PowerBook Duo · The Beige Era · 1992
PowerBook Duo 210
The Duo 210 stripped ports away to become tiny, then gained desktop expansion through a dock: an idea far ahead of USB-C docks.
First dockable PowerBook Duo subnotebook.
PowerBook Duo 250 (1993)
PowerBook Duo 210: key facts
When was the PowerBook Duo 210 released?
The PowerBook Duo 210 arrived in October 1992. Apple discontinued it in October 1993.
How much did the PowerBook Duo 210 cost?
The PowerBook Duo 210 launched at $2,250 in 1992, about $5,085 in today’s money (approximate, US CPI).
What specs stand out?
Key specs: Motorola 68030 at 25 MHz, 4 MB RAM, 80 MB storage, 9.1" passive-matrix monochrome display.
Why does the PowerBook Duo 210 matter?
First dockable PowerBook Duo subnotebook.
Full specifications
| CPU | Motorola 68030 · 25 MHz |
|---|---|
| Cores | 1 |
| Memory (RAM) | 4 MB (up to 24 MB) |
| Storage | 80 MB |
| Display | 9.1" passive-matrix monochrome |
| GPU | Integrated / NuBus video |
| Ports | Duo dock connector, modem |
| Weight | Varies by configuration |
| Dimensions | Subnotebook dockable laptop |
| Operating system | System 7 |
| Released | October 1992 |
| Discontinued | October 1993 |
| Launch price | $2,250 |
How the PowerBook Duo 210 compares to today
A 16 GB Apple Silicon MacBook Pro has about 4,100× 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 20 modern phone photos.
Launched at $2,250 in 1992, about $5,085 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 Duo models
Open the PowerBook Duo 210 in the interactive archive →
Last updated: 2026-08-11