August 16, 1993: Apple ships the PowerBook 165, a lower-cost, grayscale model of the PowerBook 165c, which was the corporate’s first laptop computer to supply a coloration show.
The brand new mannequin lacks essentially the most attention-grabbing function of the 165c, but it surely additionally brings its personal declare to fame. The PowerBook 165 is Apple’s most reasonably priced laptop computer but.
PowerBook 165 lacks coloration, however is reasonably priced
Apple launched the PowerBook 165 as a alternative for 1992’s PowerBook 160. That laptop was a terrific laptop computer in its personal proper, and was notable for being the primary PowerBook capable of drive an exterior coloration monitor.
When it comes to its design and specs, the brand new PowerBook 165 was nearly an identical to its predecessor. Nevertheless, it lacked a floating-point unit whereas boosting processor velocity from 25Mhz to 33Mhz.
Till the 165 arrived, Apple pushed the PowerBook 165c most closely because of the first-of-its-kind coloration show. Sadly, it wasn’t a very good display screen. The 8.4-inch, passive-matrix coloration show might seem dim if not seen head-on below preferrred situations.
It proved so mediocre that customers wanting a terrific coloration show on an Apple laptop computer have been higher off shopping for the PowerBook 180c laptop computer, an improve to the higher-end PowerBook 180. (See how complicated Apple’s product strains have been within the Nineties?)
A very good Apple laptop computer at a terrific worth
All these components made the PowerBook 165 a terrific choice. It clearly had an edge when it got here to pricing. The black-and-white PowerBook 160 it changed price $2,480. And the fashions with a coloration display screen mainly broke the financial institution. The PowerBook 165c price a whopping $3,870, and a totally kitted-out PowerBook 180c would set you again $4,079.
In the meantime, the PowerBook 165 began at simply $1,970 — practically $300 lower than the next-cheapest laptop computer Apple made on the time.
At present, it isn’t one of many laptops most individuals discuss once they wax nostalgic about Apple merchandise. Within the early Nineties, nevertheless — when laptops have been extraordinarily expensive — this stable machine arrived at a really interesting worth level. In right now’s {dollars}, it might price practically $4,300.
Did you personal the PowerBook 165? What was your earliest Apple laptop computer? Go away your feedback under.