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Apple Macintosh Portable (1989) vs Apple Macintosh Portable (Backlit, 1991)

Every spec side by side, from each maker's published figures.

Better figure, where one is clearly better

AppleMacintosh Portable (1989)AppleMacintosh Portable (Backlit, 1991)
Overview
ReleasedSeptember 19891991
Display
Screen size10″9.8″
Resolution640 × 400640 × 400
TouchscreenNoNo
Display typeOriginal reflective active-matrix monochrome LCD, 640 × 400 pixels and 1-bit colour. User guide gives a 10-inch diagonal, while the developer note gives 9.8 inches; this is the original unlit display, not the later backlit modelBacklit active-matrix monochrome LCD, 640 × 400 pixels and 1-bit colour; 9.8-inch diagonal from EveryMac. Apple’s 1991 developer note confirms adjustable backlighting through its control panel, keyboard sequences and application software; no LCD subtype or native refresh published
Performance
ProcessorMC68HC000 16 MHz (Macintosh Portable)MC68HC000 16 MHz (Macintosh Portable)
CPU cores11
Memory1 MB2 MB or 4 MB
Storage40 MB40 MB
CPUMotorola MC68HC000 CMOS processor at 16 MHz; no floating-point unit, MMU or CPU cache. Separate controllers handle keyboard and power managementCMOS Motorola MC68HC000 at 16 MHz; no floating-point unit, MMU or CPU cache. The 1991 developer note specifies zero-wait-state expansion RAM access and slower timing in idle mode
Memory type1 MB static RAM supplied; original Apple expansion cards give 2 MB or 5 MB total. Later combined support specifications list up to 8 MB; 256 KB ROMPseudostatic RAM replaces the original machine’s SRAM; 2 MB or 4 MB retail configurations with 256 KB ROM. Apple’s developer note describes a keyed 50-pin RAM connector with changed pin assignments and expansion to 8 MB with timing qualifications; original cards are not universally interchangeable
Storage typeBase machine has a 1.44 MB SuperDrive floppy and no fixed drive. Optional internal 40 MB SCSI hard disk or second internal floppy drive; hard-drive configuration shown separately40 MB internal SCSI hard disk and one 1.44 MB FDHD SuperDrive floppy in the new retail configurations, according to contemporary TidBITS coverage and Apple’s March 1991 service guide. The 40 MB configuration is stored as 40/1024 GB for the site’s MB formatter
Battery and size
Weight7.16 kg–
Thickness102.87 mm–
Width × depth387.35 × 365.25 mm–
Battery life detailLead-acid main battery and 9 V backup battery. Apple claims 6–12 hours between charges depending on use and connected peripherals; no fixed headline runtime inferred. Weight is 7.16 kg with Apple hard disk and battery, or 6.25 kg without hard disk; rear closed height is 102.87 mm and front closed height 53.34 mmLead-acid main battery. Contemporary TidBITS coverage gives 3–6 hours with backlighting, not a fixed maker runtime; no headline runtime inferred. Apple’s combined original/backlit support table lists 15.8 lb and closed dimensions of 4.05 × 15.25 × 14.83 inches (height × width × depth); exact revised-model metric figures were not established
ChargerSupplied charger recharges the main battery; the computer continues drawing power from the battery rather than directly from the charger. Recharge is slower during useApple’s March 1991 service guide gives 85–270 V AC, 48–62 Hz and 15 W maximum, while its later combined support table gives 70–270 V and a 5 W figure; these are not treated as interchangeable claims
Connections
Operating systemmacOSmacOS
Port detailOne ADB, DB-19 external floppy, DB-25 SCSI, two Mini-DIN-8 serial ports, external video connector and stereo sound output. No Ethernet or USB. Optional internal 300/1200/2400 bit/s modemOne ADB port, external floppy port, DB-25 SCSI, two RS-232/RS-422 serial ports, stereo sound output, power connector and video output. Apple’s guide also lists optional ROM, RAM and 2400 bit/s modem expansion and a 96-pin processor-direct slot; no Ethernet or USB
External displaysExternal video requires the Macintosh Portable Video Adapter, which Apple's launch release said would become available later; not an included launch accessory–
KeyboardKeyboard and trackball can exchange sides; optional numeric keypad replaces the trackball, requiring an external pointing deviceBuilt-in Macintosh-layout keyboard and 1.3-inch trackball; 18-key numeric keypad can replace the trackball. The keyboard and trackball can be arranged for left-handed use
TrackpadBuilt-in trackball; no trackpadBuilt-in trackball; no trackpad
In the boxOriginal System 6.0.4, HyperCard and documentation; user guide describes a supplied low-power ADB mouse, while the developer note describes it as optional. Apple's US launch release dated 20 September 1989 states immediate availability through authorised dealers and VARs; exact dates in other regions were not established. User guide's metric depth 365.25 mm conflicts with its imperial 14.83-inch figure; metric value retainedExact first-sale day and month unconfirmed. Apple announced order availability on 11 February 1991, according to that day’s TidBITS; July recall coverage says certain adapters began shipping with the backlit model in March. Apple’s June 1991 support article confirms the control panel shipped with new computers, establishing retail delivery during 1991. The announcement is not used as a first-delivery date

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