October 21, 1991: PowerBooks Debut
PowerBooks are a thing of the past, like rotary phones and coal chutes the computers have been surpassed by superior technology. Well, surpassed by a new name anyway, the notebook line is now saddled with the "MacBook" moniker.
The PowerBook idea came along early in the game before the original Mac was released when Steve Jobs was exhorting "Mac in a book in five years." That proved to be an overly optimistic projection. Before PowerBooks could get released the world had to suffer through the poorly received Mac Portable.
When the PowerBooks did finally come out, they were a huge hit. Clinton campaign staffer's most fervent wish was for more PowerBooks and consumers snapped up the higher-end PowerBooks very quickly. Apple's first PowerBooks appeared on this day in 1991.
Source: Apple Confidential 2.0
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Just to be the first to comment. My knowlege of Apple Laptops is limited, but I’ve seen a Powerbook G3 “Wallstreet” Mac Laptop, and there was a lot of the colorful early G4 clamshell Apples, presumabbly from the days of the colorful 15” G4 CRT imacs. Then there were the White G4 iBooks and Aluminium G4 PowerBooks. There never was a G5 laptop (would have been a chared black lap) so G4’s ruled until MacBook Pro’s with Intel Core Duo (32 bit processors) followed by my model, the Macbook (standard not pro). Mine’s white, but with extra cash you could get it in black… just like that Powerbook G3 wallstreet model from way back when…
G3 Powerbook (Wallstreet version):
http://www.lowendmac.com/pb2/g3series.shtml
Wm
IamWm, there were no G4 clamshell iBooks or CRT iMacs, those models were all equipped with the G3 processor. The Powerbook G3 (Wallstreet++) line remains as the sexiest computer ever, produced in a time when general size would still allow for a good keyboard and an organic outer shell. Excellent choice of material too. I regret selling mine.
I stand corrected. Now that I think back, my 15” LCD iMac was G4 and LCD instead of G3 and CRT. A clear change in the product line. They renamed the CRT line to eMac at that time with G4s.
Wm