Types of PowerBooks
Before there iMacs and MacBook Pros there was the PowerBook. This was the line of laptops that were made by Apple from 1991 up until the release of the first MacBook in 2006. Like almost all of the products by the company, these devices were unique in their own right and they have left their own mark in the computer industry.
Apple made these computers for 15 years and during that time they came up with several models grouped under several series. If you are not familiar with this line of laptops then we have a list here of the different types of PowerBooks that were made by the company.
100 Series- These were the earliest PowerBooks that were released by Apple. There were initially three models under it. These were the PowerBook 100 which was the low end model, the PowerBook 140 which has more computing power and the high end PowerBook 170. The PowerBook 170 was the only one of the three models that was equipped with a matrix type of display. This first series astonished the market. Their compact design and unique appearance was soon imitated by other manufacturers. The most unique thing about their design was the way that the keyboard was oriented.
PowerBook Duo- A year after the release of the 100 Series, Apple came up with the PowerBook Duo. This device was a hybrid, it was a portable desktop. It can be used like a laptop but then it could be connected with input and output devices including a larger monitor.
500 Series- Apple released the next series of PowerBooks in the form of the 500 series. These devices all used the Motorola 68LC0401. In appearance they were thinner and slicker than the first series and in performance, a lot faster.
PowerPC-Based PowerBooks- The whole 500 series was discontinued when Apple came up with the PowerPC-Based PowerBooks. The company faced a problem however when the model for the series, the PowerBook 5300 showed a lot of problems. That was resolved with the introduction into the market of three more PowerBooks. These are the PowerBook 1400, PowerBook 2400 and the PowerBook 3400 which was considered to be the luxury model of the series.
PowerBook G3- This series was released in 1998 and it became so popular and fashionable. It was released at almost the same time as the G3 iMac.
PowerBook G4- This was the final series for the PowerBook before it was discontinued by Apple. Steve Jobs had a hand in its design and it would sport the first signs of the look that all Apple products would have in the future.