January 7, 2003: PowerBook Goes Huge

Airport Extreme, an aluminum case, a backlit keyboard, two FireWire ports and a 1 GHZ G4 chip. Sounds like a fairly mundane PowerBook update at first glance, doesn't it? Well it would be except these new features were found on the first laptop ever made with a 17" screen. People fell instantly in love with the desktop replacement machine that with the addition of legs, could actually serve as a desktop.

While users loved the big screen they weren't so enamored with the price. Commanding a whopping $3,299, the 17" PowerBook was one of those ethereal products most people yearn for but few actually ever get around to buying. Apple foresaw this and along with the 17" monster unveiled their smallest and most modestly priced PowerBook: the 12" inch version. The smallest version shared most of its larger brother's traits, save the backlit keyboard and a few megahertz. Priced at only $1799, the 12" PowerBook went on to be the star of Apple's PowerBook lines for years to come.

In a bit of clever marketing, Apple used one commercial to promote both of the new iBooks. The television ad featured 7 ‘ 5" NBA star Yao Ming using a 12" inch PowerBook while seated next to diminutive Vern Troyer, of Austin Powers fame, using the 17" behemoth. People got their first look at the two new additions to the PowerBook line on January 7, 2003.