My goal in collecting portable Apple computers isn’t to have one of every model, just to have one that personifies each major developmental step along the way. I have a nice collection started, but there’s several gaps I want to fill. Read on to find out what’s in the classicmacs.org portable collection already, and what I still scour craigslist and the LEM swap list for.
What’s in the collection so far – part 1
Mac Portable
It stands to reason that any collection of Apple portable computers must include the one that started it all – the Mac Portable. I am fortunate to have one of these in my collection courtesy of a friend whose coworker was more interested in seeing it go to a good home than shopping it on ebay. It even came with the original carrying case. I’ve not had a chance to tackle a restoration, but it’s on my list of things to do.
PowerBook 170
During my first stint working for Apple I worked on the Software Support team, taking technical support calls about System 7. I was jealous of my counterparts on the PowerBook Support team who each were assigned a PowerBook to use at work and at home. The 170 was the first PowerBook with an active matrix screen and the one I have includes the optional built-in modem.
PowerBook 540c
I will always have a special place in my heart for the PowerBook 540c, the stylish retro-modern portable computer codenamed “Blackbird” that stood in such stark contrast to the boxy competitors of its time. The Blackbird was truly revolutionary, the first portable in the industry to include ethernet, a trackpad, stereo speakers, and more. It held two batteries so even with it’s expansive 9.5″ active matrix color display you could use it for hours and hours. The 500 series even had an optional PCMCIA card module (which I have, somewhere) although with built-in modem and ethernet few people found a use for it. Blackbird was the first portable that could truly serve as replacement for a desktop computer.
Not only do I consider Blackbird the sexiest Apple portable made to date, it was also a true workhorse. I had the good fortune to work for an employer who provided me with one and over the course of 2 years it was a reliable and powerful companion that never let me down.
Coming next – more Apple portables from the 90’s in the classicmacs.org collection
