Apple Macintosh Portable (Backlit, 1991) vs Apple Macintosh PowerBook 540c

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 (Backlit, 1991) compared with Macintosh PowerBook 540c

	AppleMacintosh Portable (Backlit, 1991)	AppleMacintosh PowerBook 540c
Overview
Released
Released	1991	May 1994
Display
Screen size
Screen size	9.8″	9.5″
Resolution
Resolution	640 × 400	640 × 480 (better)
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	9.5-inch backlit active-matrix colour LCD; 256 colours at 640 × 480 or 32,768 colours at 640 × 400
Performance
Processor
Processor	MC68HC000 16 MHz (Macintosh Portable)	Motorola 68LC040 66 MHz (PowerBook 540c)
CPU cores
CPU cores	1	1
Memory
Memory	2 MB or 4 MB	12 MB (better)
Storage
Storage	40 MB	320 MB to 500 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	Motorola 68LC040 running internally at 66 MHz with a 33 MHz bus; 8 KB L1 cache and no floating-point unit
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	4 MB on the logic board, expandable to 36 MB; Apple's Japanese configurations supplied 12 MB
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 SCSI hard drive and 1.4 MB Apple SuperDrive floppy drive; Apple lists 240–500 MB in English support and 320/500 MB Japanese configurations
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, RS-422 serial/LocalTalk, HDI-30 SCSI, AAUI Ethernet, mini-15 video and stereo audio input/output; an optional PCMCIA module supported two Type II or one Type III card
External displays
External displays	–	Built-in video output supports mirroring or an extended desktop with an optional Apple video adapter cable
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 solid-state trackpad in place of a trackball
Speakers
Speakers	–	Two built-in stereo speakers and a 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	Apple's Japanese 12 MB/320 MB configuration included two batteries, power adapter and PowerBook Mobility Bundle software
Battery and size
Battery life (maker's claim)
Battery life (maker's claim)	–	Up to 3 hours
Weight
Weight	–	3.3 kg
Thickness
Thickness	–	57 mm
Width × depth
Width × depth	–	292 × 245 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	Two removable nickel-metal hydride intelligent batteries were supplied in Japan; Apple claimed three hours per battery. Published 3.3 kg weight includes both batteries.
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	–