The PowerBook 5300 series was the first generation of PowerBook laptops manufactured by Apple Computer to use the PowerPC processor. Released in August 1995, these PowerBooks were notable for being the first to feature hot-swappable expansion modules for a variety of different units such as ZIP drives; PC card slots as standard; and an infrared communication port. In common with most preceding Macintosh portables, SCSI, Serial, and ADB ports were available as standard. An internal expansion slot was also available for installing a variety of modules including Ethernet and video cards to drive a second monitor in mirroring or dual-screen modes.

The Apple Macintosh PowerBook 5300/100 features a 100 MHz PowerPC 603e processor, 8 MB of RAM, and a 500 MB hard drive in a portable black case with a 9.5" grayscale passive-matrix display. Although the PowerBook 5300/100 only supports 4-bit grayscale, a video card can be added to support up-to 16-bit color on an external monitor. Although the PowerBook 5300 series heralded a couple of firsts -- it was the first PowerBook line to have PowerPC processors and "hot swappable" drive bays -- it was initially plagued by battery and quality problems and required "reworking" by Apple to perform well.

Introduction Date: August 28, 1995

Discontinued Date:September 1, 1996

Processor Speed: 100 MHz

Processor Type: PowerPC 603e

Details: This model has a 32-bit processor and a 64-bit data path.

Processor Upgrade: Soldered

FPU: Integrated

Details:N/A

System Bus Speed: 33.3 MHz

Cache Bus Speed: N/A

ROM Type: Macintosh ROM

ROM Size: 4 MB

L1 Cache: 32k L2 Cache: N/A

RAM Type: DRAM Card*Min. RAM Speed: 70 ns

Standard RAM: 8 MB, 16 MBMaximum RAM: 64 MB

Details: Supports up to 64 MB with a series specific memory module installed.

Motherboard RAM: 8 MB, 16 MB*RAM Slots: 1

Video Card: Dedicated*VRAM Type: Onboard

Standard VRAM: 1 MB*Maximum VRAM: 1 MB*

Built-in Display: 10.4" ColorNative Resolution: 640x480

Details: 10.4" color active-matrix (16-bit, thousands of colors) LCD.

2nd Display Support: Dual/Mirroring*2nd Max. Resolution: 640x480*

Standard Hard Drive: 500 MB, 750 MBInt. HD Interface: IDE

Standard Optical: NoneStandard Disk: 1.44 MB* (Manual)

Standard Modem: 28.8k (Optional)Standard Ethernet:None

Expansion Slots: 2 Type II PC Card*Expansion Bays: None

Details: *2 Type II PC Card (1 Type III).

Case Type: NotebookForm Factor: PowerBook 5300

Apple Order No: M3133LL/A*Apple Subfamily: PowerBook 5300

Apple Model No: M2785Gestalt ID: 128

Battery Type: NiMHBattery Life: 2.5-4.0 Hours

Original Mac OS: 7.5.2Supported Mac OS: 7.5.2-9.1

Dimensions: 2.0 x 11.5 x 8.5Avg. Weight: 6.2 lbs (2.8 kg)

Original Price (US):US$3700, US$4500

Manufacturer: Apple
Date: 1995

This exhibit has a reference ID of CH56781. Please quote this reference ID in any communication with the Centre for Computing History.

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