Powerbook Duo Information

(updated 2 January 1999)


The Apple Powerbook Duo series of computers was introduced in September of 1992 and was produced by Apple Computer until late in 1996. At this web site I hope to cover many details about the Duo's as well point folks towards useful information. Attributions for information will be provided if I know them and any lack of attributions is not meant as a slight on the individuals or companies missed.

Table of Contents:

What is a Duo?


The Apple Powerbook Duo is a portable Macintosh computer: A sub-notebook. It weighs between 4.2 and 4.8 pounds (the color models being slightly heavier) and has limited built in ports. The great flexibility of the Duo design is that it has a docking connector allowing the computer to be connected to a wide variety of 'docks', some manufactured by Apple Computer, Inc. and more made by third party manufacturers.

Models


The 7 models in the Duo line are:

INITIAL RELEASE (10/19/92)
210 - 25 Mhz 68030. 4 Megs of RAM base, 24 Megs max.
9.5" Passive matrix grayscale display (640x400 @ 4 bits) [Discontinued 12/21/93]
230 - 33 Mhz 68030. 4 Megs of RAM base, 24 Megs max.
9.5" Passive matrix grayscale display (640x400 @ 4 bits) [Discontinued 7/18/94]

FIRST ACTIVE MATRIX DUOS (10/21/93)
250 - 33 Mhz 68030. 4 Megs of RAM base, 24 Megs Max.
9" Active matrix grayscale display (640x400 @4 bits) [Discontinued 5/1/94]
270c - 33 Mhz 68030 & 33 Mhz 68832 FPU.4 Megs of RAM base, 32 Megs Max.
8.4" Active matrix color display (640x480 @ 8 bits, 640x400 @ 16 bits) [Discontinued 5/1/94]

68LC040 DUOS (3/94?)
280 - 33 Mhz 68CL040. 4 Megs of RAM base, 40 Megs Max.
9" Active matrix grayscale display (640x400 @ 4 bits) [Discontinued]
280c - 33 Mhz 68LC040. 4 Megs of RAM base, 40 Megs Max.
8.4" Active matrix color display (640x480 @ 8 bits, 640x400 @ 16 bits) [Discontinued]

POWERPC DUO (8/28/95)
2300c - 100 Mhz 603e. 8 Megs of RAM base, 56 Megs Max.
9.5" Active matrix color display (640x480 @ 8 bits, 640x400 @ 16 bits) [Discontinued]

All Duo's can use internal 2.5" SCSI drives. The 2300c can also use an internal 2.5" IDE drive. The 210/230 initially shipped with 80 Meg drives, later 120 Meg drives. The 250 shipped with 160 Meg drives. The 270C and 280 with 240 Meg drives. The 280c with 320 meg drives. The 2300c came with either a 750 Meg or 1.2 Gig IDE drive.


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