Macintosh TV
 | |
| Macintosh TV (photo: Ben Boldt, public domain) | |
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Apple Computer, Inc. |
| Type | All-in-one personal computer with TV tuner |
| Released | October 25, 1993 |
| Discontinued | 1994 or 1995 (sources differ) |
| Intro price | US$2,079 |
| Units sold | 10,000 (Low End Mac) |
| CPU | Motorola 68030 at 32 MHz (16 MHz bus) |
| Memory | 4 MB on board, one 72-pin SIMM slot, 8 MB maximum |
| Storage | 160 MB SCSI hard drive; AppleCD 300i double-speed CD-ROM; 1.4 MB SuperDrive |
| Display | 14-inch Trinitron (13-inch viewable), 640 × 480, 512K VRAM (8-bit) |
| Sound | Stereo output, mono input; 11 or 22 kHz |
| Dimensions | 17.9 × 13.5 × 16.5 in (45.5 × 34.4 × 42.0 cm) |
| Weight | 41.5 lb (18.9 kg) |
| OS / Firmware | System 7.1 (with Enabler 404) to Mac OS 7.6.1 |
| Codename | LD50 |
| Model no. | M1580 |
The Macintosh TV is an all-in-one Macintosh with a built-in cable-ready NTSC television tuner, introduced by Apple on October 25, 1993 at US$2,079.[1] It uses the case of the Macintosh LC 520 in black, with a black keyboard and mouse, and was the first black desktop Macintosh sold in North America.[1][2] Its 14-inch Trinitron tube switches between the computer display and television; the TV picture fills the whole screen, so the machine cannot show television in a window while it is being used as a computer. Software can capture a single TV frame as a PICT file.[2] Low End Mac records that it was marketed only through consumer electronics channels.[2] Low End Mac and Recap-a-Mac give its production as 10,000 units.[2][3] EveryMac gives the discontinuation date as February 1, 1995; Low End Mac gives April 1994.[1][2] Its code name was LD50.[4]
Architecture and processor
[edit | edit source]The Macintosh TV uses a Motorola 68030 at 32 MHz with its built-in memory management unit.[5] The data bus runs at 16 MHz, and Low End Mac rates the machine about 15 % slower than the 25 MHz Macintosh LC III and LC 520. It was the last desktop Macintosh with a 68030.[2] ROM is 1 MB.[5] EveryMac gives the Gestalt ID as 88.[1]
Apple's Service Source lists a "socket for optional math coprocessor".[5] Low End Mac says the machine has no FPU, "not even as an option",[2] and no FPU socket is visible on the logic board in Recap-a-Mac's photograph.[3]
Memory and storage
[edit | edit source]Apple specifies 4 MB of RAM on the logic board, expandable to 8 MB through one 72-pin SIMM connector, with SIMMs of 100 ns or faster.[5] EveryMac and Low End Mac give the shipping configuration as 5 MB, which is the 4 MB on board plus a 1 MB SIMM; the slot takes a 1 MB or 4 MB SIMM.[1][2]
Standard drives are a 3.5-inch 160 MB internal SCSI hard drive, an internal AppleCD 300i double-speed CD-ROM drive and a 1.4 MB Apple SuperDrive.[5] Apple's Service Source describes three chassis harness assemblies, which differ in the floppy drive (auto-inject or manual-inject SuperDrive) and CD-ROM drive they support.[5]
Display, video and television
[edit | edit source]The display is a 14-inch diagonal Trinitron with a 13-inch viewable area, 0.26 mm aperture grille pitch and high-contrast glass, running at 640 × 480 and 70 dpi. The 512K of VRAM is on the logic board and gives up to 256 colours.[5] Low End Mac notes that television is displayed in 16-bit colour while computer graphics are limited to 8-bit.[2] The tuner supports NTSC only.[2]
The tuner is an assembly mounted on the logic board, held by a twisted mounting tab. An infrared receiver behind the front bezel takes the remote control.[5] It was the first Macintosh to ship with a remote.[2] The logic board carries RCA jacks for video and audio input from a VCR, camcorder or games console.[4][3]
Sound
[edit | edit source]Apple lists a stereo sound-output port, a monaural sound-input port and a front stereo headphone jack, with recording and playback at 11 or 22 kHz through two built-in speakers. The CD-ROM drive plays and records audio CDs.[5]
Input/output and expansion
[edit | edit source]Ports are two RS-232/RS-422 serial ports (mini DIN-8), one SCSI port (DB-25, up to six external devices) and two ADB ports (mini DIN-4, 500 mA maximum in total, three devices recommended), plus the TV aerial input.[5] There are no expansion slots: the Macintosh TV is the only machine in the 500 series without a processor-direct slot, which gave way to the tuner.[2]
Logic board and service parts
[edit | edit source]| Item | Number | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Logic board (Apple service part) | 661-1724 | Service Source exploded view[5] |
| Logic board (bare board marking) | 820-0357-03 | Recap-a-Mac photograph[3] |
| ROM chips | 341-0931 and 341-0932 | Recap-a-Mac photograph[3] |
| TV tuner board (bare board marking) | 820-0513-03 | Recap-a-Mac photograph[3] |
| Analog board | 661-0872 | Service Source exploded view[5] |
| CRT | 661-1666 | Service Source exploded view[5] |
The CRT, fan, drives, harness and drive adapters are the same Apple part numbers as in the LC 520, 550 and 575; the logic board, analog board and black plastics are specific to the Macintosh TV. See Macintosh TV General Maintenance#Parts shared with the LC 520, 550 and 575.
Apple rates the power supply at 100–240 V AC, 47–63 Hz, 120 W maximum. The PRAM battery is a lithium cell; Apple's test is to replace it below 3.0 V.[5] EveryMac and Low End Mac give it as a 3.6 V half-AA.[1][2]
Software
[edit | edit source]System 7.1 with System Enabler 404 is the minimum.[2] EveryMac lists System 7.1 to 7.5.1 and 7.5.3 to Mac OS 7.6.1 as supported; 7.5.2 is not.[1]
Service documentation
[edit | edit source]Apple's Macintosh TV Service Source is hosted here: see Macintosh TV Service Source. It covers specifications, symptom charts, take-apart procedures (including the tuner assembly and infrared receiver), battery verification, and geometry, video, convergence and yoke adjustments. It has no schematics or component values.[5]
General maintenance
[edit | edit source]Cleaning, the PRAM battery, adjustments and the parts shared with the LC 520 family are on Macintosh TV General Maintenance.
Capacitor replacement guide
[edit | edit source]The logic board has five surface-mount electrolytics and the tuner board twelve; values are on Macintosh TV Capacitor Replacement Guide.
Troubleshooting
[edit | edit source]Apple's symptom charts and the faults particular to this machine are on Macintosh TV Troubleshooting.
Related pages
[edit | edit source]- Macintosh TV General Maintenance
- Macintosh TV Troubleshooting
- Macintosh TV Capacitor Replacement Guide
- Macintosh TV Service Source
- Macintosh LC 520
- Macintosh LC 550
- CRT Discharge Procedure
References
[edit | edit source]- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Macintosh TV Specs, EveryMac.com—link(accessed 2026-09-30)
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 Mac TV, Low End Mac, 1993-10-25—link(accessed 2026-09-30)
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 Macintosh TV, Recap-a-Mac—link(accessed 2026-09-30)
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Macintosh TV, The Apple Museum—link(accessed 2026-09-30)
- ↑ 5.00 5.01 5.02 5.03 5.04 5.05 5.06 5.07 5.08 5.09 5.10 5.11 5.12 5.13 5.14 Apple Computer, Macintosh TV Service Source (139 pp.), hosted here as File:Macintosh_tv.pdf (see Macintosh TV Service Source). Specifications pp. 1–10; Take Apart, Logic Board, Tuner Assembly and Chassis Harness Assembly; Additional Procedures, Battery Verification; Exploded View.