The PowerBook's early years

This may come as a shock, but Apple's PowerBook hasn't always been a shining example of exemplary notebook engineering. In fact, before 1992 it was a 15 lb. behemoth that struck about as much of a chord as William Hung. Fortunately, a partnership with Sony (nope, that's not a typo) and some powerful market motivation gave birth to the awesome forces of Asahi, Tim LC and Tim, otherwise known as the PowerBook 100, PowerBook 140 and PowerBook 170.

Oddly enough, one of the most appealing features of these PowerBooks was the placement of the trackball, which was essentially in the position virtually all of today's notebooks use. Can you believe some manufacturers, such as Compaq, used to place a trackball on the back of the display in those days? Again, not a typo.

For more historical goodness, read the full story about the rise and eventual fall of the PowerBook's early years in an article at Low End Mac.

[via Digg]