With the 11-in and 13-in MacBook Air receiving an increasing number of accolades and positive reviews, we thought it would be appropriate to re-visit some of Apple’s other iconic notebook designs. Though the MacBook Air is an undeniable feat of engineering, there have been several equally innovative designs over the years. Here is a list of our top five.
5. Macintosh PowerBook 100 Series:
Released nearly twenty years ago, in the Fall of 1991, this iconic Mac would inspire the design of almost every notebook to succeed it. Among the first to position the keyboard towards the rear of the top case, 100 series PowerBooks included a trackball flanked by palm rests in the front. What seems like commonplace today was actually a substantial design innovation in the early 90’s. Available in three models: 100, 140, and 170, the PowerBook line was Apple’s first major success in the portable market. Though their specs are laughable by today’s standards, the PowerBook 100 Series lives on as a timeless piece of design.
4. iBook:
Appearing less than a decade after the PowerBook, Apple’s iBook line was introduced to compliment its consumer friendly iMac in the Summer of 1999. Bearing the slogan “iMac to go,” the iBook was the first computer to go wireless. With the option of a built-in 802.11b AirPort Card, the iBook once again revolutionized the existing concept of the notebook (laptop at the time). Its most controversial and notorious aspect, the iBook’s design was among many of the features that made it an icon. Available in five bright colors and sporting a carrying handle, the machine acquired a variety of nicknames derived from its style. Love it or hate it, there is no denying this machine’s lasting impact and appeal.
3. Titanium PowerBook G4:
The Titanium PowerBook G4 (known to many as the ‘TiBook’) was released in 2001 at the MacWorld Expo. Arguably influencing the design of many current Apple notebooks, the first generation G4 machine employed a slimmer, simpler design than its predecessor the PowerBook G3. Though notorious for display hinge and rear port cover issues, the TiBook’s design directly inspired the next iteration of PowerBook, which subsequently inspired the first generation of MacBook Pro in 2006.
2. MacBook Air:
In some ways the spiritual successor to the 12-in PowerBook G4, the MacBook Air line launched in 2008 as “The World’s Thinnest Notebook.” Teasing the unibody design which would be fully realized later in the year, the original Air was ahead of its time. Omitting an optical drive in favor of its slim lightweight design, the Air was one of the first notebooks to provide an SSD configuration. Though in retrospect a somewhat mixed success, the original MacBook Air paved the way for the more refined models introduced last month.
1. Unibody MacBook Pro:
Building off the success of the 1st generation MacBook Pro, the unibody manufacturing process re-defined the MacBook Pro line. Perfecting many of the issues resulting from the first generation’s aging design, the unibody machines ushered in the current generation of Apple notebooks. Bringing significant enhancements to processor speed and graphics performance, these machines were the first to use a dual video card configuration. Though the line would eventually evolve to include a better battery and SD card slot, the original’s durable design will undoubtably be remembered for its quality and innovation.
Which notebook do you think is the most innovative? Have a favorite that we left out? Comment and let us know!