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Apple Macintosh Portable (Backlit, 1991) vs Apple Macintosh PowerBook 2400c/180

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

Better figure, where one is clearly better

AppleMacintosh Portable (Backlit, 1991)AppleMacintosh PowerBook 2400c/180
Overview
Released1991May 1997
Display
Screen size9.8″10.4″
Resolution640 × 400800 × 600
TouchscreenNoNo
Display typeBacklit 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 published10.4-inch backlit TFT active-matrix colour LCD, displaying thousands of colours at 800 × 600
Performance
ProcessorMC68HC000 16 MHz (Macintosh Portable)PowerPC 603e 180 MHz (PowerBook 2400c)
CPU cores11
Memory2 MB or 4 MB16 MB
Storage40 MB1.3 GB
CPUCMOS 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 mode180 MHz PowerPC 603e with integrated floating-point unit, 32 KB L1 cache and 256 KB L2 cache
Memory typePseudostatic 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 interchangeable16 MB on the logic board with one SO-DIMM expansion slot
Storage type40 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 formatter1.3 GB internal ATA hard drive; supplied external 1.4 MB Apple SuperDrive floppy drive
Connections
Operating systemmacOSmacOS
Port detailOne 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 USBADB, HDI-30 SCSI, serial, HDI-15 video, infrared, stereo audio input/output and external floppy connector; two Type II or one Type III PC Card slot
External displays–Built-in video output through the HDI-15 connector
KeyboardBuilt-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 useBuilt-in keyboard with 12 function keys
TrackpadBuilt-in trackball; no trackpadBuilt-in Apple trackpad
Speakers–Built-in speaker and microphone; 16-bit stereo audio input/output
In the boxExact 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 dateExternal floppy drive, power adapter and lithium-ion battery
Battery and size
Battery life (maker's claim)–Up to 4 hours
Battery capacity–29 Wh
Weight–2 kg
Thickness–47 mm
Width × depth–267 × 213 mm
Battery life detailLead-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 establishedRemovable 29 Wh lithium-ion battery; Apple stated an average 2–4 hours of operation
ChargerApple’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–

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