Brilliant or Blunder? The 20th Anniversary Mac - A Love Letter & Restoration - iiiDIY

[@iiidiy]

It's 2024 but DaVinci Resolve still doesn't have spell-check in their titling tool, so... POST YOUR FAVORITE TYPO BELOW! Also, some fun facts that didn't work within my narrative: - The TAM has a boot chime created exclusively for it, no other Mac uses the same chime - I believe that the TAM is the only production Macintosh computer to permanently dual-brand itself, with the BOSE logo prominently featured on the computer and subwoofer. The only other example I can think of is the "Money Magazine" Performa, and that was a sticker.

[@65scribe]

Oooo! 'Money Magazine edition'! Great observation!

[@hellcas300-6]

4:40 I thought I was in the 65scribe channel 😂

[@65scribe]

I'm a bit late, but thanks for the reference. It is so out-of-place with the tone of your video, that it says it's a reference, and that's what you do very well. The visual communication in this video is excellent and I learned a lot. I also really appreciate the effort to make the machine look as good as possible and dwelling on extreme close-ups. Clearly a lot of effort to create visuals that many viewers might not consciously notice. Well done, and keep 'thinking different' with your presentation style.

[@iiidiy]

Thank you, that means a lot coming from my favourite "thinking different" video-maker! I appreciate you taking the time to watch, and relieved you got something out of it, thanks!

[@crismxrtinez]

Insane work man! Congrats for putting so much love and attention on details. Beautiful video.

[@iiidiy]

Thank you so much! Appreciate the kind words :)

[@mac27collection]

Man, your production quality is just superb. Excellent video as always. Glad my guide was helpful for the disassembly, and now having this footage documented is also a great thing for the community. 9:32 - yup, I also discovered that unfortunate fact when disassembling mine. *snap* ... *sigh* Lol. I never want to open that head unit again, having also spent hours troubleshooting a similar electrical issue during the reassembly. You can strike fear into the heart of any tech hobbyist with that dreaded word ... "intermittent"... Glad you were able to track it down in the end.

[@iiidiy]

Thanks again for the amazing guide! Yeah, I took the time to do ALL THE CAPS just so I'd never have to open it again... but then I ripped the flex cable, so I'll be back in there next month :)

[@livefreeprintguns]

12:32 I love the cheeky little quick cut here... smart, lol!

[@allycat7699]

65scribe wompwomp spotted. Another wonderfully shot and edited classic mac melodrama.

[@iiidiy]

🕵‍♂

[@TekTherapy]

You create excellent videos man! Defo deserve much more subs! I will try to share some vids on my social in the future to hopefully get some views your way! Thx again for the great content!

[@iiidiy]

That's very kind of you to say, thank you!!

[@TekTherapy]

@@iiidiy My pleasure ☺

[@AlanGrassia]

Excellent video and I'm glad I was able to see this machine in person at VCF East! I enjoyed the comment about being held together by tape. That was nuts!!

[@iiidiy]

Thanks Alan! So much hidden tape behind that screen at VCF ;)

[@theghit]

Honestly, I felt in love with the first iMac, but I must admit I've always been interested by the TAM. Great video, thanks !

[@iiidiy]

Both super interesting machines! Thanks :)

[@BigBadBench]

Gorgeous video as always! Really nice work on the restoration/repair. That cable looks like a nightmare!

[@iiidiy]

That damnation carries extra weight coming from you, the king of crazy soldering!

[@EricsEdgeVideos]

So well produced! I'm jelly. Decapitation is my favorite technique.

[@iiidiy]

Thanks Eric! And yeah, I'm doing much less damage with this method. I just don't have the coordination for hot air :)

[@EricsEdgeVideos]

@@iiidiy I don't have a hot air station. I tried the other methods with less success. I've yet to detach a pad decapitating.

[@bradkane]

Glorious！Thanks for such detailed restoration video.

[@oldtraveltrunk]

Amazing video quality, really enjoyed watching this one!

[@iiidiy]

Thank you!

[@DavidStahlOLDHAPPyMACs]

I had a Tam Loved It sold it after I upgraded the heck out of it I never had the buzzing audio Great Video

[@iiidiy]

That's awesome Dave! Got lucky on the buzz :)

[@InitialiseDisk]

Using a laptop's keyboard on a desktop is one of the laziest things I have ever seen done by Apple lmao. Fantastic video as always.

[@iiidiy]

To be fair... it's compact and from a reasonable era of laptop keyboards, so aside from the asinine arrow layout, it's really not that bad! One might argue that the $9k asking price could afford some tailored solutions though ;)

[@transitengineer]

Well, what is great about the TAM is that internally it is, just a 5400 (all-in-one)/6400 (tower) motherboard. So, many of its cool features are the same for example: floppy drive, CD-ROM, video card, TV/FM radio card with its matching black remote control. As for the keyboard during daily usage, I would have swapped out the laptop keyboard and used an Apple "black" keyboard and mouse which, was sold with some of their All-in-One 5400 computer systems (smile...smile).

[@InitialiseDisk]

@@iiidiy sorry that’s what i meant. the idea isn’t bad but they probably should have made something less generic.

[@corbinq27]

Nice 65Scribe reference!

[@iiidiy]

So happy someone got it! :)

[@dave4shmups]

Great video and work on this TAM! I had no idea that there were upgrade kits released for it after the price dropped. Or that it appeared in anything other then Batman And Robin.

[@VGl0dXM]

very cool video, you have my respect.

[@iiidiy]

Thanks, SKELETOR.

[@Realaudiosith]

Great job on this system.

[@WhiteGreenFox]

I reckon that Flex cable could be recreated easily in an EDA if the exact dimensions and pad pitch were measured (and of course if the cable was disconnected from both sides) If you still want help with it I could give it a go. Great video, love the style!

[@iiidiy]

Designing a replica cable is beyond me at the moment, so thank you for the offer! I do have a couple possible fixes that I want to try before going down that road, but have a few other projects needing my attention first :) Happy to ping you when I get back around to the TAM!

[@seshmaru]

I loved this video, very well made!

[@iiidiy]

Thank you!

[@joseisenbahn]

Oh god the keynote presentation is … I can’t describe it 😳

[@iiidiy]

Yeah… It’s indescribably awful…

[@FabriccioDelaMora]

amazing work!

[@iiidiy]

Thanks!

[@livefreeprintguns]

The algorithm dropped me on this video, and I'm not even 1 minute in but I had to ask: did you film that intro yourself with the lighting and everything?

[@iiidiy]

Yup! One light, one camera, one guy :)

[@livefreeprintguns]

@@iiidiy I just finished the video... what a rollercoaster ride! Definitely getting a subscribe from me. May I ask what font you used for the text?

[@iiidiy]

@@livefreeprintguns Welcome to the club! :) The text is Gill Sans

[@transitengineer]

In 2004, I really wanted to get a used TAM but the prices were still to high (for a desktop with 1997 technology). During the 2000's, I added to my collection a used All-in-One 5500 desktop and added an internal Apple video card system, an internal Apple TV/FM card system with its matching "black" remote control, plus a G3 processor upgrade card. So, while my system does not have the nice looks of a TAM but, it does have the same capability (smile...smile).

[@iiidiy]

Awesome! Was it the black “directors edition”?

[@jammi__]

You could've used your sponsor PCBWay to make a new flex cable for the CDROM, one that's maybe just a little bit longer for easier assembly.

[@iiidiy]

This didn't fit into the video narrative, but I was doing this restoration under a tight deadline for the VCF East show in April. I had to work with what I had on-hand to repair the damage, whereas the design & build of a custom cable will take quite a while. I also have interest in repairing before re-making, so am trying a couple other options first... BUT that's a great idea, and I'll be pursuing a recreation cable with PCBWay soon if these don't work out! :)

[@THEtechknight]

Glad that nightmare is over given everything you had to go through! That reminds me, I need to pull the sub apart on mine and fix the dead PSU, not really looking forward to the BPD involved in doing so.

[@iiidiy]

Get a fresh bottle of super glue! :)

[@ConnerWithAnE_]

What liquid do you use in the ultra sonic cleaner?

[@iiidiy]

Mostly distilled water with some "Flux-Off Aqueous" electronics cleaner

[@redphantom000]

What tool are you using to cut the caps? They look sleeker than traditional wire cutters….

[@iiidiy]

Those are called "flush cutters" or "wire flush cutter" - much more narrow nose for getting into tight spaces, and as the name implies, the cutting edge is flush to one side for more precise cuts

[@JeffGeerling]

Note to self: never tear a flex cable.

[@iiidiy]

Yeah... at least not the extremely rare ones from 26 years ago... The ones in your Pi 5 NAS would be fine ;)

[@JeffGeerling]

@@iiidiy Well... you can't buy that adapter (from Pi 5 FFC to the display connector) yet separately, so it is slightly limited. But not nearly as much as the one in your CD-ROM, yikes!

[@JeffGeerling]

Thinking on this further-since the cable seems relatively simple-would you be able to manufacture a replacement with PCBWay or JLCPCB? I know a few folks with KiCAD skills could probably translate a few measurements and a picture into something resembling the cable's layout. Something to consider if finding a 600i never pans out!

[@iiidiy]

@@JeffGeerling Yes, I hadn't thought of that... got another comment suggesting and it makes sense, but I don't have the skills to draw that up. I'd be starting at zero :) I did find a 600i, so will attempt the internals swap in a couple weeks... and also got some tips on better flex soldering technique to try... Amazing to have that KiCAD option as a safety, thank you! I'll ping you if / when it gets there! :)

[@JeffGeerling]

@@iiidiy Definitely! I hope to get into KiCAD this year or next, I have a couple simple PCB designs I want to work on-and a flex cable with simple routing (no weird things like impedance matched pairs like modern cables need) might be a good project to start with!

[@theaustralianconundrum]

This was Apple at it's most desperate attention seeking. I recall using one at the time and it got absolutely smoked by my 9500/200. I do have some later showstoppers in my collection including the iMac G4 and the G4 Cube. Even today these are still usable for many current tasks. The TAM is as useful as a 9500/200. Nice video.

[@iiidiy]

Wow, the 9500 was such a beast in the day! Thanks for sharing!

[@theaustralianconundrum]

@@iiidiy LOL. Indeed. I still have one of the dual processor models 180×2 604e's from memory as I thought a certain program would run better with it but turned out not well optimized so it just went back in it's box. Probably ran for 3 hours. Now I see people asking crazy money for them? None of my Macs have a single mark or blemish on them and none have yellowed as they were used either inside our server room with almost no external lighting or now sitting in a pitch black store room at home.

[@wirikidor]

This was an excellent video. I regret I only have one subscribe and one like to give.

[@domaind9019]

4:32 WhOoOops you have to put the CD into your computer

[@joshuah5542]

New flex cable nightmare unlocked

[@iiidiy]

🏆

[@bigalejoshileno]

the ridiculous amount of cables is just proof that by that time they weren't able to design a new motherboard

[@saberpeep]

perhaps consider designing and ordering a new flex from a pcb manufacturing service

[@iiidiy]

That's a good idea! I haven't designed a PCB before, but that's a great fall-back thanks

[@danielktdoranie]

The TAM will run Mac OS X, Linux and NetBSD.

[@TheBasementChannel]

I think this the greatest Mac for being the worst thing to ever come out of Apple. A product version of everything wrong with their thinking immediately pre Jobs 2.0

[@paulgarrett9322]

It wasnt the mac-or any pc that made apple famous it was the ipod and the iphone.

[@westfailia]

torn flat flex... nightmare.... 😱😱😱

[@iiidiy]

😑

[@dragoncracker]

if pcway is your sponsor, why not take advantage of their pcb design services and get a new flex cable made by them?

[@iiidiy]

If exchanging parts from an Apple 600i doesn't work, that's exactly what I'll explore! Someone in the comments has kindly offered to help me through that design process if it comes to that :)

[@Jdvc-yd5tx]

Correct me if I'm wrong but is that Bach? I can always spot Bach even if I can't name the Urtext No. 🎻

[@iiidiy]

It is! Cello Suite No.1 in G Major, BWV 1007 - I. Prelude

[@radutzan]

Thumbs up for OK Computer

[@danielktdoranie]

Doesn't it suck when you're trying to fix something but end up only making it worse? So frustrating.

[@iiidiy]

Damned if you do, damned if you don't!

[@BeamerMT1979]

Wasn’t Jobs gifted one and hated it so much he threw it in the trash?

[@iiidiy]

Yes! The disaster of a keynote where Jobs was gifted one is the last link under "Credits" in the description. I think the rumour is, Steve's TAM was sitting in the backstage trash after the presentation :)