In the Fall of 1993, Apple Computer introduced an unusual machine, the Macintosh TV. The machine's case (code named "Hook") was the next iteration of the all-in-one Macintosh, thought this time with all the options: 1.44 MB SuperDrive, 2x CD-ROM drive, stereo speakers, 14" Trinitron display, an built-in microphone. It was created as a Tenth Anniversary Mac, though those plans were canceled, so it was put on a shelf. When the Apple CEO John Sculley said, after he saw the Color Classic, that he wanted a machine with a CD-ROM drive and 14" display, the design model came off the shelf and into production. The machines to use this case design: Performa/LC 520, Macintosh TV, Performa/LC 550, Performa/LC 575 series, and the Performa/LC 580 series.
The Macintosh TV is a strange mix of components and specifications: the IIvx logic board (which had its problems: a 32-bit CPU on a 16-bit board hampered performance) with a 32MHz 68030 CPU, 4-8 MB RAM, the Hook case in black (with matching keyboard and mouse), infrared remote control, 2x caddy loaded CD-ROM drive, auto-inject 1.44 MB SuperDrive, A/V inputs, a cable ready tuner and the 14" display. Notice that this is the only machine in the series to have the infrared remote, and no microphone (see photo below for more). Like all of its brethren, it has brightness controls, headphone jack, power-on LED, and volume controls between the stereo speakers.
The Mac TV has a cable/antenna ready tuner built in, as well as RCA style jacks for left/right audio in, and video in. It has no A/V outputs, nor was the machine a true A/V system: you can not capture video, and the audio is only 8-bit. Stills can be captured from the TV side, however. The system runs System 7.1 with 3 additions: the Mac TV Enabler (#42, I think), a control panel to set the TV options, and a control panel to slow down the 2x CD drive to 1x (for incompatible software at the time). Switching to the TV mode is done via hot keys: hit them once, and you drop into the TV tuner; hit them a second time, and you go to the A/V inputs for the VCR inputs; a third time cycles back to the Mac OS. This could also be done from the remote control, which also controlled the volume, channel, mute, and the audio CD functions of the CD drive. Apple marketed the machine as a second machine for the family room, or a small apartment/dorm room machine.
The Macintosh TV was the only black Macintosh offered by Apple in the US (the 5400 Director's Edition is a black PowerMac 5400, but is was not officially sold in the US, though about 1500 or so were via the gray market). Also, rather surprisingly, the Macintosh TV is also rather rare. It was only sold in electronics stores, not Apple dealers, so only about 230 stores had them. Less that 10,000 are figured to have been produced - in fact, less that the "rare" Twentieth Anniversary Macintosh (by about 1500 units)!
The above machine is stock except it has 8 MB RAM, and the newer style replacement remote control.
Specifications:
Production: October 1993 - March 1994. About 10,00 units produced.
Front of the system showing the Macintosh TV emblem, brightness controls, headphone jack, power-on LED, volume controls.
Rear panels connectors: ADB, ADB, RS-422 printer, RS-422
modem, SCSI, RCA video in, RCA left/right in, F-style cable
TV/antenna in.
Matching black keyboard and
mouse.
Macintosh TV logic board. Note the
large silver TV tuner on the right.
