Apple’s PowerBooks, iBooks, and MacBooks have come a long way in 25 years.
![The Evolution Of Apple's Laptops, From The Powerbook To The Macbook Pro The Evolution Of Apple's Laptops, From The Powerbook To The Macbook Pro](https://magarticles.magzter.com/articles/7312/202196/58678369a3c6d/The-Evolution-Of-Apples-Laptops-From-The-Powerbook-To-The-Macbook-Pro.jpg)
In a moment of somewhat unexpected nostalgia at its most recent media event, Apple pointed out that it was the 25th anniversary of the PowerBook. (It’s good to know that, 27 years later, Apple still would rather nobody remember the Mac Portable [go.macworld.com/mport].) I’ve been a Mac laptop user since the original PowerBook era. That ancient history is my history. Since 1991, Apple has gone through seven distinct eras when it comes to its laptop strategy and design.
THE CLASSICS: THE 680x0 ERA
The original PowerBooks (and, sure, the Mac Portable) used the Mac’s original processor, the Motorola 680x0 series. The first generation of PowerBooks took the world by storm, which is why it’s their anniversary that Apple noted. I distinctly remember a magazine story attentively describing entertainment-industry executive Barry Diller hobnobbing at an L.A. restaurant with his PowerBook on the table in front of him.
My first PowerBook was from this era, though it wasn’t in the original generation, but in the second wave, released in 1992. In the fall of 1992 I was a grad student, and my rationale for buying a PowerBook at The Scholars Workstation—UC Berkeley’s campus computer store—was that I could write stories anywhere, not just on my Mac SE back at my apartment. I got the message that my PowerBook 160 (go. macworld.com/pb160, capable of displaying 16 shades of gray!) had arrived for pickup the day after I went home sick for two weeks with mono. It would’ve been the perfect time to break in my PowerBook…but instead I wrote a bunch of short stories in longhand.
This story is from the Macworld January 2017 edition of Macworld.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the Macworld January 2017 edition of Macworld.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
![LOGITECH POP ICON COMBO: COLORFUL KEYBOARD AND MOUSE WITH REALLY SMART FUNCTIONS LOGITECH POP ICON COMBO: COLORFUL KEYBOARD AND MOUSE WITH REALLY SMART FUNCTIONS](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/7312/1961632/IqZOaZT7T1737701573548/LOGITECH-POP-ICON-COMBO-COLORFUL-KEYBOARD-AND-MOUSE-WITH-REALLY-SMART-FUNCTIONS.jpg)
LOGITECH POP ICON COMBO: COLORFUL KEYBOARD AND MOUSE WITH REALLY SMART FUNCTIONS
Logitech has launched the new POP Icon keyboard with a matching POP mouse. The two devices are available as a combo set or individually.
![The M4 Macs prove that Apple should steal from itself more The M4 Macs prove that Apple should steal from itself more](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/7312/1961632/nuCX__2JT1737701289711/THE-M4-MACS-PROVE-THAT-APPLE-SHOULD-STEAL-FROM-ITSELF-MORE.jpg)
The M4 Macs prove that Apple should steal from itself more
Steal from the best.
![Wavlink Thunderbolt 4 Triple Display Docking Station: Affordable dock for two displays Wavlink Thunderbolt 4 Triple Display Docking Station: Affordable dock for two displays](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/7312/1961632/N5xVnPG5C1737702932265/WAVLINK-THUNDERBOLT-4-TRIPLE-DISPLAY-DOCKING-STATION-AFFORDABLE-DOCK-FOR-TWO-DISPLAYS.jpg)
Wavlink Thunderbolt 4 Triple Display Docking Station: Affordable dock for two displays
Affordable and fast but supports two rather than three extended displays for Macs.
![16-INCH MACBOOK PRO (M4 PRO) REVIEW: LOCKED IN AND LOADED 16-INCH MACBOOK PRO (M4 PRO) REVIEW: LOCKED IN AND LOADED](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/7312/1961632/FDvNhaRNf1737700068128/16INCH-MACBOOK-PRO-M4-PRO-REVIEW-LOCKED-IN-AND-LOADED.jpg)
16-INCH MACBOOK PRO (M4 PRO) REVIEW: LOCKED IN AND LOADED
APPLE'S LAPTOP GETS GREAT UPGRADES TOMAKE IT A BETTER WORKSTATION.
![The Apple Car is dead. Where does that leave Apple's auto ambitions? The Apple Car is dead. Where does that leave Apple's auto ambitions?](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/7312/1961632/c0wJBt_wB1737702671989/THE-APPLE-CAR-IS-DEAD-WHERE-DOES-THAT-LEAVE-APPLES-AUTO-AMBITIONS.jpg)
The Apple Car is dead. Where does that leave Apple's auto ambitions?
What remains of the Apple Car pipe dream? We examine the legacy of Apple's doomed Project Titan.
![iPad mini (A17 Pro): A little faster, a little 'smarter' iPad mini (A17 Pro): A little faster, a little 'smarter'](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/7312/1961632/XkEqfy8e_1737701961582/IPAD-MINI-A17-PRO-A-LITTLE-FASTER-A-LITTLE-SMARTER.jpg)
iPad mini (A17 Pro): A little faster, a little 'smarter'
Update brings new chip brings support for Apple’s AI feature set...and not much else.
![I love my desktop Mac, but I've decided to switch-here's why I love my desktop Mac, but I've decided to switch-here's why](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/7312/1961632/aCAkBygpn1737701166153/I-LOVE-MY-DESKTOP-MAC-BUT-IVE-DECIDED-TO-SWITCHHERES-WHY.jpg)
I love my desktop Mac, but I've decided to switch-here's why
Being a Mac laptop user in the Apple silicon era is better than it was in the Intel years.
![Bowers & Wilkins Pi8: Great sound at a mid-range price Bowers & Wilkins Pi8: Great sound at a mid-range price](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/7312/1961632/aAPsGglWv1737702693717/BOWERS-WILKINS-PI8-GREAT-SOUND-AT-A-MIDRANGE-PRICE.jpg)
Bowers & Wilkins Pi8: Great sound at a mid-range price
B&W's noise-cancelling earbuds go head-to-head with Apple's AirPods Pro.
![Six ways Apple Intelligence levels up with iOS 18.2 and macOS 15.2 Six ways Apple Intelligence levels up with iOS 18.2 and macOS 15.2](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/7312/1961632/y0RgPnxr_1737702008239/SIX-WAYS-APPLE-INTELLIGENCE-LEVELS-UP-WITH-IOS-182-AND-MACOS-152.jpg)
Six ways Apple Intelligence levels up with iOS 18.2 and macOS 15.2
The latest tranche of AI features is a massive upgrade.
![REVIEW: M4 iMAC THIS MIGHT BE THE BEST iMAC EVER REVIEW: M4 iMAC THIS MIGHT BE THE BEST iMAC EVER](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/7312/1961632/Apy-MCaH71737699821828/REVIEW-M4-IMAC-THIS-MIGHT-BE-THE-BEST-IMAC-EVER.jpg)
REVIEW: M4 iMAC THIS MIGHT BE THE BEST iMAC EVER
A FASTER CHIP, MORE RAM, A BETTER CAMERA, AND A CHANGE IN PORTS MAKE THE M4 iMAC THE BEST BUY IT'S EVER BEEN.