Jump to content

PowerBook 100

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

PowerBook 100
PowerBook 100
DeveloperApple Computer
ManufacturerSony
Product family
PowerBook (100 series)
TypeLaptop
ReleasedOctober 21, 1991; 34 years ago (1991-10-21)[1]
Introductory price
US$2,500 (equivalent to $5,900 in 2025)
DiscontinuedSeptember 3, 1992; 33 years ago (1992-09-03)[1]
System 6.0.8L/7.0.1–7.5.5[2][1]
CPUMotorola 68000 @ 16 MHz[1]
Memory2 MB RAM[1]
Display9-inch, 640×400 monochrome passive matrix LCD
Dimensions1.8 × 11 × 8.5 in (46 × 279 × 216 mm)
Weight5.1 lb (2.3 kg)
PredecessorMacintosh Portable
SuccessorPowerBook 145
PowerBook Duo series
RelatedPowerBook 140
PowerBook 170

The PowerBook 100 is a laptop computer designed and manufactured by Sony for Apple Computer and introduced on October 21, 1991, at the COMDEX computer expo in Las Vegas, Nevada.[3] Priced at US$2,500 (equivalent to $5,900 in 2025),[4] it was the entry-level model in the original PowerBook line, below the mid-range PowerBook 140 and high-end PowerBook 170. The PowerBook 100 reused much of the architecture from its predecessor, the Macintosh Portable, including its 16 MHz Motorola 68000 processor, but packaged the hardware in a substantially smaller enclosure. To further reduce its size and weight, it omitted an internal floppy disk drive in favor of an external drive. Like the other original PowerBook models, it placed the trackball in front of the keyboard, creating a palm-rest area. This arrangement was later adopted by many notebook computers.

Apple discontinued the model on September 3, 1992, replacing it with the PowerBook 145 as its entry-level notebook, while the PowerBook Duo line became its subcompact offering. In 2005, Mobile PC magazine ranked the PowerBook 100 the "#1 gadget of all time", and in 2006, PC World ranked it the tenth-greatest PC of all time.

History

[edit]

From 1990, John Sculley, then CEO of Apple, oversaw product development personally to ensure that Apple released new computers to market more quickly. His new strategy was to increase market share by lowering prices and releasing more "hit" products. This strategy contributed to the commercial success of the low-end Macintosh Classic and Macintosh LC, desktop computers released by Apple in 1990. Sculley wanted to replicate the success of these products with Apple's new PowerBook line.[5]

Sculley began the project in 1990 and wanted the PowerBook to be released within one year. The project had three managers: John Medica, who managed engineering for the new laptop; Randy Battat, who was the vice president for product marketing; and Neil Selvin, who headed the marketing effort.[5] In 1991, the two leaders in the laptop computer industry were Toshiba and Compaq, both of which had introduced models weighing less than 8 lb (3.63 kg).[5] Medica, Battat, and Selvin deliberately designed the PowerBook to weigh less than its competitors.[5]

In 1991, notebook computers were the fastest-growing segment of the DOS PC market, accounting for 13 percent of sales and growing more rapidly than desktop systems. 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.[3][6]

Sculley allocated a $1 million (equivalent to $2.4 million in 2025) marketing budget to the PowerBook product line, in contrast to the $25 million (equivalent to $59 million in 2025) used to market the Macintosh Classic.[5] Medica, Battat, and Selvin used most of the money to produce and air a television commercial that viewers would remember. Advertising agency Chiat/Day filmed retired Los Angeles Lakers basketball star Kareem Abdul-Jabbar sitting uncomfortably in a small airline coach seat yet typing comfortably on his PowerBook. The ad caption read: "At least his hands are comfortable."[5]

Both the promotional campaign and the product itself were successful. Apple set a target of selling over 200,000 units of the PowerBook within the first year, with peak demand anticipated in the initial three months following its release.[7] By January 1992, Apple had already sold more than 100,000 PowerBooks, a milestone that was reached despite the product facing shortages in supply.[8] Apple soon solved the supply problems, and the proceeds from PowerBook sales reached $1 billion in the first year after launch. Apple surpassed Toshiba and Compaq as the market leader in worldwide share of portable computer shipments.[9] The PowerBook 100, 140, and 170 contributed greatly to Apple's financial success in 1992.[10] At the end of the financial year, Apple announced its highest figures yet: $7.1 billion in revenues and an increase in global market share from 8% to 8.5%, the highest it had been in four years.[10]

The PowerBook 100 proved to be the least popular of the three models, with customers were willing to pay more for the extra features offered on the 140 and 170 models.[11] In early 1992, Apple started offering a PowerBook 100 without the external floppy drive for $2,300 (equivalent to $5,300 in 2025).[4] By August 10, 1992, Apple quietly dropped the PowerBook 100 from its price list but continued to sell existing stock through its own dealers and alternative discount consumer-oriented stores such as Price Club. In these outlets, a configuration featuring 4 MB of RAM, a 40 MB hard drive, and a floppy drive was sold for less than $1,000 (equivalent to $2,300 in 2025), marking a substantial discount from the original list price of the 2 MB/20 MB configuration.[11]

On September 17, 1992, Apple recalled 60,000 PowerBook 100s because of a potential safety problem.[12] It was discovered that an electrical short could lead to the melting of a small hole in the casing. This issue affected three out of the 60,000 notebooks manufactured between October 1991 and March 1992.[12] On the day of the recall, Apple shares closed at $47, down $1.25, but some analysts discounted the recall's importance.[12] In addition, the original power supplies had problems with insulation cracks that could cause a short in a fuse on the motherboard; and the computer was prone to cracks in the power adapter socket on the motherboard, which required a $400 replacement motherboard if the warranty had expired.[13]

Features

[edit]

Most of the PowerBook 100's internal hardware was derived from the Macintosh Portable, including its 16 MHz Motorola 68HC000 processor. In its base configuration, the PowerBook 100 had 2 MB of RAM and a 20 MB hard drive.[4][14] The dimensions of the PowerBook 100 were an improvement over the Portable. It was 8.5 inches (22 cm) deep, 11 inches (28 cm) wide, and 1.8 inches (4.6 cm) high,[1] compared to the Portable, which was 14.83 inches (37.7 cm) deep, 15.25 inches (38.7 cm) wide and 4.05 inches (10.3 cm) high.[15] Another significant difference was the less expensive passive matrix display used instead of the sharper active matrix used on the Portable (and the 170).[14][16] The PowerBook 100 shipped with the System 7.0.1 and supported versions through System 7.5.5. However, unlike the PowerBook 140 and 170, Apple allowed users to downgrade to System 6.0.8L.[17]

The PowerBook 100 included a single RS-422 serial port, whereas most Macintosh models of the period had two, conventionally labeled for printer and networking use but functionally interchangeable.[18] Instead, Apple offered an optional internal 2400 bit/s modem. The single-port design prevented simultaneous use of a directly connected printer and an AppleTalk network or external modem.[19][20][21] Third-party manufacturers offered expansion cards that restored a second serial port by using the internal modem slot.[22] The PowerBook 100 also lacked audio input and video output. Without video output, it could not drive an external display, projector, or television.[4]

The PowerBook 100 used the same Power Manager chip as the Portable, which was responsible for controlling the display's backlight, hard drive spin-down, sleep and wake and battery charging.[23] Unlike the Portable and the other original PowerBook models it also included three 3.5 V backup batteries that preserved the contents of RAM while the main battery was replaced or the computer was temporarily disconnected from power.[16][24] This capability allowed Apple's RAM disk feature to persist after shutdown, reducing hard disk access and startup times, which improved battery life.[25]

The PowerBook 100 was the first PowerBook to incorporate SCSI Disk Mode, allowing it to function as an external hard disk for another Macintosh over SCSI. The feature required proprietary SCSI cables and remained unique to the PowerBook 100 until later PowerBook models added support more than a year later.[16][26]

The PowerBook 100 was available with 63-key US and 64-key ISO QWERTY keyboards.[16] Because the Caps Lock key lacked a mechanical locking mechanism or indicator light, System 7 displayed an on-screen icon (⇪) in the menu bar when Caps Lock was enabled.[16]

Design

[edit]

Apple approached Sony in late 1989 for assistance designing and manufacturing the PowerBook 100, as it lacked sufficient engineering resources to develop the number of products planned for release in 1991.[27]

The PowerBook 100 was designed between September and December 1990. Sony engineers in San Diego and Japan used a basic blueprint from Apple, including a list of chips and other components and the Macintosh Portable's architecture, to miniaturize the design.[28][29] Sony had little experience designing and building personal computers but nonetheless completed the task under 13 months, cancelling other projects and giving the PowerBook 100 top priority. Sony project manager Kihey Yamamoto was allowed by Sony president Norio Ohga to recruit engineers from across the company, and the project was completed.[27]

Meanwhile, the PowerBook 140 and 170 were designed by the Apple Industrial Design Group between March 1990 and February 1991. The PowerBook 100 design benefited from the lessons learned in developing the more powerful models' enclosure and shared styling elements, including an adaptation of Apple's Snow White design language, using a darker gray color scheme and raised ridges in place of the lighter colors and recessed lines found on Apple's desktop products. The ridges provided visual continuity with Apple's product designs and also improved grip on the portable computers.[30]

Robert Brunner, Apple's head of industrial design at the time, said his 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 commonly used by Apple and other computer manufacturers at the time. The centrally positioned trackball allowed use by both left- and right-handed users. Brunner described the design as a personal accessory and said, "It says something about the identity of the person who is carrying it".[31]

The PowerBook 100 was smaller and thinner than the PowerBook 140 and 170, partly because it used an external floppy disk drive. Its reduced enclosure size also led to the use of a smaller trackball, 25 millimeters (0.98 in) compared with 30 mm (1.2 in) on the 140 and 170.[4]

Reception

[edit]

Crystal Waters of Home Office Computing praised the PowerBook 100's "unique, effective design" but was disappointed because the internal modem did not receive faxes, and the 100 had no monitor port.[32] The low-capacity 20 MB hard drive was also criticized. Once a user's core applications had been installed, little room was left for optional programs and documents.[32] Waters concluded: "Having used the 100 constantly in the past few weeks, I know I wouldn't feel cheated by buying it - if only it had a 40MB hard-disk drive option."[32]

PC Week benchmarked the PowerBook 100, measuring it against its predecessor, the Macintosh Portable. The PowerBook 100 took 5.3 seconds to open a Microsoft Word document and 2.5 seconds to save it, while the Portable took 5.4 and 2.6 seconds respectively.[33] PC Week tested the battery life, which delivered 3 hours, 47 minutes of use.[33] Byte magazine's review concluded, "The PowerBook 100 is recommended for word processing and communications tasks; the higher-end products [referencing the PowerBook 140 and 170] offer enough power for complex reports, large spreadsheets and professional graphics."[34] MacWEEK described it as "ideal for writers and others on a tight budget."[35]

PC World named the PowerBook 100 series the 10th-greatest PC of all time in 2006,[36] and in 2005, US magazine Mobile PC chose the PowerBook 100 series as the greatest gadget of all time,[37] ahead of the Sony Walkman and Atari 2600.[38] The PowerBook 100 received multiple awards for its design, including the 1999 IDSA Silver Design of the Decade Award, Form magazine's 1993 Designer's Design Awards, the 1992 ISDA Gold Industrial Design Excellence Award, the 1992 Appliance Manufacturer Excellence in Design award, and the Industry Forum Design 10 Best - Hannover Fair award.[39]

Technical specifications

[edit]

According to Apple, all of these models are obsolete.[a][40]

Model PowerBook 100[1]
Code name Elwood, Jake, O'Shanter & Bess, Asahi, Classic, Derringer, Rosebud,[41] and Sapporo[30]
Model M1506
Gestalt ID 24
Order number M0567 M1045
CPU Motorola 68000 @ 16 MHz
ROM 256 KB
RAM 2 MB (expandable to 8 MB), 100 ns SIMMs
Display 9-inch (23 cm) monochrome passive matrix (FSTN) backlit LCD, 640 × 400 resolution[16]
Storage 20–40 MB SCSI internal hard disk 20–40 MB SCSI internal hard disk
3.5" external SuperDrive
Networking AppleTalk, optional modem
Ports 1 × ADB (keyboard, mouse)
1 × mini-DIN-8 RS-422 serial port (printer/modem, AppleTalk)
1 × HDI-20 (ext. floppy drive)
1 × HDI-30 connector SCSI (ext. hard drive, scanner)
1 × 3.5 mm headphone jack socket
OS System 6.0.8L/7.0.1 – 7.5.5
Expansion 1 × serial modem slot
Audio 8-bit mono 22 kHz
Battery 7.2V sealed lead acid rechargeable battery[33]
3 × 3.5V lithium backup batteries[16]
Dimensions 8.5 in × 11 in × 1.8 in (22 × 28 × 4.6 cm)
5.1 lb (2.31 kg)

Timeline

[edit]
Timeline of portable Macintoshes
Mac transition to Apple siliconiMac ProApple WatchiPadiPhoneMac ProPower Mac G5Power Mac G4Power Mac G3Power MacintoshCompact MacintoshMacBook NeoMacBook Pro (Apple silicon)MacBook Air (Apple silicon)MacBook Air (Apple silicon)MacBook Pro (Apple silicon)MacBook Pro (Apple silicon)MacBook Pro (Apple silicon)MacBook Air (Apple silicon)MacBook Pro (Intel-based)MacBook Pro (Intel-based)MacBook Pro (Intel-based)MacBook Pro (Intel-based)MacBook Air (Intel-based)MacBook Pro (Intel-based)MacBook Pro (Intel-based)12-inch MacBookMacBook Pro (Intel-based)MacBook Air (Intel-based)MacBook Air (Intel-based)MacBook (2006–2012)MacBook Pro (Intel-based)MacBook Pro (Intel-based)MacBook (2006–2012)MacBook Air (Intel-based)MacBook Pro (Intel-based)MacBook Pro (Intel-based)MacBook (2006–2012)PowerBook G4PowerBook G4PowerBook G4iBook G4iBook G4PowerBook G4iBook (white)iBook (white)iBook ClamshelliBook ClamshellPowerBook G3PowerBook G3PowerBook G3PowerBook 3400cPowerBook 1400PowerBook 2400cPowerBook 500 seriesPowerBook 5300PowerBook 190PowerBook DuoPowerBook 500 seriesPowerBook 500 seriesPowerBook 500 seriesPowerBook 500 seriesPowerBook 150PowerBook DuoPowerBook DuoPowerBook 160PowerBook 140PowerBook DuoPowerBook DuoPowerBook 180PowerBook 180PowerBook 160PowerBook 160PowerBook 140PowerBook Duo 230PowerBook Duo 210PowerBook 170PowerBook 140PowerBook 100Macintosh Portable
See also: List of Mac models

See also

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ↑ Apple products that have been discontinued for 7 years and no longer receive hardware support or spare parts

References

[edit]
  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Macintosh PowerBook 100: Technical Specifications". Apple, Inc. July 26, 2017. Retrieved September 21, 2022.
  2. ↑ System 6.0.8L: ReadMe File (8/95), Apple, Inc., August 17, 1995, archived from the original on April 26, 2012, retrieved May 3, 2008
  3. 1 2 New Macs headline in Vegas, MacWEEK, October 22, 1990, p. 2
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Gruman, Galen (December 1991). "Macintosh Powerbooks 100, 140, and 170" (PDF). Macworld: 130. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 15, 2022. Retrieved September 16, 2021.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Carlton, Jim (1997), Apple : the inside story of intrigue, egomania, and business blunders (1st ed.), Times Business/Random House, pp. 181–190, ISBN 0812928512, OCLC 36759868, retrieved June 24, 2019
  6. ↑ Gruman, Galen (December 1991). "Macintosh PowerBooks 100, 140, and 170". MacWorld. pp. 130–139. Retrieved July 15, 2026.
  7. ↑ Gore, Andrew (September 24, 1991), Fall product line on track, but PowerBooks could be scarce, MacWEEK, p. 2
  8. ↑ Pollack, Andrew (January 17, 1992), "Apple's Net Is Up 10.3% In Quarter", The New York Times, retrieved May 10, 2008{{citation}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  9. ↑ Carlton, p. 191
  10. 1 2 "And Mac Shipments Rose" (PDF), Macworld, vol. 10, no. 1, p. 25, January 1993, archived from the original (PDF) on September 15, 2022, retrieved August 15, 2022 – via VintageApple.org
  11. 1 2 Said, Carolyn (August 17, 1992), PowerBook 100 slips off U.S. price list. (Apple's Macintosh PowerBook 100 notebook computer), Macworld, retrieved June 4, 2008{{citation}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  12. 1 2 3 Fisher, Lawrence M. (September 17, 1992), "60,000 Notebook Computers Are Being Recalled by Apple", The New York Times, retrieved May 10, 2008{{citation}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  13. ↑ Aker, Sharon Zardetto. (1998), The Macintosh bible (7th ed.), Peachpit Press, p. 835, ISBN 0201874830, OCLC 40805555, retrieved June 24, 2019
  14. 1 2 LePage, Rick (October 22, 1991), PowerBooks: price-competitive and technologically brilliant, MacWEEK, p. 54
  15. ↑ "Macintosh Portable: Technical Specifications". Apple, Inc. July 26, 2017. Retrieved September 21, 2022.
  16. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Macintosh PowerBook 100 Developer Note (PDF), Apple, Inc. (Developer Technical Publications), 1991, archived from the original (PDF) on July 21, 2004, retrieved May 10, 2008
  17. ↑ "System 6.0.8L: ReadMe File (8/95)". www.applefool.com. Retrieved July 14, 2026.
  18. ↑ AppleSpec pre November 1997, Apple, Inc., 2008, archived from the original on May 16, 2008, retrieved May 17, 2008
  19. ↑ PowerBook: Internal Modem & Serial Printer Configuration, Apple, Inc., November 21, 1997, archived from the original on April 26, 2012, retrieved May 17, 2008
  20. ↑ PowerBook: Using MacLink Plus With Only One Serial Port (3/95), Apple, Inc., March 31, 1995, archived from the original on April 26, 2012, retrieved May 17, 2008
  21. ↑ PowerBook: Miscellaneous Frequently Asked Questions, Apple, Inc., November 22, 2002, archived from the original on September 4, 2002, retrieved May 17, 2008
  22. ↑ PB Serial Adapter Provides Full Featured Modem Port for Apple PowerBook 150 and PowerBook 100, Sigma Seven Systems Ltd., January 1999, retrieved May 13, 2008{{citation}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  23. ↑ PowerBook 100 through PowerBook 5300: Resetting Power Management Unit (PMU), Apple, Inc., May 26, 2004, archived from the original on March 15, 2008, retrieved May 11, 2008
  24. ↑ PowerBook 100: Backup Battery Life, Apple, Inc., May 16, 1994, archived from the original on April 26, 2012, retrieved May 17, 2008
  25. ↑ PowerBook 100: Creating and Using a RAM Disk(7/93), Apple, Inc., July 7, 1994, archived from the original on April 26, 2012, retrieved May 17, 2008
  26. ↑ PowerBook: Using SCSI Devices, Apple, Inc., September 17, 2007, archived from the original on March 11, 2008, retrieved May 13, 2008
  27. 1 2 Schlender, Brenton R. (November 4, 1991). "Apple's Japanese ally". Fortune. p. 151. Archived from the original on May 27, 2008. Retrieved April 17, 2026.
  28. ↑ Rebello, Kathy (October 28, 1991), Apple gets a little more help from its friends. (possible alliance with Sony), BusinessWeek, p. 132
  29. ↑ Ely, Ed (November 25, 1991), Apple's PowerBook: is it late, or perfectly timed?, The Business Journal Serving Greater Sacramento, p. 19
  30. 1 2 Kunkel, Paul. (1997), AppleDesign : the work of the Apple industrial design group, Graphis Inc, p. 30, ISBN 1888001259, OCLC 37719003, retrieved June 24, 2019
  31. ↑ Lefton, Terry (November 16, 1992), Bob Brunner. (marketing successes) (The Marketers of the Year), Brandweek, p. 28
  32. 1 2 3 Waters, Crystal (February 1992), "Pack a traveling Mac: PowerBook 100 - Hardware Review", Home Office Computing
  33. 1 2 3 Bethoney, Herb (October 21, 1991), Lightweight PowerBooks live up to their name, PC Week, p. 12
  34. ↑ Thompson, Tom (March 1992), Apple reinvents the notebook. (Hardware Review) (Apple Macintosh PowerBook 100, 140, 170), Byte, p. 253
  35. ↑ Ford, Ric (January 6, 1992), Talkin' about a Mac revolution: PowerBooks represent a big change for Mac computing, opening new doors as the first truly mobile Macs, MacWEEK, p. 3
  36. ↑ The 25 Greatest PCs of All Time, PC World, August 11, 2006, retrieved August 9, 2008{{citation}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  37. ↑ "Top 100 Gadgets of All Time", MobilePCMag, archived from the original on September 14, 2017, retrieved August 4, 2005
  38. ↑ "Apple laptop is 'greatest gadget'", BBC News, February 22, 2005, retrieved May 11, 2008{{citation}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  39. ↑ Complete Award Listing (1986–2008), Lunar Design, retrieved May 11, 2008{{citation}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  40. ↑ "Obtaining service for your Apple product after an expired warranty". support.apple.com. March 20, 2023. Retrieved March 23, 2023.
  41. ↑ Linzmayer, Owen W (1999), Apple Confidential (1st Edition), No Starch Press, p. 30, ISBN 1-886411-31-X
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=PowerBook_100&oldid=1364313754"