Apple · PowerBook

Macintosh PowerBook 550c

Released 1995

A Japan-only PowerBook with a 10.4-inch active-matrix colour screen, a Motorola 68040 with floating-point hardware and built-in Ethernet.

Specifications

Screen size: 10.4″
Resolution: 640 × 480
Touchscreen: No
Display type: Backlit active-matrix colour LCD; 256 colours at 640 × 480 or 32768 colours at 640 × 400 according to Apple Japan

Processor: Motorola 68040 66 MHz (PowerBook 550c)
CPU cores: 1
Memory: 12 MB
Storage: 750 MB
CPU: Motorola 68040 with MMU and floating-point unit; Apple specifies 66 MHz internal processor clock and 33 MHz bus interface. The English support table incorrectly says no FPU, conflicting with the exact Japanese sheet and original Apple technical article
GPU: Service Source specifies 512 KB video memory; built-in video output supports 256 colours
Memory type: 4 MB on the logic board plus an 8 MB expansion card in the standard 12 MB configuration; expandable to 36 MB using one 70 ns or faster low-power self-refreshing card
Storage type: Internal 750 MB SCSI hard drive and 1.4 MB Apple SuperDrive; full KanjiTalk CD-ROM installation needs an external CD-ROM drive

Battery life (maker's claim): Up to 3 hours
Weight: 3.1 kg
Thickness: 57 mm
Width × depth: 292 × 245 mm
Battery life detail: Two removable nickel-metal hydride intelligent batteries; Apple Japan claims three hours per battery, while the original technical article and service manual say up to 3.5 hours. Recharge takes two hours asleep or off, four hours running. Headline runtime is per battery rather than an inferred combined claim. Published 3.1 kg includes two batteries; Service Source instead lists 3.3 kg
Charger: 40 W power adapter according to Apple Service Source
Materials: Dark-grey enclosure according to the original Apple technical article

Operating system: macOS
Port detail: ADB, RS-422 serial/LocalTalk, AAUI Ethernet, HDI-30 SCSI, stereo audio input/output and external video. A 90-pin processor-direct slot accepts the optional PCMCIA module for two Type II or one Type III card; Service Source places it in the second battery bay
External displays: Mirroring or extended desktop using an optional video adapter; Japanese specifications list Macintosh, VGA and SVGA support. Service Source identifies a micro DV-14 connector, while the English support table labels it mini-15
Keyboard: Japanese JIS keyboard with tilt adjustment and power-on key; original Apple technical article specifies 79 keys including twelve function keys, unlike Service Source's generic domestic/ISO counts
Trackpad: Built-in solid-state trackpad with adjustable acceleration
Speakers: Two built-in stereo speakers and 16-bit audio with 11.035, 22.050 or 44.100 kHz sampling
Microphones: Built-in electret microphone; Japanese specifications call it directional while the original technical article and service manual say omnidirectional
In the box: 12 MB/750 MB PowerBook, two intelligent batteries, power adapter, KanjiTalk 7.5 CD-ROM and system disks, PowerBook Mobility Bundle, documentation and warranty. Apple records introduction on 30 May 1995, while contemporary TidBITS coverage expected late-June availability; the July maker technical article confirms a released Japan-only product without a first-sale day or month

Processor	Memory	Storage
Motorola 68040 66 MHz (PowerBook 550c)	12 MB	750 MB

Model	Size	Display	Processor	Memory	Weight	Battery	Released
AppleMacintosh PowerBook 190cs	10.4″	–	Motorola 68LC040 66 MHz (PowerBook 190cs)	8 MB	2.9 kg	5 h	Aug 1995
AppleMacintosh PowerBook 5300c/100	10.4″	–	PowerPC 603e 100 MHz (PowerBook 5300c)	16 MB	2.9 kg	4 h	Aug 1995
AppleMacintosh PowerBook 5300ce/117	10.4″	–	PowerPC 603e 117 MHz (PowerBook 5300ce/117)	32 MB	2.9 kg	4 h	Aug 1995