PowerBook Review
The PowerBook, a line of laptops by Apple, Inc., was manufactured from 1991- 2006. There were six different models developed in the PowerBook line—the PowerBook 100 series, PowerBook Duo, PowerPC, PowerBook G3 and PowerBook G4. For years, the G4 was seen as being the premium laptop computer manufactured by Macintosh.
Over the years, the Mac PowerBook, which was geared towards the professional market, received numerous awards. These included the 2001 Gold Industrial Design Excellence Award and the 2005 Laptop of the Year Award from Engadget. In 2006, the PowerBook and iBook models were discontinued and replaced by the popular MacBook line.
1991 marked the beginning for the PowerBook as Apple introduced the PowerBook 100, PowerBook 140 and PowerBook 170. The 100 was the least powerful and most basic of the three, while the 170 was the top-of-the line. The PowerBook Duo was introduced the following year. This particular version of the PowerBook was a laptop with minimum features that could also be used like a desktop at a docking station. The docking station gave this lightweight computer more video memory, extra storage and an expanded series of connectors.
In 1994, the PowerBook 500 series premiered. More streamlined, fashionable and powerful than the 100 series, is was the first computer to utilize a trackpad and the first portable to provide Ethernet networking capability. The next year, Apple introduced the PowerPC.
The first PowerPC was the PowerBook 5300. Many consider the early PowerPCs, those manufactured from 1995-1996, to be the least desirable of all Apple laptops. But from 1996- 1997, the company rebounded by offering three new models—the low-end PowerBook 1400, the medium-range PowerBook 2400 and the top-flight PowerBook 3400. The 1400 and 3400 were the first laptops to include an internal CD drive. This was yet another Apple innovation that would become standard in all laptops.
Late in 1997, the PowerBook G3, made its initial appearance. The first G3 series was released in 1998. Their streamlined curves, ebony case and overall sophisticated look quickly made them fashionable and chic. There were numerous models with various features, different capacities and a range of speeds. Every G3 included dual drives—floppy, hard and/or CD/DVD-ROM.
The top of the line, which was offered in numerous models, was the PowerBook G4. The G4, which debuted in January 2001, included a titanium cover, a 15.4-inch widescreen display and the powerful G4 processor. Lighter and drawing less power than any other laptop, the G4 became the hallmark computer for many in the entertainment field.
From 2003- 2005, Apple introduced numerous G4s, including in 2003 a 17-inch and a 12.1-inch model. The former was the largest-screen portable ever made and the latter, which was a notebook model, had the smallest-screen ever. Both were housed in anodized aluminum bodies, could burn DVDs, offered AirPort Extreme networking, provided Bluetooth capabilities, and had LCD displays. The large model included a keyboard that was fiber optic-lit; this feature would become standard in all 15- and 17-inch Powerbooks. Over the years, the G4 was upgraded numerous times with richer graphic capabilities, faster processing speeds and more memory.
Although discontinued, the PowerBook, especially the G4, is still one of the most sought after used mac laptops. Versatile, professional and stylishly tasteful, the PowerBook by Macintosh is a contemporary classic that is still able to do the job and a wide variety of used powerbooks can easily be found by searching http://usedmacdeals.com/.
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