RetroTechCollection

Macintosh TV

The Macintosh TV was an all-in-one personal computer with integrated television capabilities, released by Apple Computer on October 25, 1993.[1] It was Apple's first attempt at computer-television convergence. The Macintosh TV shared the external chassis design of the Macintosh LC 520 but featured a distinctive black case, making it the first black desktop Macintosh to be sold in North America.[2]

Macintosh TV
Macintosh TV
Specifications
ManufacturerApple Computer, Inc.
TypeAll-in-one Personal Computer
ReleasedOctober 25, 1993
DiscontinuedFebruary 1, 1995
Intro priceUS$2,079
Units sold~10,000
CPUMotorola 68030 @ 32 MHz
Memory5 MB RAM (4 MB soldered + 1 MB SIMM, expandable to 8 MB)
Storage160 MB SCSI hard drive, 2X CD-ROM drive
DisplayBuilt-in 14" Sony Trinitron color CRT (640×480 pixels)
SoundStereo 8-bit, 22 kHz
Dimensions17.9" H × 13.5" W × 16.5" D (45.5 × 34.3 × 41.9 cm)
Weight40.5 lbs (18.4 kg)
OS / FirmwareSystem 7.1 – Mac OS 7.6.1
PredecessorMacintosh LC 520
SuccessorPower Macintosh G3 All-in-One
CodenamePeter Pan, LD50
Model no.M1580

The Macintosh TV was based on a modified Macintosh LC 550 logic board[3] and included a built-in cable-ready TV tuner card that could display NTSC television signals on the 14" Sony Trinitron CRT. However, TV viewing completely took over the screen—users could not watch television in a window while using the computer.[4] The system could capture still frames from television broadcasts as PICT files.

With approximately 10,000 units produced during its short production run, the Macintosh TV is one of the rarest Macintosh models and has become a collector's item.[5]

Architecture and Processor

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The Macintosh TV uses a Motorola 68030 processor running at 32 MHz. Despite the 32 MHz CPU clock, the system bus operates at only 16 MHz, making the Macintosh TV approximately 15% slower than the 25 MHz Macintosh LC III and Macintosh LC 520.[6]

Key processor specifications:

  • CPU: Motorola MC68030 @ 32 MHz
  • FPU: None (no socket available)
  • Bus Speed: 16 MHz
  • Performance: 7.0 MIPS
  • L1 Cache: 256 bytes data + 256 bytes instruction (on-chip)
  • ROM: 1 MB
  • Gestalt ID: 88
  • ROM ID: $067C

The system requires System Enabler 404 when running System 7.1.

Memory and Storage

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RAM Configuration

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The Macintosh TV shipped with 5 MB of RAM (4 MB soldered on the logic board plus a 1 MB SIMM):

  • Soldered RAM: 4 MB
  • SIMM Slot: 1 × 72-pin (accepts 1 MB or 4 MB modules)
  • Maximum RAM: 8 MB
  • RAM Speed: 80 ns minimum

The single expansion slot accepts only 1 MB or 4 MB SIMMs, limiting the maximum configuration to 8 MB total.

Storage Systems

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  • Hard Drive: 160 MB SCSI (internal)
  • Optical Drive: 2× CD-ROM (SCSI, caddy-loading)
  • Floppy Drive: 1.44 MB SuperDrive (manual inject)
  • SCSI Interface: DB-25 external connector

Display and Graphics

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The Macintosh TV features a built-in 14" Sony Trinitron aperture grille CRT:

  • Display Type: Sony Trinitron color CRT
  • Screen Size: 14" diagonal
  • Native Resolution: 640 × 480 pixels
  • VRAM: 512 KB (non-expandable)
  • Color Depth: 8-bit (256 colors) in computer mode
  • TV Display: 16-bit color when in TV mode

The display can show either computer output or television input, but not simultaneously. The TV tuner provides 16-bit color television images, while computer graphics are limited to 8-bit (256 colors).

TV Tuner Functionality

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The Macintosh TV's TV tuner card occupies the space normally used for a Processor Direct Slot (PDS) in LC 500 series machines:

  • Tuner Type: Cable-ready NTSC tuner
  • Input: F-type RF connector (antenna/cable)
  • Additional Inputs: Composite Video-In, Stereo Audio Input (RCA-type)
  • Frame Capture: Single frames can be captured as PICT files
  • Limitations: Cannot display TV in a window; TV mode takes over entire screen

A credit card-sized infrared remote control was included for TV functions and is compatible with Sony televisions.[7]

The TV tuner is compatible only with NTSC broadcast standards used in North America and Japan. PAL and SECAM regions were not supported.

Audio Capabilities

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  • Sound Output: Stereo 8-bit, 22 kHz
  • Speakers: Built-in stereo speakers
  • Audio Output: 3.5mm stereo headphone jack
  • TV Audio Input: RCA stereo jacks for external sources

Input/Output and Expansion

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Port Configuration

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Port Type Function Notes
ADB Mini-DIN-4 Keyboard/Mouse 2 ports (daisy-chain capable)
Serial (Modem) Mini-DIN-8 RS-422/RS-232 Up to 57.6 kbps
Serial (Printer) Mini-DIN-8 RS-422/LocalTalk AppleTalk networking capable
SCSI DB-25 External SCSI Requires termination for external devices
Audio In RCA × 2 Stereo TV Audio Input For external video sources
Video In RCA Composite Video Input For external video sources
RF In F-type Antenna/Cable TV NTSC only
Audio Out 3.5mm jack Headphones/Speakers Stereo output
Remote IR Infrared Remote Control Receiver Front panel

Expansion Limitations

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The Macintosh TV has no expansion slots. The TV tuner card occupies the space normally used for the LC PDS slot found in other LC 500 series machines. This makes the Macintosh TV one of the least expandable Macintosh computers:

  • No PDS slot
  • No Comm Slot
  • No video output
  • Cannot add Ethernet internally
  • Cannot add an FPU

Design and Appearance

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The Macintosh TV is notable for its distinctive black enclosure, making it the first black desktop Macintosh sold in North America (and second only to the Macintosh Portable backlit model globally). The complete package included:

The black color scheme was intended to position the Macintosh TV as a consumer electronics device suitable for the living room rather than a traditional beige computer for the office.

Apple later produced a black Macintosh Performa 5420 for markets outside the United States, incorporating many Macintosh TV concepts with a more capable processor.

General Maintenance

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For detailed maintenance practices including cleaning, PRAM battery management, connector corrosion prevention, and voltage adjustments, refer to the dedicated Macintosh TV General Maintenance page.

PCB Schematics & Service Manual

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The Macintosh TV features three main PCBs: the Logic Board, Analog Board, and TV Tuner Board.

Apple Service Manual

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The Macintosh TV is covered by the Apple Service Source manual for the LC 520/550/575 series, as it shares the same chassis and many components. The official service documentation can be found at LC 520/550/575 Service Source (PDF).

All Apple Service Manuals can be found on the Apple Service Source page.

Capacitor Replacement Guide

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Detailed capacitor replacement guidelines for the logic board and TV tuner board can be found on the Macintosh TV Capacitor Replacement Guide page.

Retrobrite

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The Macintosh TV's black plastic case does not yellow like beige Macintosh computers. However, the case may fade or develop a brownish tint from UV exposure over time. For information on treating yellowed plastics on other vintage Macintosh computers, see the Retrobrite page.

Troubleshooting

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A comprehensive troubleshooting guide addressing power issues, video problems, TV tuner malfunctions, Sad Mac errors, and capacitor-related symptoms is available on the Macintosh TV Troubleshooting page.

Technical Details

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System Architecture at a Glance

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Sub-system Specification (Macintosh TV, October 1993)
CPU Motorola 68030 @ 32 MHz
Bus width 32-bit data • 32-bit address
System Bus 16 MHz
ROM 1 MB
RAM 5 MB standard (expandable to 8 MB)
Video 640 × 480 @ 8-bit (256 colors)
VRAM 512 KB (non-expandable)
Sound 8-bit stereo • 22 kHz
TV Tuner Cable-ready NTSC, 16-bit color display
Disks 1.44 MB floppy, 160 MB HDD, 2× CD-ROM
Ports ADB × 2, Serial × 2, SCSI DB-25, Audio/Video In

Power Specifications

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Power Requirements
Parameter Specification
Input Voltage 90V-264V AC
Frequency 47-63 Hz
Maximum Power 60 Watts
Current Draw 0.5 Amps
BTU per Hour 205.2
PRAM Battery 3.6V lithium (half-AA size)

Operating System Compatibility

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Supported System Software
Version Notes
System 7.1 Requires System Enabler 404
System 7.1.1 (System 7 Pro) Supported
System 7.5 Supported
System 7.5.1 Supported
System 7.5.3 Supported
System 7.5.5 Supported
Mac OS 7.6 Supported
Mac OS 7.6.1 Maximum supported version

Note: Mac OS 7.5.2 is not compatible with the Macintosh TV.

Upgrade Options

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Although Apple provided no official upgrade path, the Macintosh TV chassis is compatible with certain LC 500 series motherboards:

  • Macintosh LC 575 logic board: Provides a 33 MHz 68LC040 processor but removes TV tuner functionality
  • Third-party accelerators: Limited options due to lack of PDS slot

Installing a different logic board eliminates the TV tuner capability, as the tuner card uses the PDS interface.

Known Issues

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  • Limited TV utility: NTSC analog television broadcasts have been discontinued in most regions, rendering the TV tuner largely non-functional for over-the-air reception
  • No expansion: Complete lack of expansion slots limits upgrade options
  • Memory ceiling: 8 MB maximum RAM is restrictive for later System 7 versions
  • Bus speed bottleneck: 16 MHz bus limits the 32 MHz CPU performance
  • Grey CD tray: Aesthetic mismatch with black case
  • TV tuner capacitor leakage: Non-standard capacitor sizes can make sourcing replacements difficult

Trivia

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  • The internal codename "LD50" refers to the medical term for "lethal dose 50%"—the dose of a substance that kills 50% of test subjects[8]
  • The Macintosh TV was marketed exclusively through consumer electronics channels rather than traditional computer retailers
  • It was the last desktop Macintosh to use the 68030 processor
  • The included remote control is compatible with Sony televisions
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Service Documentation

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The official Apple Service Source documentation for this model:

References

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  1. ↑ Mac TV, Low End Mac—link(accessed 2026-02-10)
  2. ↑ Apple Macintosh TV Specs, EveryMac.com—link(accessed 2026-02-10)
  3. ↑ 1993 Macintosh TV, AppleToTheCore—link(accessed 2026-02-10)
  4. ↑ Macintosh TV, Wikipedia—link(accessed 2026-02-10)
  5. ↑ Macintosh Switcher's Guide, Pearson, p. 26}
  6. ↑ Mac TV, Low End Mac—link(accessed 2026-02-10)
  7. ↑ Macintosh TV, Wikipedia—link(accessed 2026-02-10)
  8. ↑ Macintosh TV, The Apple Museum—link(accessed 2026-02-10)
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