Apple Macintosh Portable (Backlit, 1991) vs Apple Macintosh PowerBook 145

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Macintosh Portable (Backlit, 1991) compared with Macintosh PowerBook 145

	AppleMacintosh Portable (Backlit, 1991)	AppleMacintosh PowerBook 145
Overview
Released
Released	1991	August 1992
Display
Screen size
Screen size	9.8″	9.8″
Resolution
Resolution	640 × 400	640 × 400
Touchscreen
Touchscreen	No	No
Display type
Display type	Backlit 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	9.8-inch passive-matrix monochrome LCD at 640 × 400
Performance
Processor
Processor	MC68HC000 16 MHz (Macintosh Portable)	Motorola 68030 25 MHz (PowerBook 145)
CPU cores
CPU cores	1	1
Memory
Memory	2 MB or 4 MB (better)	2 MB
Storage
Storage	40 MB	40 MB to 80 MB (better)
CPU
CPU	CMOS 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	25 MHz Motorola 68030 without a floating-point coprocessor
Memory type
Memory type	Pseudostatic 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	2 MB on the logic board, expandable to 8 MB with a memory card
Storage type
Storage type	40 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	Internal 2.5-inch SCSI hard drive in 40 or 80 MB configurations; built-in 1.44 MB floppy drive
Connections
Operating system
Operating system	macOS	macOS
Port detail
Port detail	One 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	ADB, HDI-30 SCSI, two serial ports and audio input/output; optional internal modem; no video output
Keyboard
Keyboard	Built-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	–
Trackpad
Trackpad	Built-in trackball; no trackpad	Built-in trackball
Speakers
Speakers	–	Built-in speaker and microphone
In the box
In the box	Exact 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	–
Battery and size
Weight
Weight	–	3.1 kg
Thickness
Thickness	–	57 mm
Width × depth
Width × depth	–	286 × 236 mm
Battery life detail
Battery life detail	Lead-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	Removable nickel-cadmium battery
Charger
Charger	Apple’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	–