The PowerBook 100 series is a family of portable Macintosh computers produced by Apple Computer. Introduced in October 1991, the series was the first generation of the company's PowerBook line and initially consisted of the entry-level PowerBook 100, mid-range PowerBook 140, and high-end PowerBook 170.

Apple later expanded the series with models including the entry-level PowerBook 145, 145B, 150, and 190; the mid-range PowerBook 160 and 165c; and the high-end PowerBook 180 and 180c.

The original PowerBook models introduced a redesigned portable computer layout that placed the trackball in front of the keyboard, leaving space for palm rests on either side of the pointing device.

Development

Beginning in 1990, Apple chief executive John Sculley personally oversaw development of the PowerBook project as part of a strategy to increase market share through lower-priced computers and faster product development. Following the commercial success of the Macintosh Classic and Macintosh LC, Sculley sought to apply the same approach to Apple's portable computers.

Sculley began the PowerBook project in 1990 with the goal of releasing the product within one year. John Medica managed engineering for the new laptop, Randy Battat led product marketing, and Neil Selvin headed the marketing effort. At the time, Toshiba and Compaq were among the leading manufacturers of portable computers, with models weighing less than . Apple's team designed the PowerBook to compete with these systems in size and weight.

Apple approached Sony in late 1989 for assistance designing and manufacturing the entry-level PowerBook 100, as Apple lacked sufficient engineering resources to complete the number of products planned for release in 1991. Sony engineers in San Diego and Japan developed the PowerBook 100 from Apple's specifications, largely based on the architecture of the Macintosh Portable. Sony completed the project in less than 13 months.

The mid-range PowerBook 140, and high-end PowerBook 170 were developed by the Apple Industrial Design Group between March 1990 and February 1991.

In 1991, notebook computers accounted for 13 percent of DOS PC sales and were the fastest-growing segment of the personal computer market. Apple sought to compete in this market by pricing the PowerBook competitively with DOS notebooks and introducing it on October 21, 1991, at the COMDEX computer expo in Las Vegas, a trade show traditionally focused on DOS-based personal computers, alongside two other models: the mid-range PowerBook 140 and high-end PowerBook 170.

Apple allocated a $1 million marketing budget to the PowerBook line. The company used most of the budget for a television advertisement created by Chiat/Day featuring former Los Angeles Lakers player Kareem Abdul-Jabbar using a PowerBook in an airline seat.

The PowerBook line exceeded Apple's sales expectations. The company had targeted sales of more than 200,000 units during the first year, and sold more than 100,000 units by January 1992 despite supply shortages. Revenue from PowerBook sales exceeded $1 billion during the first year after launch, and Apple became the worldwide leader in portable computer shipments.

Successors The original PowerBook 100, 140, and 170 were replaced in 1992 by the PowerBook 145, 160, and 180, respectively. The PowerBook 160 and 180 added video output, allowing connection to external displays, projectors, and televisions, addressing a limitation of the original models. Apple also introduced the PowerBook Duo series in 1992 as a separate line of compact portable computers.

On February 10, 1993, Apple introduced the PowerBook 165c, the first PowerBook with a color display, followed by the high-end PowerBook 180c on June 7 with a better active-matrix color display. Apple also introduced the PowerBook 145B on June 7 as a lower-cost revision of the PowerBook 145.

The PowerBook 500 series was introduced in 1994 as Apple's mid-range and high-end portable computer line, while the PowerBook 100-series continued as an entry-level option with the PowerBook 150, released the same year. The PowerBook 150 was the final model to use the original PowerBook 100-series form factor and was marketed toward consumers and students.

The PowerBook 190, released in 1995, was the final model to use the 100-series designation but differed substantially from earlier models. It used the enclosure design of the PowerBook 5300 and a Motorola 68LC040 processor.

Design

The PowerBook 100-series used an adaptation of Apple's Snow White design language, which had been used on the company's products since 1984. The portable computers used dark gray enclosures and raised ridges to mirror the lighter colors and recessed lines found on Apple's desktop computers. The ridges also improved grip on the portable computers when they were being carried by hand.

Robert Brunner, Apple's head of industrial design at the time, led the team responsible for the PowerBook's enclosure and trackball design. Brunner said the team designed the PowerBook "so it would be as easy to use and carry as a regular book". The dark granite gray color differed from the beige and platinum gray finishes used by many computers of the period.

The centrally positioned trackball allowed the computer to be operated by both left- and right-handed users. The keyboard was positioned toward the rear of the enclosure, leaving space for palm rests on either side of the pointing device. This layout differed from many portable computers of the period, which placed the keyboard closer to the user with unused space behind it.

Reception and legacy

PC World named the PowerBook 100 series the 10th-greatest PC of all time in 2006. In 2005, US magazine Mobile PC named the PowerBook 100 series its choice as the greatest gadget of all time, ahead of the Sony Walkman and Atari 2600. The publication said they made the selection because of its size, ergonomics, and design that "turned notebook computers into mainstream products and ushered in the era of mobile computing." They also called Apple's decision to move the keyboard toward the screen the "greatest and most lasting innovation" for mobile computers as it provided a more natural resting place for the user's wrists.

Technical specifications Listed chronologically, by release date

Models 100 140 170 145 160 180 165c 145B 180c 165 150 190 190cs Timetable Introduced October 21, 1991 August 3, 1992 October 19, 1992 February 10, 1993 June 7, 1993 August 16, 1993 July 18, 1994 August 28, 1995 Discontinued September 3, 1992 August 3, 1992 October 19, 1992 June 7, 1993 August 16, 1993 May 16, 1994 December 13, 1993 July 18, 1994 March 14, 1994 July 18, 1994 October 14, 1995 April 1, 1996 September 1, 1996 Ordering info. Gestalt ID 24 25 21 25/54 34 33 50 54 71 84 115 122 Order number M0567 M0511 M1057 M4630 M4500 M4400 M4990 M1592 M7950 M1641 M2794 M3530 M4073 Model M1506 M5416 M5409 M5409 M4550 M4400 M4490 M5409 M7940 M4440 M2740 M3047 M3047 Performance CPU 68000 68030 68LC040 CPU speed 16 MHz 25 MHz 33 MHz 25 MHz 33 MHz FPU colspan=2 68882 colspan=2 68882 68882 colspan=4 ROM 256 KB 1 MB 2 MB RAM 2 MB 4 MB 2 MB 4 MB Storage Hard drive 20–40 MB SCSI 40–80 MB SCSI 80–160 MB SCSI 40–120 MB SCSI 80–120 MB SCSI 80–160 MB SCSI 80–120 MB SCSI 80–160 MB SCSI 120–250 MB IDE 500 MB IDE Floppy drive External 1.44 MB SuperDrive (optional) 1.44 MB SuperDrive Removable 1.44 MB SuperDrive Display Size Colors Monochrome 16 grays 256 colors Monochrome 256 colors 16 grays 4 grays 16 grays 256 colors Method Passive Active Passive Active Passive Active Passive Passive Resolution 640 × 400 640 × 480 640 × 400 640 × 480 Dimensions Weight Operating systems Original 6.0.8 7.0.1 7.1 7.5.2 Maximum 7.5.5 7.6.1 7.5.5 7.6.1 7.5.5 7.6.1 7.5.5 7.6.1 8.1 Refs

Timeline

References

External links

Apple-History