Macintosh TV
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]
 | |
| 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 |
Architecture and processor
editThe 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
editApple 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
editThe 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
editApple 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
editPorts 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| 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
editSystem 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
editApple'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
editCleaning, the PRAM battery, adjustments and the parts shared with the LC 520 family are on Macintosh TV General Maintenance.
Capacitor replacement guide
editThe logic board has five surface-mount electrolytics and the tuner board twelve; values are on Macintosh TV Capacitor Replacement Guide.
Troubleshooting
editApple's symptom charts and the faults particular to this machine are on Macintosh TV Troubleshooting.
Related pages
editReferences
edit- ↑ 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.