Apple Computer Inc this week starts test-marketing Mac TV, a hybrid computer-television expected to cost less than $2,000, MacWeek reports. It will be the first Mac to come with a cable-ready tuner soldered on the logic board – and the the first Mac in an all-black case. Similar to the LC 520, the 32MHz 68030-based system will have a built-in 14 Sony Corp Trinitron that doubles as computer screen and television monitor. In place of the microphone mounted above the LC 520’s screen, Mac TV will have an infrared receiver that accepts input from a remote control that will come with the machine, the paper hears. The back of the unit will is expected to include both coaxial and composite inputs for cable, antenna, VCR or laser disk player. On the Mac side, it comes with space for a 160Mb disk and CD300i drive. It has an LC-style processor direct slot, a 32-bit data bus and optional maths co-processor – but the functions will be separate; Mac TV will not be able to capture video movies directly from the tuner. Apple is said to be making only 20,000 MacTVs.
