PowerBook · The Beige Era · 1991
PowerBook 100
The PowerBook reinvented the laptop by moving the keyboard back to make room for palm rests and a centred trackball. The template every laptop still copies.
Defined the modern laptop layout: keyboard back, palm rests and pointer up front.
PowerBook 160 (1992)
PowerBook 100: key facts
When was the PowerBook 100 released?
The PowerBook 100 arrived in October 1991. Apple discontinued it in September 1992.
How much did the PowerBook 100 cost?
The PowerBook 100 launched at $2,500 in 1991, about $5,850 in today’s money (approximate, US CPI).
What specs stand out?
Key specs: Motorola 68000 at 16 MHz, 2 MB RAM, 20 MB storage, 9" passive-matrix monochrome, 640×400 display.
Why does the PowerBook 100 matter?
Defined the modern laptop layout: keyboard back, palm rests and pointer up front.
Full specifications
| CPU | Motorola 68000 · 16 MHz |
|---|---|
| Cores | 1 |
| Memory (RAM) | 2 MB (up to 8 MB) |
| Storage | 20 MB |
| Display | 9" passive-matrix monochrome, 640×400 |
| GPU | Bitmapped framebuffer |
| Ports | SCSI, ADB, serial |
| Weight | 2.3 kg |
| Dimensions | Clamshell laptop |
| Operating system | System 7.0.1 |
| Released | October 1991 |
| Discontinued | September 1992 |
| Launch price | $2,500 |
How the PowerBook 100 compares to today
A 16 GB Apple Silicon MacBook Pro has about 8,190× more memory than this device shipped with.
At 16 MHz, the clock is roughly 200× slower than a single performance core of a 16 GB Apple Silicon MacBook Pro, and that is before counting cores, width and IPC.
All of this storage holds about 5 modern phone photos.
Launched at $2,500 in 1991, about $5,850 in today’s money (approx., US CPI).
Method note: clock comparisons use frequency only; price conversions use US CPI.
Sources
Specs checked against Apple technical specifications archive, EveryMac, Mactracker, Wikimedia Commons image credits.
Did you know?
The compact 100 was built for Apple by Sony.
Related PowerBook models
Open the PowerBook 100 in the interactive archive →
Last updated: 2026-08-11