PowerBook G4 (Titanium, 867MHz, 2002)

The Titanium PowerBook G4 with DVD burning SuperDrive was introduced on November 6, 2002. The laptop had the industry’s first slot-loading SuperDrive optical drive that allowed reading and burning both CDs and DVDs. It included integrated 802.11 wireless networking and the fastest mobile graphics processor until that time (ATI Mobility Radeon 9000). It weighed 5.4 pounds in a 1-inch-thick Titanium enclosure with a widescreen 15.2-inch display.

Apple touted the Titanium PowerBook G4’s speed as equal to or faster than desktop computers of the time:

“Combined with the power of Apple’s UNIX-based Mac OS X version 10.2 ‘Jaguar,’ the new PowerBook G4 runs professional applications including Adobe Photoshop up to 44 percent faster than a 2.2 GHz Pentium 4-based notebook. The fastest PowerBook ever now offers even more incredible 3D graphics performance with the ATI Mobility Radeon 9000 graphics processor featuring up to 64MB of dedicated Double Data Rate (DDR) video SDRAM and advanced capabilities such as programmable pixel and vertex shading for lighting and shadow effects, photorealistic 3D performance and cinematic-quality video.”

This laptop version included a 867MHz G4 processor, 512MB RAM, a 40GB hard drive, 56K modem, and AirPort wireless networking. The Apple model number is A1025. When released, it was “aggressively priced at only $2,299.”

A LoweEndMac review noted that this PowerBook now offered “Closed Lid Mode,” and described the feature:

“TiBooks support ‘lid closed’ (or clamshell) mode, which leaves the built-in display off and dedicates all video RAM to an external display.” The same website indicates that this laptop was also nicknamed the “TiBook,” short for “Titanium PowerBook.”

Sources: Apple (Newsroom), EveryMac, LowEndMac

The Apple Catalog (Spring 1993)

The Apple Catalog opens with the description:

“In this catalog, you’ll read about a lot of tremendously useful products. Products that could change your life. You’ll also read about the way some people really did change their lives—and a lot of other peoples’ lives—in significant ways.”

The Table of Contents includes:

  • Color Classic—Introducing the Macintosh Color Classic computer
  • Color made easy—Scan it, display it, and print it—all in color
  • PowerBook computers—Macintosh power in a notebook size
  • PowerBook accessories—Carrying cases, batteries, rechargers, and more
  • Printers—StyleWriter and ImageWriter printers and accessories
  • Laser printers—Personal LaserWriter NTR and LS printers and accessories
  • Desktop publishing—New tools for the black-and-white publisher
  • Multimedia—Bring full-color video, sound, and animation to your Macintosh screen
  • Disability solutions—Tools for people with disabilities
  • Software—Word processing, drawing, page layout, presentations, and more
  • Learning and communicating—Self-paced training, technical support, and communications software
  • Networks—Networking software and cables
  • Compatibility—How Macintosh works with other systems: AUX, SNA•ps, and MacX
  • Macintosh security—Anti-glare filters, security kits, and system savers
  • Macintosh add-ons—Keyboards, mice, and disk holders
  • Desk accessories—Accents for the well-appointed office
  • Apple wear—Apple clothing and accessories
  • Apple II, too—Products and accessories for Apple II computers
  • The Apple II on Macintosh—Plus a library of useful manuals

The Apple Catalog from Spring 1993 measures 9.125 x 11 inches and is printed in full color on a matte finish paper.

Source: Apple

Apple product poster (July 1993)

This fold-out poster is from July 1993 and lists product names and feature grids of every Apple product available at the time. Its headline reads “Everything you need to know about Apple products” in Apple Garamond, Apple’s corporate font used between 1984 and 2003. Folded, the poster measures 8.5 x 11 inches—but it unfolds into 16 panels to reveal a 34-inch wide x 44-inch long poster (nearly 3 x 4 feet).

The poster is printed on one side and includes the following product categories:

  • Macintosh Computers (25 options)
  • PowerBook Computers (11 options)
  • Displays (9 options)
  • Printers (12 options)
  • Networking
  • Peripherals

The list of devices offered included separate devices with different names and configurations—creating a dizzying array of options for consumers.

I was able to unfold this poster, perhaps for the first time, carefully enough to provide a photo from above that offers high enough resolution to read most of the grids.

The poster is printed on heavy white paper (yellowing slightly with age), primarily with black ink and dark green accents.

Source: Apple

PowerBook G4 (Gigabit, Titanium, 2001)

In January 2001, Steve Jobs announced “the most revolutionary portable computer ever created”—the Titanium PowerBook G4. At the time, this laptop had Apple’s largest display and fastest processor. Apple stated that a “mega-wide display and blazingly fast PowerPC G4 processors make it the ultimate system for portable video editing using Apple’s iMovie…or Apple’s award-winning Final Cut Pro professional video editing, effects, and compositing software.” The display was a 15.2-inch TFT widescreen display.

The PowerBook G4 Titanium was given the unofficial nickname of “TiBook.” This particular PowerBook G4 Titanium model was released in December 2001 and was referred to as the “Gigabit TiBook” referring to its ultra-fast Gigabit (1000BASE-T) ethernet port (an upgrade from the previous model’s 100BASE-T ethernet port).

The PowerBook G4 Gigabit used a 667 MHz PowerPC 7440 G4 processor and was available with 256 MB or 512 MB SDRAM, and 30 GB hard drive. A slot-loading 6X DVD-ROM drive was located below and to the right of the trackpad on the front of the case. Overall, the PowerBook G4 Titanium was 1.1 inches thick, 13.4 inches wide, 9.5 inches deep, and weighed an average of 5.3 pounds.

Along with the original Titanium PowerBook G4, this model was known for its sometimes problematic hinge assembly that resulted in a broken hinge and/or display problems due to the video cable running through the left hinge. These quality issues were resolved in the third “DVI” iteration of this laptop.

Upon release, the design of the Titanium PowerBook G4 was a major departure from previous Apple laptops. Although its “Titanium” moniker referred to its internal chassis, the laptop’s exterior used two shades of silver metal—a design never repeated in an Apple laptop. Its mega-wide screen (at 1152×768 pixels) had a bezel smaller than current pro Mac laptops. Also, this was the first Apple laptop to feature an Apple logo that was “right way up” when the laptop lid was open—a design met with cheers from the Macworld audience when the laptop was first shown on stage.

This PowerBook G4 in my collection functions, but has a major dent in its trackpad and several cosmetic issues due to wear and tear.

Sources: Apple Newsroom, EveryMac, Wikipedia, Macworld

We rewrote the book magazine insert (PowerBook G3, 1998)

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, part of Apple’s print advertising included magazine inserts. These inserts were “mini-magazines” within magazines. They were glued with a pliable rubber cement that could be easily removed.

This early magazine insert example is an advertisement for the Macintosh PowerBook G3 laptop. The images on the front, back, and inside covers are photographed with stunning black backgrounds using shadows and light to reveal interesting aspects of the laptop’s design. The cover reads, “We rewrote the book.”

Open, the 2-panel spread includes the copy: “Presenting the new PowerBook G3. It’s been rethought and reengineered from cover to cover. It’s sleek. It’s intelligent. It’s endlessly adaptable. Oh, and one other thing.”

The insert fully opens to reveal a mini-poster with a white background that shows an open PowerBook G3 with a screen showing a shark with teeth bared and the headline, “It eats Pentium notebooks for lunch.”

The back page lists product specifications with the headers “Good,” “Better,” and “Best” to represent the three configurations available.

Folded, the size of the insert is 7.5 x 10.25 inches. Fully unfolded the mini-poster is 15 x 20.5 inches.

An Overview of Apple Products brochure (1996)

This quad-fold brochure from 1996 is titled “An Overview of Apple Products” with the subtitle “Choosing the system that’s right for you.” The opening 2-panel spread is an overview of the brochure with the headline “Apple Macintosh: Ease-of-use, power, compatibility, and multimedia.”

Fully unfolded, the brochure reveals 4-panel spreads that alternate between a photo featuring a product and overview, followed by a spread with a product specifications grid. The sections include: Macintosh Performa and Power Macintosh Computers, Macintosh PowerBook Computers, Displays and Printers, and Apple Servers and Services.

The end pages of the brochure shift focus to discuss ways to use Apple products. Each category uses a four-panel spread and includes Communications, Multimedia, and Publishing. These last three sections include several Apple peripherals from the time, including the GeoPort Telecom Adapter Kit, the Newton MessagePad 130, AppleCD 600e/600i drives, AppleDesign Powered Speakers II, Apple ColorOne Scanners, and QuickTake 150 digital cameras.

Folded, this brochure measures 3.875 x 8.25 inches. I also have a similar version of this brochure from 1995 with product specifications from that year.

Apple CD and DVD media (2004)

My collection of Apple CD and DVD media includes operating systems, applications, software collections that shipped with devices, promotional media, diagnostic tools, and educational content. In general, Apple-branded CD or DVD examples in original packaging have been presented separately, while single discs or collections of discs are presented chronologically.

Apple CDs and DVDs from 2004 include:

  • Mac OS X Panther Version 10.3 Install Disc 1 (Version 10.3.2, 2Z691-4822-A, 2004)
  • GarageBand Jam Pack Install DVD (Version 1.0, 0Z691-4803-A, 2004)
  • Power Mac G5 Software Install and Restore 1 of 2 (Mac OS version 10.3.2, AHT version 2.1.1, DVD version 1.0, 691-4898-A, 2004)
  • Mac OS X Xcode Tools Install Disc (Requires Mac OS X v10.3 or later, Version 1.1, 691-5062-A, 2004)
  • Software Bundle (603-4916-A, PowerBook Media, 2004)
  • Software Bundle (603-4953-A, iBook G4 Media, 2004)
  • iWork ’05 Install DVD (iWork 1.0, 1Z691-5084-A, 2004)
  • Final Cut Express HD Install (Version 3.0, 0Z691-5199-A, 2004)
  • iLife ’05 Install DVD iPhoto 5, iMovie HD, iDVD 5, GarageBand 2, iTunes 4.7 for systems with a DVD drive (Version 5.0, 2Z691-5171-A) (unopened bundle: 603-6443-A iLife ’05 CPU Mini Drop-In Kit, 2004)
  • Mac OS X Panther, Version 10.3.2, Install Discs 1–3
  • Education Sales Tools, Advocacy Videos, DVD Vol 3
  • Aperture, Install, 1.0, Not for Resale
  • Apple Pro Training, Aperture, DVD Tutorial, Version 1.0
  • iLife ’04 (iTunes 4.2, iPhoto 4, iMovie 4, iDVD 4, GarageBand) Version 4, Install DVD

Apple shipped CD bundles in cardboard envelope packages up until 2003 when they began using clear plastic bags. In 2004, they were using both types of packaging. The examples here show a white cardboard envelope with a light gray Apple logo and a clear plastic software bundle package.

Also note that by 2004 Apple has mostly switched to using the Myriad Apple font for products, but the Apple Garamond font is still appearing in rare situations.

Macintosh PowerBook G3 Series Weight-Saving Device (1999)

This Macintosh PowerBook G3 Series Weight-Saving Device (model 825-4548-A) is the exact size of the battery inside a Macintosh PowerBook G3 Series laptop (333 MHz to 500 MHz “Lombard” and “Pismo” models with bronze keyboards). These PowerBook laptops had two bays, each capable of supporting a device module (i.e., floppy drive, CD-ROM drive) or a battery.

To make the laptop lighter, the device modules and/or batteries could be removed and replaced with this Macintosh PowerBook G3 Series Weight-Saving Device. One was included with each Macintosh PowerBook G3 Series laptop. According to the technical information, the laptop could weight nearly 8 pounds:

“Macintosh PowerBook G3 Series with a 14.1-inch display, battery, internal modem, and CD-ROM expansion bay module: 3.54 kg (7.8 lb.)”

Source: Apple

PowerBook 20X CD-ROM Module (1997)

Beginning in 1995 with the PowerBook 190 and 5300 models, Apple laptops shipped with an expansion bay for both Apple and third-party drives. The drives were “hot-swappable,” meaning that the user could pull out one drive and replace it with another without restarting the laptop.

This PowerBook 20X CD-ROM Module from 1997 works with PowerBook 1400-series laptops.

PowerBook 180c (1993)

The Macintosh PowerBook 180c included a 33 MHz 68030 processor, 4 MB of RAM, either an 80 MB or 160 MB hard drive, and an internal 1.44 MB floppy drive. The “c” in the name indicated that it had an 8.4-inch color active-matrix display capable of displaying 256 colors at 640×480 resolution. This was the first color PowerBook to display a full 640×480 display (previous models displayed 640×400). Due to the upgraded color, the case lid was redesigned (from the PowerBook 180) to accommodate the thicker display.

Aside from the display difference, the PowerBook 180c is nearly identical to the PowerBook 180. The 180c used a trackball and had two rotating feet in the back corners to elevate the keyboard to an angle.

An Apple Developer Note document indicates that the PowerBook 180c and 165c are closely related: “Because the Macintosh PowerBook 180c is identical in most respects to the PowerBook 165c computer, most hardware and software designed for that model will operate without modification on the PowerBook 180c.”

Due to its processing performance and because the PowerBook 180c (and 180) had an external color video port with similar specifications to desktop Macintosh models of the time (e.g., LC III+), it could be connected to an external monitor and replace a desktop computer.

Source: EveryMac, Wikipedia