Time Machine

Take a trip down memory lane with classic Apple hardware

• Processor: 400 or 500MHZ Powerpc G4 • Memory: 128 (2X64MB) or 256 (2X128MB) of PC100 SDRAM • Graphics: ATI Rage 128 with 8MB of SDRAM • Hard drive: 10 or 20GB Ultra ATA/66 • Connectivity: Optional Airport 802.11b, 10/100 BASE-T Fast Ethernet, 56k V.90 modem • Ports: 2x USB 1.1, 1x Firewire 400, PC Card I/II • Max macos: Mac OS X 10.4.11 ‘Tiger’

Nicknamed the ‘Tibook’, the first generation of Powerbook G4 was unveiled at the Macworld Expo in 2001 and was so-called because the new machine was housed in a titanium-clad case – quite a departure from the black plastic G3 models that preceded it. What’s also notable about the Powerbook G4 was that it was among the first laptops to use a widescreen aspect ratio display and the orientation of the Apple logo on the lid was flipped so that it would read correctly to onlookers when the computer was in use – a simple trick to broaden the brand. Quality issues with the build (the hinges were prone to breaking over time and wear in the video cable, routed around the left hinge, lead to display problems) meant that the Titanium models were phased out in 2003 in favour of a new line of Jonathan Ive-designed aluminium-cased Powerbooks. These featured industrial-style keyboards that matched the case and, in the case of the 17-inch version at least, the world’s first backlit keyboard.