PowerBook Duo

PowerBook Duo
Apple PowerBook Duo 2300c with standard CD jewel case, for size comparison.

The PowerBook Duo was a line of small subnotebooks manufactured and sold by Apple Computer from 1992 until 1997 as a more compact companion to the PowerBook line. Improving upon the PowerBook 100's portability (its immediate predecessor and Apple's third smallest laptop), the Duo came in seven different models. They were the Duo 210, 230, 250, 270c, 280, 280c, and 2300c, with the 210 and 230 being the earliest, and 2300c being the final incarnation before the entire line was dropped in early 1997.

Weighing in at a mere 4.1 pounds and slightly smaller at 10.9 × 8.5 in (280 × 220 mm) than a sheet of paper, only 1.4" thick, it was the lightest and smallest of all of Apple's PowerBooks of its time. Only the MacBook Air weighs less, though wider and deeper, but considerably thinner making it the second smallest subnotebook overall. The Duo had the most in common with the original MacBook Air which only included one USB 2.0 port, one video port (requiring an adapter) and one speaker port, but no ability for expansion.[1]

The PowerBook Duo line was replaced by the PowerBook 2400, which was slightly larger in size to the Duos, but still only the fifth smallest behind the 12 in (300 mm) PowerBook G4 which succeeded it as fourth smallest. Although both featured much more onboard functionality, they lacked docking capability. Apple presently only offers the MacBook Air in the subnotebook category.

Contents

Features

The Duo line offered an ultraportable design that was light and functional for travel and infinitely expandable via its unique docking connector. However certain compromises were made to achieve this level of portability. The Duo series used an 88% of standard desktop-sized keyboard which was criticized for being difficult to type on. Likewise the trackball was reduced in size from even that used on the PowerBook 100. The only usable port which came standard on the Duo was a dual printer/modem EIA-422 serial port.

There was a slot for an expensive optional built-in 14.4 Express Modem and no provision for built-in Ethernet. This somewhat limited configuration meant the only way to move data in or out of the laptop in a stock configuration without purchasing additional accessories was via a relatively slow AppleTalk connection, which was not practical in the event of hard drive problems. Compensating for these limitations, the initial Duo offering provided for a considerably larger RAM limit of 24 MB (to the 100 series' 14 MB), and a standard 80 MB hard drive (to the 100's 40 MB). The debut year for the duo only offered a passive matrix display on both the mid-level and high-end models. In contrast to the high end of the 100-series line with which the Duos shared the same processors, the PowerBook 170 and 180 with their crisp active matrix displays were both already in great demand over the lower powered models with passive matrix displays. The following year, Apple replaced the earlier models with both an active matrix display and a color active matrix display, the latter becoming the de facto standard of the PowerBook line. The respective Duo models are easily differentiated by their display method and processor. All other features are identical.

Specifications

The 2xx Duos were powered by either Motorola 68030 or 68LC040 processors, ranging from 25-33 MHz. When Apple debuted its next-generation PowerPC processors in 1994, it took nearly two years for the first PowerPC Duo (the 2300c) to debut. The original PowerPC 601, like the original 68040 before it, produced too much heat and consumed too much power for Apple to use in any laptop, but by the end of 1995 the more efficient PowerPC 603e had been developed, which was featured in the Duo 2300c as well as its full size companion, the PowerBook 5300 series. The PowerPC 603e was designed for a 64-bit bus, but was engineered by Apple to run on an older 32-bit bus to maintain compatibility with the Duo Docks. This led to poor system and video performance.

Year Launched Model Processor/Speed RAM (min.-max.) Discontinued Recommended OS
1992 October PowerBook Duo 210 (passive display) 68030 25 MHz 4-24MB October, 1993 System 7.1 Mac OS 7.6.1
October PowerBook Duo 230 (passive display) 68030 33 MHz 4-24MB July, 1994 System 7.1 Mac OS 7.6.1
Year Launched Model Processor/Speed RAM (min.-max.) Discontinued Recommended OS
1993 October PowerBook Duo 250 (active display) 68030 33 MHz 4-24MB May, 1994 System 7.1.1 Mac OS 7.6.1
October PowerBook Duo 270c (active color display) 68030 33 MHz/ 68882 FPU 4-32MB May, 1994 System 7.1.1 Mac OS 7.6.1
Year Launched Model Processor/Speed RAM (min.-max.) Discontinued Recommended OS
1994 April PowerBook Duo 280 (active display) 68LC040 33 MHz 4-40MB November, 1994 System 7.1.1 Mac OS 8.1
April PowerBook Duo 280c (active color display) 68LC040 33 MHz 4-40MB January, 1996 System 7.1.1 Mac OS 8.1
Year Launched Model Processor/Speed RAM (min.-max.) Discontinued Recommended OS
1995 August PowerBook Duo 2300c (active color display) (While a monochrome 2300 was not offered by Apple, a 2300 PowerPC motherboard could be installed in the PowerBook Duo 250 as an upgrade.) PowerPC 603e 100 MHz 8-56MB February, 1997 System 7.5.2 Mac OS 9.1

Docking stations

PowerBook Duos lacked most common ports (featuring only one internal printer/modem serial port and an optional fax/modem card port). In their place was docking ability, accomplished via a unique 156-pin Processor Direct Slot giving the docks full access to the Duo's CPU and data buses. Several dock options were offered by Apple as well as third parties.

Duo Dock

Duo Dock

This was the largest and most expensive dock for the PowerBook Duo and the only form-factor offered exclusively by Apple. Unlike the other docks, or "port replicators" that plugged into the back of other laptops, the Duo Dock pulled the laptop inside the dock's metal and plastic case via an internal sliding mechanism (similar to that of a VHS player). The dock turned the PowerBook Duo into a full-size, AC-powered, fully functional desktop computer with all the standard ports.[1]

Like a desktop computer, the dock could physically support a heavy, high-resolution CRT display on top. The Duo Dock included a floppy drive on the side, two NuBus expansion slots, an optional FPU, level 2 cache, a slot for more VRAM to enable more colors at higher resolutions, and space for a second hard drive.[1] The original Duo Dock was replaced by the Duo Dock II, which added AAUI networking and compatibility with newer color-screen PowerBook Duos. A replacement lid was offered to allow use of the thicker color Duos with the original Duo Dock. The Dock II was followed by the Duo Dock Plus, which was identical to the Duo Dock II, but lacked the FPU and level 2 cache—which were not compatible with the 68LC040-processor Duo 280 and PowerPC-processor Duo 2300c. While the laptop's LCD display obviously could not be opened when inside the dock, additional NuBus video cards could be installed to drive up to three monitors.

Mini Dock

Mini Dock

The Mini Dock was a port expander for the PowerBook Duo and was popularly offered by many third-party manufacturers as well as Apple. When attached, the PowerBook Duo could be plugged into various standard desktop devices including SCSI, ADB, serial, floppy, external speakers, and an external display. This type of dock also allowed the Duo's internal LCD and battery to be used. Third party contributions to the Mini Dock added a variety of specialized custom options including Ethernet capability, NTSC and PAL video ports. The only significant difference between these docks and a full desktop configuration was the lack of custom PDS or NuBus expansion slots, which were included on all standard desktop Macs, a shortfall made up in task specific third party dock offerings.

Micro Dock

Micro Dock

This type of dock was manufactured by both Apple and many third parties, and gave the PowerBook Duo up to three extra ports in a minimal configuration. Examples include floppy, SCSI, video and Ethernet docks, each typically included one ADB port as well. This was the least expensive, and most basic of the docks. This type of dock allowed the Duo's internal LCD to be used as well, and could run on the Duo's internal battery for a reduced amount of time. Popular due to the minimal impact in accessories that must be carried with the Duo, they offered a practical alternative to emergency hard disk and software situations and task specific needs.

Design

The 2300 was the last Apple product to carry any vestige of the Snow White design language, which Apple had been phasing out since 1990. Drawing heavily upon improvements made to the original PowerBook 140 design, the Duo series continues many of the stylistic features of the PowerBook 100, which is approximately equivalent in size and weight. In addition to the Snow White features, the Duo takes the 100's radius curves a step further along both the top of the display as well as the front and sides and which is also heavily mirrored in the various docks.

PenLite

The PenLite was an early tablet PC prototyped by Apple Computer in 1993 around the same time as the Apple Newton. It was not a PDA but rather a complete computer. The project was canceled in 1994 due to the similarity to the Newton.[2]

The Penlite was based on the PowerBook Duo and was meant to be a tablet-style addition, with a stylus as the input device. It was designed to be compatible with PowerBook Duo docks and accessories[3] and ran the normal Mac OS.

Impact

An Apple PowerBook Duo 270c. This model was often seen in the media

One of the most stylish and iconic of the laptops available at the time, the Duo was widely used in advertising, film and television.

  • Sandra Bullock uses it prominently in the movie "The Net" (1995).
  • In the critically acclaimed TV sitcom NewsRadio, Dave Nelson used a PowerBook Duo almost exclusively for the first four seasons, the only exceptions being the first few episodes in which he used a PowerBook 100 series. In the fourth season, PowerBook Duos were also used prominently by Lisa Miller and occasionally by other characters. In the fifth season, all computers on the show were replaced with PowerBook G3s and a first generation iMac.
  • In the early seasons of the popular TV sitcom Friends, Chandler Bing is clearly seen to be using a Macintosh PowerBook Duo.
  • A complete PowerBook Duo system, including Dock, is featured prominently throughout season six of Seinfeld.

Timeline of portable Macintoshes

Mac Pro Power Mac G5 Power Mac G4 Power Macintosh G3 Power Macintosh Compact Macintosh MacBook MacBook MacBook Air iBook G4 iBook G4 iBook (white) iBook (white) iBook PowerBook 2400 PowerBook Duo PowerBook Duo PowerBook Duo PowerBook Duo PowerBook Duo PowerBook Duo PowerBook Duo iPhone 4 iPhone 3GS iPhone 3G iPhone (original) iPad 2 iPad (original) iPod Touch iPod Touch iPod Touch iPod Touch Apple Newton MacBook Pro MacBook Pro MacBook Pro MacBook Pro MacBook Pro Aluminum PowerBook G4 Aluminum PowerBook G4 Aluminum PowerBook G4 PowerBook G4 PowerBook G3 PowerBook 3400 PowerBook G3 PowerBook 1400 PowerBook 5300 PowerBook 190 PowerBook 500 PowerBook 500 PowerBook 500 PowerBook 150 PowerBook 180c PowerBook 165 PowerBook 145b PowerBook 180 PowerBook 165c PowerBook 160 PowerBook 145 PowerBook 170 PowerBook 140 PowerBook 100 Macintosh Portable

See also

References

External links


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • PowerBook Duo — Apple PowerBook Duo 2300c (comparer sa taille à celle du boîtier de cédérom posé à côté). Les PowerBook Duo sont une série d ordinateurs ultra portables commercialisés par Apple entre octobre 1992 et février 1997. L originalité des PowerBook Duo… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Powerbook duo 210 — Date de commercialisation 19 octobre 1992 Prix au lancement 2 250 $ Arrêt de la production 21 octobre 1993 Caractéristiques Processeur Motorola 68030 …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Powerbook duo 2300c — Date de commercialisation 28 août 1995 Prix au lancement 3 700 à 4 700 $ Arrêt de la production 1er février 1997 Caractéristiques Processeur PowerPC 6 …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Powerbook duo 280 — Date de commercialisation 16 mai 1994 Prix au lancement 2 600 $ Arrêt de la production 16 novembre 1994 Caractéristiques Processeur Motorola 68LC040 …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Powerbook duo 280c — Date de commercialisation 16 mai 1994 Prix au lancement 3 7000 $ Arrêt de la production 27 janvier 1996 …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Powerbook duo 230 — Date de commercialisation 19 octobre 1992 Prix au lancement 2 610 $ Arrêt de la production 18 juillet 1994 …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Powerbook duo 250 — Date de commercialisation 21 octobre 1993 Prix au lancement 2 500 $ Arrêt de la production 16 mai 1994 Caractéristiques Processeur Motorola 68030 …   Wikipédia en Français

  • PowerBook Duo 210 — Date de commercialisation 19 octobre 1992 Prix au lancement 2 250 $ Arrêt de la production 21 octobre 1993 Caractéristiques Processeur Motorola 68030 …   Wikipédia en Français

  • PowerBook Duo 2300c — Date de commercialisation 28 août 1995 Prix au lancement 3 700 à 4 700 $ Arrêt de la production 1er février 1997 Caractéristiques Processeur PowerPC 603e …   Wikipédia en Français

  • PowerBook Duo 280c — Date de commercialisation 16 mai 1994 Prix au lancement 3 7000 $ Arrêt de la production 27 janvier 1996 …   Wikipédia en Français

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