Macs > PowerBook
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Key dates
- November 10, 1997 — The original PowerBook G3 is introduced reusing the old PowerBook 3400 enclosure. Only one model is available and it costs $5,700.
- May 6, 1998 — The PowerBook G3 Series is introduced with a choice of 12, 13 or 14-inch screens and 233MHz, 266MHz and 292MHz processors in six different models.
- September 1, 1998 — The PowerBook G3 lineup is reduced to a choice of 233, 266 and 300MHz models all with 14-inch screens. The floppy drive is no longer bundled and the top-end model has DVD as standard.
- October 1, 1998 — A cheaper version of the PowerBook G3 300MHz with CD rather than DVD is added to the lineup.
- December 4, 1998 — PowerBook G3 prices are cut from $2,799 to $2,499 on the low-end and $4,999 to $4,399 on the high-end.
- February 12, 1999 — PowerBook G3 prices are lowered again from $2,499 to $2,299 on the low-end and $4,399 to $3,699 on the high-end.
- March 3, 1999 — The low-end PowerBook G3 gets its price reduced to $1,999.
- May 10, 1999 — The PowerBook G3 gets a new slimmer enclosure, 333MHz or 400MHz processors and onboard USB.
- February 16, 2000 — The PowerBook G3 gets FireWire and AirPort. Speeds are up to 500MHz and DVD is standard on both models.
- September 13, 2000 — The PowerBook G3 gets more RAM and larger hard disks to match the new iBooks. iMovie is bundled for the first time.
- November 13, 2000 — The high end PowerBook G3 gets its price cut to $2,999.
- January 2, 2001 — PowerBook G3 prices are dropped by as much as $500 days before being replaced.
- January 9, 2001 — The PowerBook G4 debuts in a new 1-inch thick titanium enclosure and slightly larger display, with specs otherwise similar to the PowerBook G3 it replaces, and no expansion bay.
- August 24, 2001 — PowerBook G4 prices are lowered as a promotion bundling a FireWire CD-RW drive ends.
- October 16, 2001 — The PowerBook G4 is bumped to 667MHz and Gigabit Ethernet. They still ship with DVD-ROM drives, but CD-RW is now a build-to-order option.
- December 17, 2001 — The PowerBook G4 gets Combo drives at last. A $299 upgrade program is available for owners of the latest models.
- April 29, 2002 — The PowerBook G4 gets DVI, an audio input and higher resolution screen, but IrDA is dropped. Processore are up to 800MHz.
- November 4, 2002 — The PowerBook get 1GHz processors and a SuperDrive option for the first time.
- January 7, 2003 — 12-inch and 17-inch PowerBook G4s are added to the lineup with new aluminum enclosures, AirPort Extreme and Bluetooth. The 15-inch titanium models are unchanged except for a $200 pricedrop on the high-end.
- September 16, 2003 — A new line of PowerBook G4s is introduced. The 12-inch model gets a Mini-DVI port, the 15-inch model gets an aluminum enclosure and the 17-inch gets a 1.33GHz processor.
- April 19, 2004 — The PowerBook G4 gets processors up to 1.5GHz.
- January 31, 2005 — PowerBook G4s now come with a 1.5GHz or 1.67GHz processor. The new models all feature Bluetooth 2.0, a Sudden Motion Sensor and two-finger scrolling.
- October 19, 2005 — The 15-inch and 17-inch PowerBook G4s get higher resolution screens, DDR2 memory and double layer SuperDrives. The 12-inch and 15-inch Combo drive models are dropped.
- February 22, 2006 — The 15-inch PowerBook G4 is removed from the Apple Store.
- April 24, 2006 — The 17-inch MacBook Pro is introduced featuring a 2.16GHz processor as standard.
- May 17, 2006 — The 15-inch MacBook Pro gets its processors bumped to 2.0GHz and 2.16GHz. Meanwhile, the 12-inch PowerBook G4 is retired.
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