from a 68040 machine, especially the Quadra line - the fastest are the Quadra 950 (33MHz) and Quadra 840av (40MHz).
If you want a compact Mac, the Color Classic II is very nice but rare. There are a range of compact (all-in-one) Performas too. The best perfomance will come from a 68040 machine, especially the Quadra line - the fastest are the Quadra 950 (33MHz) and Quadra 840av (40MHz).
From that era, that one is also my favorite. Although it'd be even more fun with an XGA LCD and a Mac Mini popped in it.
No. It has a G4 processor, making it the generation after the G3, not before.
Take a look at this site. It's good for window shopping.
On the other hand, the 20th Anniversary Mac *is* pre-G3.... *drool*
Among my old Macs I have a Perfoma 575 - it has a nice sharp display, powerful 33MHz 68LC040 is easy to upgrade and has an internal CD-ROM.
The Color Classic is has much more of the "cute factor" but is also much slower with it's wheezy 16MHz 68030 and has no CD-ROM.
The Color Classic II has a 33 MHz 68030 (with 6882 coprocessor), but not CD-ROM, plus it is rare and commands high-is prices when you can find one.
The Color Classic is has much more of the "cute factor" but is also much slower with it's wheezy 16MHz 68030 and has no CD-ROM.
The Color Classic II has a 33 MHz 68030 (with 6882 coprocessor), but not CD-ROM, plus it is rare and commands high-is prices when you can find one.
What kind of mac is in the picture?
Where can you get the 20th anibersary macs?!? They look REALLY cool! How much do they usually go for?
No. It has a G4 processor, making it the generation after the G3, not before.
Take a look at this site. It's good for window shopping.
On the other hand, the 20th Anniversary Mac *is* pre-G3.... *drool*
Where can you get the 20th anibersary macs?!? They look REALLY cool! How much do they usually go for?
That's the Twentieth Anniversary Macintosh, or TAM.
Basically a modified PowerBook 3400 in a new, slim desktop case that foreshadowed the iMac G5 6 or so years later. At the time the LCD screen in a desktop was pretty awesome. It was also quite expensive. It came with an attractive subwoofer and keyboard with built-n trackpad with real wood accents, as well as that vertical CD-ROM.
Basically a modified PowerBook 3400 in a new, slim desktop case that foreshadowed the iMac G5 6 or so years later. At the time the LCD screen in a desktop was pretty awesome. It was also quite expensive. It came with an attractive subwoofer and keyboard with built-n trackpad with real wood accents, as well as that vertical CD-ROM.
Realisitically, expect to pay $800-$1000 minimum for a working TAM...if you can find one for sale. Some have sold for double or triple that. They show up on ebay occasionally. last year sometime there was a guy selling two TAMs with all their original manuals, packaging etc. - in fact, one was still sealed in the box! I think it went for something like $5000.
You mean besides the TAM? The closest visual comparison is probably the iMac G5 / iMac CD / iMac C2D. You won't get any of those for $150 either, though. Nor are they particularly vintage.
If you want a relatively pretty, elegant, Vintage Mac, have you considered some of the Powerbooks? Like 1400 or 5300?
Nothing else looks remotely like the TAM. I suggest you go to the sites we've linked and look at all the old Macs out there - Pretty much all of the 68k desktops should be available for well under $100, and many of the pre-G3 Power PC desktops are similarly cheap. There are dozens and dozens to chose from. Go have a look.
Yeah, they should be in your budget...there are a handful on eBay, e.g. this one:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Reconditioned-A...oryZ4606QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem
If your looking at Powerbooks consider the 3400 which, as has been mentioned is basically the same as the TAM (in 240Mhz form minus the TV card) it looks like the 5300 but with speakers in the lid. Mine is running OS X Server/Rhapsody with no problems at all. It would make a fast OS 7.6 machine if thats what you chose to run on it though. I would also give a big thumbs up to the 1400, this is one of my favorite Powerbooks. Its much smaller and lighter than all the other Powerbooks (apart from the Duo series) great keyboard, much better than the 3400's very solid construction and a good screen in CS form. The 166Mhz is very usable Mac if you max out the Ram. Mines running OS 8.6 very acceptably, I use it regularly for casual surfing on my wireless network. Personally the 5300 is one of my least favorite Powerbooks, mine very rarely gets any use.
and you can also get a wirelss card for a PB 1400/3400 surf the internet wirelessly.
I have a PB 1400 and they are cool little machines. If you want a desktop get a powermac 8600/9600! Big cases, but nice and fast and expandable
As well as the 5300, 2400c, 190cs, and 5xx with the PCMCIA cage.
Anyways, here is a list that the OP should consider. If you want the best Mac OS 7 experience, I would suggest something with a PowerPC processor. Since you said "pre-G3" I'm guessing there is a good chance you've been to my web site?