PowerBook 140

The PowerBook 140 is a notebook computer that was released in the first line of PowerBooks. It was the mid-range PowerBook, between the low-end 100 and the high-end 170. As with the PowerBook 170, it featured an internal floppy drive, unlike the 100. Codenames for this model are: Tim Lite, Tim LC, Replacements, and Leary. In 1992, it was replaced by the PowerBook 145, which was essentially a speed bump, though the PowerBook 160 essentially superseded it as the new mid-line model.

PowerBook 140

Apple Macintosh PowerBook 140
Developer	Apple Computer
Product family	PowerBook
Type	Laptop
Release date	140: October 21, 1991 (1991-10-21) 145: August 3, 1992 (1992-08-03) 145B: June 7, 1993 (1993-06-07)
Introductory price	140: US$3,199 (equivalent to $7,156 in 2023) 145: US$2,149 (equivalent to $4,666 in 2023) 145B: US$1,649 (equivalent to $3,478 in 2023)
Discontinued	140: August 3, 1992 (1992-08-03) 145: June 7, 1993 (1993-06-07) 145B: July 18, 1994 (1994-07-18)
CPU	Motorola 68030 @ 16 MHz (140) 25 MHz (145/145B)
Display	9.8" monochrome LCD
Graphics	640×400
Mass	6.8 lb (3.1 kg)
Predecessor	Macintosh Portable PowerBook 100
Successor	PowerBook Duo PowerBook 160

Features

Intended as a replacement for the Macintosh Portable, the 140 series was identical to the 170, though it compromised a number of the high-end model's features to make it a more affordable mid-range option. The most apparent difference was that the 140 used a cheaper, 10 in (25 cm) diagonal passive matrix display instead of the active matrix version used on the 170 that had better readabilitty. Internally, in addition to a slower 16 MHz processor, the 140 also lacked a Floating Point Unit (FPU) and could not be upgraded. It also came standard with a 20 MB hard drive compared with the 170's 40 MB drive.

The 140 was introduced with System 7.0.1, specifically to support new power management and other unique hardware features. However, due to the RAM prices in 1991, combined with its already high list price, the 140, like the 100 and 170, only had 2 MB RAM soldered directly onto the logicboard, which critics felt was restrictive for use with System 7. Furthermore, since localized versions of System 7 were not yet available worldwide, the Japanese 6.0.7 KanjiTalk version of Apple's System software, was modified to support all three new PowerBooks and released as version J-6.0.7.1. As a result, this version was unofficially adapted for use with the standard 6.0.7 allowing many users to run System 6 on their PowerBooks, rather than upgrading on-board RAM with an expensive proprietary RAM card (a 2 MB card was US $300).

Design

Though released at the same time as the PowerBook 170 and PowerBook 100, both the 140 and 170 were designed entirely by Apple, while the 100 was miniaturized by Sony from the full-sized Macintosh Portable. As a result, the 140 represents the first true notebook computer created by Apple, with the 100 actually representing the first design improvements, though its internal architecture is the oldest in the series. 140 was designed by Gavin Ivester of the internal Apple Industrial Design Group.

PowerBook 145

The PowerBook 145 was a speed-bumped 140, increasing the processor speed from 16 MHz to 25 MHz. The standard hard drive was upgraded from 20 MB to 40 MB. The 145 also introduced a new feature for the battery-conscious: users would be able to configure the 145 to sleep or completely shut down whenever the clamshell unit was closed. Though a direct descendant of the 140, the 145 was actually the replacement for the PowerBook 100 as the low-end model, the 140 having been superseded by the new mid-level PowerBook 160.

It was replaced by the PowerBook 145B in June 1993. The only codename for this model is: Colt 45.

PowerBook 145B

The PowerBook 145B was the same as the PowerBook 145 that came before it, but with a lower price and additional 2 MB of RAM soldered to the motherboard. The only codename for this model is Pikes Peak.

Unlike previous Mac models but like the Performas, the 145B did not ship with a full set of system disks. System 7.1 was preinstalled on the internal hard disk, and a single system startup disk was included. The package also included two utilities that provide basic backup and restore functions. Although the 145B shipped with System 7.1, it can, in fact, run System 7.0.1, however it will incorrectly report as a 140 in “About This Macintosh...”

The 145 was superseded by the PowerBook 150 as the next low-end PowerBook.

Specifications

According to Apple, all of these models are obsolete.

Model	PowerBook 140	PowerBook 145	PowerBook 145B
Processor	Motorola 68030, running at 16 MHz	Motorola 68030, running at 25 MHz
RAM	2 MB on board, can be expanded to 8 MB		4 MB on board, can be expanded to 8 MB
ROM	1 MB
Hard disk	20-80 MB	40–120 MB
Floppy disk	1.44 MB Superdrive
Systems supported	System J-6.0.7.1, System 7.0.1–Mac OS 7.6.1		System 7.1–Mac OS 7.6.1
ADB	Yes (1 port)
Serial	Yes (2 ports)
Modem	optional (used for this model's expansion port)
Screen	passive matrix, 1bpp 640×400

Timeline

Timeline of portable Macintoshes
See also: List of Mac models

External links

• Macintosh PowerBook 140: Technical Specifications, retrieved July 23, 2022
• Macintosh PowerBook 145: Technical Specifications, retrieved July 24, 2022
• Macintosh PowerBook 145B: Technical Specifications, retrieved July 24, 2022
• apple-history.com's section on the PowerBook 140
• PowerBook 140 at The Computer Resource
• A prototype PowerBook 140.
• "PowerBook 145B, 360 degree model", Russian Vintage Laptop Museum (museum), April 6, 2017