Apple Macintosh Portable (1989) vs Apple Macintosh PowerBook 1400c/117

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

Only show differences

Better figure, where one is clearly better

Share comparison

Macintosh Portable (1989) compared with Macintosh PowerBook 1400c/117

	AppleMacintosh Portable (1989)	AppleMacintosh PowerBook 1400c/117
Overview
Released
Released	September 1989	November 1996
Display
Screen size
Screen size	10″	11.3″
Resolution
Resolution	640 × 400	800 × 600 (better)
Touchscreen
Touchscreen	No	No
Display type
Display type	Original 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 model	11.3-inch CCFL-backlit active-matrix TFT colour LCD with 800 × 600 resolution. Apple lists 16-bit colour in its service sheet.
Performance
Processor
Processor	MC68HC000 16 MHz (Macintosh Portable)	PowerPC 603e 117 MHz (PowerBook 1400)
CPU cores
CPU cores	1	1
Memory
Memory	1 MB	16 MB (better)
Storage
Storage	40 MB	1 GB (better)
CPU
CPU	Motorola MC68HC000 CMOS processor at 16 MHz; no floating-point unit, MMU or CPU cache. Separate controllers handle keyboard and power management	117 MHz PowerPC 603e on a 33.3 MHz bus; 32 KB L1 cache and no L2 cache in the original service configuration.
Memory type
Memory type	1 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 ROM	16 MB RAM in Apple's original 1996 developer-note configuration, expandable to 64 MB. Apple's later service sheet lists a 32 MB minimum, conflicting with the original developer note.
Storage type
Storage type	Base 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 separately	1 GB internal 2.5-inch IDE hard drive in Apple's original developer note. The expansion bay took a 1.4 MB floppy module or a 6× CD-ROM module, both supplied with this configuration.
Battery and size
Battery life (maker's claim)
Battery life (maker's claim)	–	Up to 5 hours
Battery capacity
Battery capacity	–	30 Wh
Weight
Weight	7.16 kg	–
Thickness
Thickness	102.87 mm	–
Width × depth
Width × depth	387.35 × 365.25 mm	–
Battery life detail
Battery life detail	Lead-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 mm	30 Wh removable nickel-metal hydride battery; Apple claimed up to five hours. Its service sheet lists 6.6 lb weight with a note that installed modules affect it.
Charger
Charger	Supplied charger recharges the main battery; the computer continues drawing power from the battery rather than directly from the charger. Recharge is slower during use	–
Connections
Operating system
Operating system	macOS	macOS
Port detail
Port detail	One 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 modem	ADB, HDI-30 SCSI, RS-422 serial/LocalTalk, audio input and output, infrared, and two Type II PC Card slots (or one Type III). Ethernet required an optional expansion or PC Card; external video required an optional mini-15 card.
External displays
External displays	External video requires the Macintosh Portable Video Adapter, which Apple's launch release said would become available later; not an included launch accessory	–
Keyboard
Keyboard	Keyboard and trackball can exchange sides; optional numeric keypad replaces the trackball, requiring an external pointing device	–
Trackpad
Trackpad	Built-in trackball; no trackpad	Built-in trackpad with tap, double-tap and drag support.
In the box
In the box	Original 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 retained	System 7.5.3, battery, floppy module and 6× CD-ROM module. Apple lists an October 1996 introduction; contemporary launch coverage says machines were expected in mid-November.