Before I continue listing what’s in my current collection of Apple portables I want to detail what I’m still looking for. As I mentioned in my introduction to this series, I am not seeking one of every portable computer Apple has ever made, just one that personifies each developmental step along the way. The landmark editions, if you will.
So here’s a list of what I’m seeking along with a short description and why I deem them important:
PowerBook 100
PowerBook 100 – Even though it was actually designed and manufactured for Apple by Sony and featured the same processor as the Mac Portable, the PowerBook 100 was Apple’s first truly portable personal computer. In comparison to the 140 and 170 models of the same era the 100 didn’t sell well, and thus isn’t as common to find.
PowerBook 180c
PowerBook 180c – introduced in October of 1993 this was Apple’s first portable with an active matrix color display. The 165c (introduced Feb. 1993) was Apple’s first color PowerBook. The screen on the 180c may be small but it looks 1 million times better than the passive matrix screen of the 165c. Battery life is abysmal. I used one of these for several months and discovered firsthand that the battery was useful to get me from one meeting room to another and not much else.
PowerBook 2400c
PowerBook 2400c – When Apple discontinued the Duo series in February 1997 sub-notebook fans clamored for a replacement. Originally designed for the Japanese market, the 2400c was manufactured for Apple by IBM Japan, and later came to the US. It offered the features of the 3400c (sans floppy or optical drive) in a sleek, black enclosure that weighed 2.5 pounds less. 2400’s aren’t easy to find, though. The 180 MHz 2400c was available for less than a year, and the 240 MHz version (codenamed “Mighty Cat”) was only sold for 9 months in Japan.
Coming next – Apple Portables Collection – What I’m Looking For (PowerPC)
