Macintosh TV

Mac_specs|
Introduced=October_1993|MSRP=2097|CPU=Motorola 68030
CPUspeed=32 MHz|OS=System 7.1|RAM=5 MiB, expandable to 8 MiB|RAMtype=80 ns 72-pin SIMM|Discontinued=February 1994distinguish|Apple TV

The Macintosh TV was Apple's first attempt at computer-television integration. It shared the external appearance of the Macintosh LC 500 series, but in black. The Macintosh TV was essentially a Performa 520 that could switch its built-in 14" Sony Trinitron CRT from being a computer display to a cable-ready television. It was incapable of showing television feeds in a desktop window, although it could capture still frames to PICT files. Ironic for a system based around television, one of the reasons cited for its failure was its sub-par (especially for Macs) graphics performance. Combined with this and its crippled 16MHz bus speed, it made for a poor computer compared with Apple's other options and an expensive TV, leaving most to opt for separate products.

It came with a small credit card-sized remote control that was also compatible with Sony televisions (as with most of Apple's remotes Fact|date=May 2008). It was the first Macintosh to be made in black (and the first computer since the "Bell & Howell" Apple II model), and came with a custom black keyboard and mouse. Later Apple would issue a custom black Performa 5420 (the only other black Macintosh offered) in markets outside the United States with many of the features of the Mac TV. The Mac TV tuner card was a popular option for the LC & Performa series.

Only 10,000 were made in the model's short time on the market.

pecifications

* Introduced October 1993, Discontinued February, 1994 [http://apple-history.com/body.php?page=gallery&model=tv&performa=off&sort=date&order=ASC]
* Requires System 7.1 (with Enabler 404) to 7.6.1
* CPU: 32 MHz 68030
* Bus: 16 MHz
* FPU: none
* performance: 7.0 MIPS
* ROM: 1 MiB
* RAM: 5 MiB from factory (4 MiB on motherboard, expandable to 8 MiB using a single 100ns 72-pin SIMM; can use 1 MiB or 4 MiB SIMM)
* video: 512 KiB VRAM; supports 640 x 480 at 8-bits
* L2 cache: none
* hard drive: 160 MB
* CD-ROM: 2x
* ADB ports for keyboard and mouse
* DIN-8 serial ports on back of computer
* DB-25 SCSI connector on back of computer
* Antenna In (F-type RF Connector)
* Composite Video-In, Stereo Audio Input (RCA-type)
* no expansion slots
* size (HxWxD): 17.9" x 13.5" x 16.5"
* weight: 40.5 lb.
* PRAM battery: 3.6V lithium
* Gestalt ID: 88
* addressing: 32-bit
* upgrade path: none

ee also

* Apple Interactive Television Box
* iMac
* Apple TV

External links

* [http://www.apple-history.com/frames/body.php?page=gallery&model=tv Macintosh TV on apple-history.com]
* [http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=112237 Macintosh TV technical specification] at apple.com