More on PowerBooks

Everybody seems to be comparing Apple’s new 12″ PowerBook to the iBook and the PowerBook Duo 210, including Apple. It’s smaller in every dimension than the iBook, but heavier (4.6 pounds vs. 4.2) and deeper (8.6″ vs. 8.5″) than the Duo. Okay, but why is everyone ignoring the PowerBook 2400? It’s lighter than the new PowerBook (4.4 pounds), and remains the narrowest laptop Apple has ever made—10.5″ wide vs. the 10.9″ of the Duo or 12″ PowerBook.

I’ve always had a bit of an affinity for the PowerBook 2400, even though I don’t think I’ve ever seen one. I think it’s because the PowerBook 2400 is based on the Alchemy motherboard, just like my PowerBase 180. I have a fondness for the Power Mac 5400 and 6400 (the 6400/180 being nearly identical to my PowerBase, except with an Apple case) for the same reason.

By the way, in case there was any doubt that the 17″ PowerBook has enough room for a full-sized keyboard with numeric keypad, consider this: The new PowerBook is nearly a quarter of an inch wider than the Macintosh Portable, the 16-pound “luggable” Apple introduced in 1989, which came complete with a full-sized numeric keypad.