Collection › Macintosh PowerBook 180

D122 · Apple Heritage Museum · Lugano

Macintosh PowerBook 180

1992 · Mac era PowerBook

Introduced

1992

Original price

$ 4110

Processor

Motorola 68030 (with 68882 FPU co-processor)

Original OS

System 7.1

Max OS

System 7.6.1

1976

1984

1998

2001

2007

2020

2026

Pre-Mac

Mac era

iMac era

iPod era

iPhone era

Silicon

Processor

ProcessorMotorola 68030 (with 68882 FPU co-processor)

Speed33 MHz

Architecture32-bit

Memory & graphics

Standard RAM4 MB

Max RAM14 MB

RAM typePB1xx 85 ns

Memory slots1 (PB1xx)

VRAM512K VRAM

Display9.8" grayscale active-matrix LCD (4-bit, 16 grays)

Resolutions640 x 400 internal; up to 8-bit color on external monitor

Video outExternal video out port (supports 13" to 16" monitor)

Storage

Storage80 MB or 120 MB hard drive; internal 1.44 MB floppy drive

InterfaceSCSI

Connectivity

Audio inSound in port; built-in microphone

Audio outSound out port

ModemModem port; one internal modem expansion slot

SCSIHDI-30 SCSI port

ADBApple Desktop Bus port

SerialPrinter/serial port

Software

Original OSSystem 7.1

Max OSSystem 7.6.1

KeyboardBuilt-in keyboard with trackball

Power

Weight6.8 pounds

BatteryNiCd battery

Identifiers

Model N°M4440

Lifecycle

Introduced1992

Discontinued1994

History

Released in October 1992, the PowerBook 180 replaced the 170 at the top of the line. It featured the same external monitor capability as the more affordable 160, but was faster and included an FPU. The 180 cost $4,110 USD and was discontinued in May 1994. In June 1993 it was joined by the 180c, which included an active-matrix 256-color display (a first for PowerBook) and cost $4,160 USD. The 180c was discontinued in March 1994.

Trivia

• The PowerBook 180 was the top-of-the-line model when it was launched in 1992, costing $4,110 (equivalent to about $8,500 in today's money), and remained on the market for only 19 months. • The PowerBook 180c, introduced in June 1993, was the first Apple laptop to feature an active matrix display with 256 colors, a revolutionary technology for the time. • Despite the 180c model being technically superior and equipped with an innovative display, it cost only $50 more than the standard 180, making it an extraordinary value proposition in terms of quality-to-price ratio.

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