The Macintosh TV (also known as Mac TV) was Apple Computer's first attempt to integrate a computer and television, based on a Macintosh LC 520 with a cable-ready television tuner. However, the Macintosh desktop and television signal could only be displayed exclusively of one another and could not share the 14" Sony Trinitron screen.[1] However, it could capture still frames to PICT files.
Description[]
The Mac TV came with a small credit card-sized remote control that was also compatible with Sony televisions. It was the first Macintosh to be made in black and came with a custom black keyboard and mouse. Apple would later issue a custom black Macintosh Performa 5420 in markets outside the United States with many of the features of the Mac TV. The Apple 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.
Criticism[]
One of the reasons cited for its failure was its sub-par graphics performance. Combined with this and its crippled 16 MHz bus speed, it made for both a poor computer when compared with Apple's other offerings and an expensive TV, leaving most to opt for separate products.
Included software[]
- System 7.1
- Finder 7.1
- LaserWriter 7.1.2
- CD-ROM (includes Apple CD-ROM, Foreign File Access, Apple Photo Access, etc.)
- Apple Video Player (includes Video Startup extension)
- QuickTime 1.6.1
- Macintosh Drag 'n' Drop
- Sound Manager
- PC Exchange
- TV Setup
- ClarisWorks v2.0
- American Heritage Dictionary
- Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing from The Software Toolworks
CD-ROM Software[]
- Grolier's Multimedia Encyclopedia
- TIME Almanac 1993 from Compact Publishing
- Kodak Photo CD Sampler
- The Software Toolworks World Atlas
- Space Shuttle from Amazing Media
References[]
- ↑ The Macintosh TV was a cul de sac off the road to converged video by Eric Bangeman, Ars Technica. 2013-10-25.
See also[]
- Apple Interactive Television Box (1994-1996), Apple's first effort to develop a set-top box.
- Apple TV (2007-present), Apple's current digital media player and microconsole.
- Mac mini (2005-present), Apple's small desktop computer which added HDMI output in 2010.
- Pioneer MPC-LX200-TV (1996-1997), the only Macintosh clone with television capabilities.
- Pippin (1996-1998), Apple's ill-fated consumer multimedia platform.
External links[]
- Macintosh TV: Technical Specifications at Apple Support
- Apple Macintosh TV Specs at EveryMac
- Apple Macintosh TV at the Computer History Museum
- 1993 Macintosh TV by Kevin Rye at AppleToTheCore (2012-05-11)
- The Macintosh TV: The worst of both worlds by Stephen Hackett at iMore (2015-11-25)
- Mac TV at Low End Mac
- Macintosh TV at Apple-History
- Macintosh TV at The Apple Museum
- Macintosh TV at the Pippin @World & Atmark Wiki
- Macintosh TV at Wikipedia