chris wrote:
>> Just out of interest, can a Mac TV output PAL video and operate off
>> 230V (UK
>> mains voltage)? I'd love to get one (and get it to do something
>> useful), but
>> they don't seem to have appeared in the UK market yet.
>> OTOH, I *do* have a VCR that can operate as an NTSC->PAL converter...
>
> I can't say for 100% sure, but I would say that most likely, yes, it
> will work.
>
> Most Mac's could handle dual power IIRC (either auto detecting, or
> via a switch on the power supply), and Apple's other TV Tuner cards
> can input NTSC, PAL, and SECAM, you just select which one you want in
> a preference for the TV Viewer application. So I would guess the
> MacTV will do it as well. You will need a connector to convert from a
> screw on F connector, to a PAL connector, but that should be easy to
> come by.
I know for a fact that I could kludge one with some co-ax cable and a few
connectors.
> But, a note, you ask can it OUTPUT PAL, if you really mean output,
> like use the tuner in the MacTV, and run it to a VCR or another TV,
> then the answer may be no, as I don't think the MacTV output
> anything. You connected the antenna or cable to the Mac, and watched
> TV directly on the Mac screen. You could toggle between TV viewing or
> Mac (and IIRC, watch TV in a 1/4 size screen on the Mac desktop as
> well). But all viewing was done directly on the Mac itself.
D'Oh! I thought the Mac TV was a stripped-down Mac with AV in and AV out, in
fact I recall seeing something on a website somewhere about a prototype Mac
similar to what I have described. It was all-black with a plastic front
panel and a metal top cover, not too unlike a Grundig GDS100 "SkyDigibox"
digital satellite receiver. IIRC the machine was a Mac with custom boot
ROMs, so it wouldn't run Mac OS. IIRC the hardware was near totally custom,
too so swapping out bootROMs was not really an option. Oh, and the ROMs were
on SIMMs. Again, IIRC...
I'd still like a Mac though - Quadra, Powermac, whatever - I've seen my
friend's grey G4 (?) Tower running Photoshop at lightning speed and now I
want a Mac.. Anything that will run System 7.5.3 (with updates) and is
capable of driving a SuperVGA monitor will be fine. Hell, I don't even care
if I have to strip the thing to bits to replace the PRAM battery - it all
adds to the learning experience :-)
Later.
--
Phil.
philpem_at_dsl.pipex.com
http://www.philpem.dsl.pipex.com/
Received on Thu Jan 16 2003 - 11:07:00 GMT