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Subject: Apple Rolls Out PowerBooks
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Date: 19 Oct 1992 19:23:32 -0500
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Subject: Apple Rolls Out PowerBooks
MOVED OVER PR NEWSWIRE AT 8:49 AM EDT, MONDAY, OCTOBER 19, 1992.
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Kate Paisley
Apple Computer, Inc.
(408) 974-5453
Apple Rolls Out More Powerful, Versatile PowerBook Computers
CUPERTINO, California--October 19, 1992--Apple Computer, Inc. today
announced two new additions to its best-selling Macintosh PowerBook
line of notebook computers. Called the Macintosh PowerBook 160 and
Macintosh PowerBook 180, both bring greater performance, more flexible
video capabilities, and even higher quality displays to the company's
award-winning and fast-selling notebook line.
"We've made the world's most acclaimed notebook computers even
better," said Randy Battat, Apple's vice president of portable computing.
"We've added the features and power that customers asked for, while
retaining our standard-setting, all-in-one design. We expect these new
notebooks to accelerate our strong sales momentum among notebook computer
purchasers."
Since their introduction in October 1991, Apple's PowerBook
computers have become one of the most popular lines of notebook computers
in the world. Many industry surveys rank PowerBook computers as the
fastest-selling notebook systems on the market. In its 1992 fiscal year,
Apple sold more than 400,000 PowerBook computers, and PowerBook sales
generated more than $1 billion in revenue.
PowerBook computers have received a broad array of industry awards,
including BYTE magazine's Readers' Choice Award, the Best Portable System
at COMDEX/Fall 1991, the Gold Design Award from Germany's Industrie Forum,
and the Gold Award from International Design magazine.
Notebook Design that Sets the Standard
The PowerBook 160 and 180 share the distinctive, all-in-one design of
the best-selling PowerBook computer. This design features the innovative
center-trackball (which makes the systems easy to use even in
non-traditional locations), a palm rest (which makes working on a
PowerBook more comfortable than other notebook computers), small size
(it fits inside a briefcase), and light weight (6.8 pounds).
Listening to What Customers Want
Apple conducted extensive customer testing and research on the
original PowerBook line to discover what improvements would make
PowerBook computers more useful. Results of that research determined
the enhancements to the PowerBook 160 and 180--more flexible video
capabilities, improved grayscale displays, and greater performance.
More Flexible Video Capabilities
With the new video-out feature, users are able to use their
PowerBook 160 or 180 to support a wide range of external displays in
up to 256 colors, including Apple color and monochrome displays, some
VGA and SVGA displays, and large projection monitors. This gives
PowerBook users a number of advantages. For example, users can deliver
presentations on large monitors--a capability that is especially
attractive to mobile professionals, such as field salespeople, who need
to make presentations in client offices. Users can also increase their
workspace by using a larger display and the PowerBook display
simultaneously.
Improved Grayscale Displays
The PowerBook 160 and 180 provide superior grayscale displays,
making them easy on users' eyes and high quality presentation devices in
their own right. Both support 16 levels of gray, so users can work with
high definition, realistic images. The PowerBook 180 delivers the
sharpest text and the brightest, clearest graphics available on any
notebook computer because it incorporates a standard-setting backlit,
active-matrix display. The PowerBook 160 uses a state-of-the-art backlit
supertwist display.
Faster, More Powerful
The PowerBook 160 and 180 both feature the high performance Motorola
68030 processor, running at 25 megahertz (MHz) and 33MHz, respectively.
This makes the PowerBook systems more powerful than many desktop
computers, allowing users to make quick work of complicated computing
tasks such as desktop publishing and financial analysis. The
PowerBook 180 also has a 68882 floating point math coprocessor, which
speeds up sophisticated numerical calculations. Both systems come with
4Amegabytes (MB) of RAM standard, expandable to 14MB.
The PowerBook 160 and 180 each feature Apple's new EverWatch battery
saver technology, which extends the life of the nickel-cadmium batteries
for up to 2.5 to 3 hours of normal usage by automatically turning off
energy-hungry components--such as the microprocessor, hard disk, modem,
and display backlighting--when they're not in use.
An important option, also announced today, is the affordable
Macintosh PowerBook Express Modem. At $319 U.S. SRP, it offers
high-speed, low-power data transfer at 14,400 bits per second
(up to 57,600bps with built-in data compression). And with the modem's
Express Fax software, users can easily send and receive faxes at 9600bps.
The modem supports the standard Hayes AT command set and
industry-standard error control and data compression protocols, ensuring
the highest performance and reliability.
The Macintosh PowerBook 145 (introduced in August, 1992), 160, and
180 now comprise the PowerBook line. The PowerBook 170 (introduced
October, 1991) is discontinued immediately.
Pricing and Distribution
The PowerBook 160 and PowerBook 180 will be offered through
authorized Apple resellers worldwide. Each PowerBook includes a battery,
AC adapter, video-out cable, System 7.1 software, training software,
complete set-up, learning and reference documentation, and a one year
limited warranty.
In the U.S., suggested retail prices, configurations, and ship dates
are as follows: (Prices will vary outside theAU.S.)
Macintosh PowerBook Computers U.S. SRP Ship Date
Macintosh PowerBook 145 4MB Hard Disk 40 2,149.00 Aug. 3, 1992
Macintosh PowerBook 145 4MB Hard Disk 80 2,499.00 Aug. 3, 1992
Macintosh PowerBook 160 4MB Hard Disk 40 2,429.00 October 19, 1992
Macintosh PowerBook 160 4MB Hard Disk 80 2,789.00 October 19, 1992
Macintosh PowerBook 160 4MB Hard Disk 120 3,149.00 October 19, 1992
Macintosh PowerBook 180 4MB Hard Disk 80 4,109.00 October 19, 1992
Macintosh PowerBook 180 4MB Hard Disk 120 4,469.00 October 19, 1992
Macintosh PowerBook Accessories
Macintosh PowerBook 4MB Memory Exp. Kit 309.00 Currently Available
Macintosh PowerBook Rechargable Battery 69.00 Currently Available
Macintosh PowerBook Battery Recharger 89.00 Currently Available
Macintosh PowerBook HDI-30 SCSI Disk Adapter 39.00 Currently Available
Macintosh PowerBook HDI-30 SCSI System Cable 39.00 Currently Available
Macintosh PowerBook AC Adapter 65.00 Currently Available
Macintosh PowerBook2400 BPS Internal Modem 225.00 Currently Available
Macintosh PowerBook Express Modem Kit 319.00 December 1992
-30-
Apple, the Apple logo, and Macintosh are registered trademarks; and
PowerBook, and EverWatch are trademarks of Apple Computer,AInc.
END