PowerBook · The Beige Era · 1991
PowerBook 170
The top original PowerBook paired the new laptop layout with a crisp active-matrix screen and 25 MHz 68030.
High-end original PowerBook with an active-matrix display.
PowerBook 160 (1992)
PowerBook 170: key facts
When was the PowerBook 170 released?
The PowerBook 170 arrived in October 1991. Apple discontinued it in October 1992.
How much did the PowerBook 170 cost?
The PowerBook 170 launched at $4,599 in 1991, about $10,762 in today’s money (approximate, US CPI).
What specs stand out?
Key specs: Motorola 68030 at 25 MHz, 2 MB RAM, 40 MB storage, 9.8" active-matrix monochrome display.
Why does the PowerBook 170 matter?
High-end original PowerBook with an active-matrix display.
Full specifications
| CPU | Motorola 68030 · 25 MHz |
|---|---|
| Cores | 1 |
| Memory (RAM) | 2 MB (up to 8 MB) |
| Storage | 40 MB |
| Display | 9.8" active-matrix monochrome |
| GPU | Integrated / NuBus video |
| Ports | SCSI, ADB, serial |
| Weight | Varies by configuration |
| Dimensions | Clamshell laptop |
| Operating system | System 7 |
| Released | October 1991 |
| Discontinued | October 1992 |
| Launch price | $4,599 |
How the PowerBook 170 compares to today
A 16 GB Apple Silicon MacBook Pro has about 8,190× more memory than this device shipped with.
At 25 MHz, the clock is roughly 128× 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 10 modern phone photos.
Launched at $4,599 in 1991, about $10,762 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.
Related PowerBook models
Open the PowerBook 170 in the interactive archive →
Last updated: 2026-08-11