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Apple Macintosh PowerBook Duo 250 vs Apple Macintosh PowerBook Duo 270c

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

Better figure, where one is clearly better

AppleMacintosh PowerBook Duo 250AppleMacintosh PowerBook Duo 270c
Overview
Released19931993
Display
Screen size9″8.4″
Resolution640 × 400640 × 480
TouchscreenNoNo
Display typeBacklit active-matrix LCD with 16 grey levels. Apple's product description and technical table specify a 9-inch diagonal; the developer note gives a 192 × 120 mm active pixel areaBacklit active-matrix TFT colour LCD; 256 colours at 640 × 480 or thousands at 640 × 400. Apple's exact-model product description gives 8.4 inches; the later service table labels this model 9 inches
Screen finish–Antiglare polariser
Performance
ProcessorMotorola 68030 33 MHz (PowerBook 165)Motorola 68030 33 MHz
CPU cores11
Memory4 MB or 12 MB4 MB or 12 MB
Storage200 MB240 MB
CPUMotorola 68030 at 33 MHz, with integrated memory-management unit; no built-in floating-point coprocessor. An optional dock provides a maths coprocessorMotorola 68030 at 33 MHz with an integrated memory-management unit and a separate Motorola 68882 maths coprocessor at 33 MHz
GPU–Colour Screen Controller with video RAM; selecting thousands of colours centres a 640 × 400 image with black bands above and below
Memory type4 MB on the logic board and one Duo expansion-card slot; maximum 24 MB. Apple kits expand to 8 or 12 MB; larger capacities require third-party cards4 MB soldered on the logic board, with one Duo expansion-card slot; maximum 32 MB. Apple memory kits expand to 8 or 12 MB; larger capacities require third-party cards
Storage typeInternal 200 MB SCSI drive in Apple's 4/200 and 12/200 ordering configurations. The developer note mentions a 120 MB option without an ordering configuration. External floppy drive requires a Duo Floppy Adapter or MiniDockInternal 240 MB SCSI hard drive in the two configurations listed in Apple's product description. The developer note also describes a 160 MB option, without an ordering configuration. External 1.4 MB floppy drive requires a Duo Floppy Adapter or Duo MiniDock
Battery and size
Battery life (maker's claim)Up to 6 hoursUp to 4 hours
Weight1.9 kg2.1 kg
Thickness36 mm38 mm
Width × depth277 × 216 mm277 × 216 mm
Battery life detailRemovable Type II nickel-metal hydride battery; Apple's technical table claims 2.5–6 hours. Its later developer-note feature list and block diagram contain conflicting battery, colour-display and memory claims; the exact model's technical table controls these specificationsRemovable Type II nickel-metal hydride battery. Apple's product description claims 2–4 hours; the developer note claims 4.5 hours, while the later service manual gives approximately 2–3 hours. Service weight is 2.1 kg with a battery; its paired 4.8 lb figure is inconsistent. Dimensions are rounded from Apple's 10.9 × 8.5 × 1.5 inch support table; the service manual swaps width/depth and pairs 1.5 inches with 36 mm
Charger–AC adapter supplied; service manual gives a 24 V DC, 1.04 A output
Connections
Operating systemmacOSmacOS
Port detailRS-422 serial/LocalTalk, 152-pin docking connector, power input and optional internal fax/data modem. External video, SCSI and floppy connections require docking accessories152-pin docking connector, RS-422 serial/LocalTalk mini-DIN-8 port, power input and optional internal Express Modem. Additional video, SCSI and floppy connections require docking accessories
External displaysOptional PowerBook Duo Dock or Duo MiniDock provides external video and desktop connectionsOptional PowerBook Duo Dock or Duo MiniDock provides external video and desktop peripheral expansion
KeyboardBuilt-in keyboard with two-level tilt adjustment and Caps Lock indicatorBuilt-in keyboard with two-level tilt adjustment; 63 keys on the domestic version or 64 on the ISO version
Trackpad19 mm trackball with two buttons19 mm trackball with two buttons
SpeakersBuilt-in speaker; 8-bit monophonic sound input/output at 11 or 22 kHzFour-voice, 8-bit monophonic sound input and output at 11 or 22 kHz
MicrophonesBuilt-in omnidirectional electret microphone, documented in the exact-model technical table despite the support summary's Mic Type noneBuilt-in omnidirectional electret microphone; the support summary's Mic Type none does not describe the built-in microphone documented in the developer and service manuals
In the boxComputer, battery, AC adapter, System 7.1 software and documentation. The 12/200 configuration adds an internal Express Modem. Maker introduction was 21 October 1993; The Mac December 1993 current buying guide confirms retail presence that year without an exact first-sale monthComputer, battery, AC adapter, System 7.1 software and documentation; desktop docks sold separately. Apple lists introduction on 21 October 1993. The Mac December 1993 buying guide lists the model in the current retail range with a UK basic price; no exact first-sale month is established, so release precision remains the year

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