Inside the Macintosh Portable

A 20th anniversary teardown of the first mobile Mac--and some reflections on how far we've come.

Posted by  | Sunday, September 20, 2009


macport3

Call it “The Wedge”

Here we see the Portable’s right side. You can really get a feeling for the unit’s wedge shape here. It’s hard to miss the gaping slot for the 3.5″ floppy disk drive on the side. Instead of a hard drive, customers could buy a second floppy drive that would sit directly above the first.

The Portable included a carrying handle, which came in handy due to the unit’s 16 pound weight. Here, we see it tucked between the display and keyboard area on the left side. It sticks out a bit because it also functions as the latch release that opens the lid once it’s pushed in.



Slides: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18

27 Comments For This Post

  1. Bluey Says:
    September 21st, 2009 at 5:03 am

    Really enjoyed reading your article and yes, we and in particular Apple, has come a very long way.

  2. John Menkart Says:
    September 21st, 2009 at 8:03 am

    I have one of these. As far as I know it still works (as of two years ago). It was awesome to be able to carry around my Mac. 🙂

  3. Magnus Says:
    September 21st, 2009 at 8:59 am

    Very good article!
    The portable is a very underestimated computer!

    I had two scientist collegues who loved it, especially for the supreme battery power, which was essential for field trips!

    Lead batteries are heavy, but but offered several advanteges over other types in those days.

  4. Geo Says:
    September 21st, 2009 at 9:24 am

    Only one of the ports would still be found on today’s laptops–audio out. What ports will be found on laptops 20 years from now?

  5. lunar Says:
    September 21st, 2009 at 10:18 am

    you seriously expect me to click through EIGHTEEN separate pages, each one with roughly a single paragraph of text on it? not in this lifetime.

  6. Gene Krebs Says:
    September 21st, 2009 at 10:36 am

    Hmmm…I was just starting my MBA coursework in 1989. I still worked on my DEC Rainbow and wrote code in dbase II or III or CBasic Compiler. The very idea of a laptop computer was simply beyond the pale. We were happy to work on PC made by long defunct companies. The exciting news of the day was getting Sideways to print horizontal spreadsheets in Lotus 1-2-3, and learning all of the WordStar codes to insert in our case analyses, such as running the numbers on the costs of debeaking chickens and outfitting them with red eye lenses to keep them from cannibalizing each other. (The answer turns out to be using red lights in the hen house, as was revealed at the end of the case, but what did we know?).

    MIssing from the article was information on which version of Mac OS the portable ran, and a screen shot of the main screen when it booted up and the Apple logo of the day. I finally got into Macs with a PowerMac when it came out. 🙂

  7. Gene Krebs Says:
    September 21st, 2009 at 10:38 am

    Wonderful article! Forgot to mention that in my first comment.

  8. Alan Rothberg Says:
    September 21st, 2009 at 10:51 am

    I worked as a tech for ComputerLand during the 1980’s-90’s, where I received my Apple certifications. These were great machines, but certainly had their problems. Many had defective motherboards, and I got to the point I could tear down these units in my sleep 🙂

    Good article, thanks for the memories!

  9. DanCMos Says:
    September 21st, 2009 at 2:08 pm

    Very interesting indeed. I remember using a Compaq Portable at the time. We were selling Saba Handscanners, which were very high-tech. They could read sentences and OCR them into a computer.

    I remember seeing Macs back them vaguely. I now have a MacBook Air and only use PCs at work (government, ugh).

    I too wish you had screen shots.

  10. maclifer Says:
    September 21st, 2009 at 2:25 pm

    I, too, have a Portable that I purchased about 6 years ago for nostalgia… even comes with the nifty custom padded case. Not realizing how easy it is to teardown makes me want to dig in and take some pics of it sometime. Thanks!

  11. Paul Says:
    September 21st, 2009 at 3:18 pm

    I, too, have one of these. I wonder what they’re worth. Got mine for $300. Still works!

  12. Constable Odo Says:
    September 21st, 2009 at 3:37 pm

    Very interesting article. No problem at all to click through 18 pages.

    Now, why don’t they build iMacs and MacMinis with that sort of accessability? Though I’m not sure if Apple really wants people mucking about in their computer’s innards. Just kidding. Apple doesn’t cater to the type of people who are going to be field-stripping their Macs except for the top-of-the-line Mac Pros. I just think it’s slick the way that Portable was designed to be taken apart like that.

  13. Homer J. Fong Says:
    September 21st, 2009 at 6:43 pm

    “No problem at all to click through 18 pages.”

    Yeah, but you’re missing the point — there’s NO reason this has to be on 18 separate pages, unless they’re just trying to generate more page views for their advertisers (ya think?).

    In any case, I resent being manipulated like this…like some trained animal being made to jump through hoops, so they’re only getting 2 page views from me. They can take the other 16 pages/paragraphs and shove ’em.

  14. Harry McCracken Says:
    September 21st, 2009 at 10:31 pm

    @homer,

    I’m sorry if you don’t like slideshows, but no hard feelings if you click twice, once, or not at all–and we make the number of slides prominent so you can decide whether you wish to proceed or not. Ultimately it’s up to you to decide whether it’s worth your while to click, watch ads on TV, flip past ads in magazines, etc, etc. But if there isn’t a critical mass of people who find these slideshows to be worth a few clicks, it’d be pointless to do ’em.

    As I’ve said before (and will probably say again) I can’t please everybody so I try to please myself. I find slideshows to be OK, so I do them (and have tweaked the format several times to make them easier to view, and will probably do so again). I don’t like more textual articles being chopped up too much, so I don’t break most stories into multiple pages at all, and when I do, I break them up only every 1000-1200 words or so (at many sites, it’s more like every 400 words). I can’t stand “keyword” ads that involve linking words in stories to popup ads, so you’ve never see them here.

    –Harry

  15. Steve Says:
    September 22nd, 2009 at 6:00 am

    On page 18 there’s an error regarding the storage capacity of an iPod touch — it should be “8 to 32 gigabytes” not “8 to 32 megabytes”.

    Great article. I remember seeing one of these behemoths back-in-the-day when I worked for Citibank. They packed an impressive amount of technology inside them for their time, and its nice to see that technology exposed in a teardown.

  16. seanchk Says:
    September 22nd, 2009 at 6:46 am

    Great article and images, I was never an Apple user (Amiga for me) but I could always appreciate them and more so now I’ve got an Iphone.

    Amazing how far we’ve come in such a short space of time. Last week I almost purchased a 256GB USB memory stick, my first hard drive was only 20mb and definitely wouldn’t fit in your pocket !!

  17. Jonathan Says:
    September 22nd, 2009 at 7:17 am

    and even your post is somewhat outdated so far as the tech goes…it doesn’t reflect the new 32 and 64GB iterations of the iPod Touch…

  18. Hatuxka Says:
    September 22nd, 2009 at 10:25 am

    I only ever saw one of these being used once. A writer for one of the bay area computer papers/mags and a prominent BMUG personality (carried it around in a shoulder bag on his bike, I was to read later) had one and was interviewing an exhibitor at MacWorld. He had it partially pulled out of it’s Apple-made soft case and awkwardly propped on a corner of the exhibitors table while typing into it as the guy talked. Knowing it was 16 lbs and that expensive made me think a bit less of the writer. That degree of mac-centeredness was slightly nutty. When he (or was it another at the time similarly popular mac activist/writer?) referred to a “St. Steve”, it no longer sounded tongue-in-cheek, but servile. It was not a mac portable, but a mac luggable, something that was even seen as kinda laughable at the time. What great innovations did it foretell the later advent of? I’m at a loss to think of one. It was an SE stuffed clunkily into a smaller space.

  19. melgross Says:
    September 22nd, 2009 at 12:39 pm

    Very interesting. I’ve got some old models in my attic. I almost bought one of these, but the idea of carrying it around was too much.

    Don’t mind the 18 pages. but, would like to see a “return to 1st page” option so it’s easier to bookmark.

  20. wakkajawakka Says:
    September 22nd, 2009 at 2:54 pm

    Lunar didn’t have to time to click through all the pages “in this lifetime”, yet, in this same lifetime, took the time to post a whine about it!

  21. Frederico Says:
    September 22nd, 2009 at 5:48 pm

    Harry, while I, too, am not a huge fan of multipage articles and slide shows, I will give you credit for making a static-position navigation bar at the TOP of the image, so that I need not move my mouse one pixel to click ‘next’. The slideshows I abandon are the ones where the nav bar dynamically moves about the page based on image size and text; where I have to constantly scroll, hunt and point just to find it lurking beneath every varied image.

    As long as you make your slideshows this easy to click through, I’m happy to give you the ad hits. I even did a click-through to one of your sponsors to show my appreciation. Might even buy what they’re selling.

  22. Harry McCracken Says:
    September 22nd, 2009 at 9:20 pm

    @Frederico: Yup, I revamped slideshows so you can click without moving your mouse or scrolling–thx for noticing. And yes, our old format WAS a pain…

    –Harry

  23. Hamranhansenhansen Says:
    September 28th, 2009 at 6:42 pm

    > Knowing it was 16 lbs and that expensive made me think a bit less
    > of the writer. That degree of mac-centeredness was slightly nutty

    He had the last laugh, though, because he’s had the same writing workflow for over 20 years, GUI for over 20 years, laser printing for over 20 years. Now he probably has a MacBook Air which is 1.2 kilos.

    Some people are Mac-centric because they’re creativity-centric, not technology-centric. Using a PC is still hard today, but in 1989 it was ludicrous. And paper has been obsolete since 1984. So forgive some of us who simply aren’t interested in computers but have digital work to do.

  24. Savannah Milsap Says:
    October 4th, 2009 at 8:03 pm

    ?berlasse es Ihnen zu entscheiden.

  25. yhwebcn Says:
    August 10th, 2010 at 1:02 am

    Watch is an accessory, only one person should not be:
    50 Fathoms Watches

    Breguet Classique Tourbillon Watches
    the pursuit of quality of life of people now have become a mainstream,
    Bell & Ross Watches Accessories
    BR 01 – Instrument 46mm Watches
    from the exterior to the movement of people everywhere to work are moving fine.so more and more customers will buy a few watches to match different to clothing differently occasions,
    BR 02 – Instrument 44mm Watches
    such as have to watch while swimming at a business dinner to watch and definitely not one to wear light-colored shirt and suit T shirt to watch the same can not, therefore, essentially, the watch is a work of art,
    BR 03 – Instrument 42mm Watches
    Breitling Accessories Watches

  26. yhwebcn Says:
    August 10th, 2010 at 1:03 am

    please come here, we are lowest price replica Watches supplier,
    Royal Oak Offshore Watches
    Replica Riviera Watches
    offer high-class fake Watches in about 100 famous brands。Watch the quality is good and my hands the final say, the buyer's evaluation of the quality of the watch is the most objective evaluation.Replica Breguet Type XX Watches
    Allows you to truly experience the fun of online shopping, and that one of the baby's expectations.Audemars Piguet Jules Audemars Watches
    Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Watches
    Welcome customers to patronize, to buy more discount more than the price the same product we; the same price we are more than quality;the same quality service site that we were honest promise:Quality assurance; customer first; credit management,Avenger Skyland

  27. yhwebcn Says:
    August 10th, 2010 at 1:03 am

    So that every customer can buy the rest assured that with the peace of mind! Your satisfaction is my greatest joy! Either give it away or bring their own are a good choice!Replica Swiss Chronomat Watch
    Breitling Evolution Watches
    In order to meet their own pursuit of the watch, although the top watch can not afford this life,Replica Swiss Montbrillant Watch
    Replica Swiss Navitimer Watch
    Replica Swiss Superocean Watch
    and a few pieces, but can buy high quality imitation table … reason to believe that a different way of life for those who desire for the urban population power with lore.

20 Trackbacks For This Post

  1. Macintosh Portable skończył 20 lat | DailyTECH.pl - Codzienna dawka technologii Says:
    September 21st, 2009 at 9:16 am

    […] Technologizer oferty pracy WorkIT.plProgramista RubyOnRails, Wielkopolskie, HumanWay.pl (etat)Programista […]

  2. A fond look at a blast from the past: the Mac Portable Says:
    September 21st, 2009 at 10:07 am

    […] down memory lane. Harry was letting us know that Technologizer blogger Benj Edwards had written a 20th anniversary teardown post about the first truly mobile Mac — the Mac […]

  3. A fond look at a blast from the past: the Mac Portable – ComputerUser.ca Says:
    September 21st, 2009 at 10:08 am

    […] down memory lane. Harry was letting us know that Technologizer blogger Benj Edwards had written a 20th anniversary teardown post about the first truly mobile Mac — the Mac Portable. Why is this a trip down memory lane for me […]

  4. Its All About A Digital Technology » Blog Archive » Mac Portable gets a 20th anniversary vivisection Says:
    September 22nd, 2009 at 7:13 am

    […] Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments […]

  5. Mac Portable gets a 20th anniversary vivisection | Technology & Lifestyle Tech News Says:
    September 22nd, 2009 at 7:22 am

    […] Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments […]

  6. Mac Portable gets a 20th anniversary vivisection – ComputerUser.ca Says:
    September 22nd, 2009 at 7:53 am

    […] appeared on Engadget on Tue, 22 Sep 2009 08:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read | Permalink | Email […]

  7. You’ve Come A Long Way, Apple | Life, Liberty, and Property Says:
    September 22nd, 2009 at 8:19 am

    […] From Technologizer: The difference between the Mac Portable and the iPhone or iPod Touch (seen here) is a stunning reminder of technology’s relentless, progress. One strains your arm like a 16 pound briefcase, the other fits in your back pocket. A 16 MHZ CPU powers one, a 412-Mhz or 532-Mhz CPU powers the other. One includes one megabyte of RAM, the other includes 128 megabytes. One contains a 40MB fixed disk, the other 8,000 to 32,000 megabytes. One has a 2,400 bit-per-second phone modem, the other contains a 54,000,000 bit-per-second wireless network interface and a wireless telephone. Most staggeringly, one cost $12,667 (adjusted to 2009 dollars), and the other costs $99-$299. The difference? Twenty years. […]

  8. ITM » Archivo » Mac Portable cumple 20 años y lo celebran descuartizándolo Says:
    September 22nd, 2009 at 10:27 am

    […] enlace de lectura y curiosea entre las imágenes. Está permitido soltar la lagrimilla.Read | Permalink | Email […]

  9. Mac Portable, primeiro laptop da Apple, comemora seu 20º aniversário | InsideTechno Says:
    September 22nd, 2009 at 5:11 pm

    […] laptop, o Mac Portable. Para comemorar o aniversário desse aparelho, que pesava incríveis 7kg, o Technologizer resolveu fazer uma interessante sessão […]

  10. Top Posts « WordPress.com Says:
    September 22nd, 2009 at 5:40 pm

    […] Inside the Macintosh Portable A Misunderstood Machine On September 20th, 1989, Apple released the Macintosh Portable, the first true mobile Mac and […] […]

  11. Mac Portable gets a 20th anniversary vivisection | L&C Tech Talk Says:
    September 22nd, 2009 at 6:04 pm

    […] Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments Tags: 20th anniversary, anniversary, Apple, baud modem, behemoth, clamshell design, computer, design, display, ebay, Engadget, floppy drive, Gadget, goodwill, huh, Inch, inflation, keyboard, Kind, late date, lefties, Macintosh, macintosh computer, name, nbsp, Portable, pound, pound behemoth, Read, ring, September, someone, stab, trackball, x 400 Published by dondavanzo on Sep 22, 2009 under Engadget Exclusive, Technology Buzz | Post your comment now « PS3 Motion Controller launching in March? […]

  12. gadgets » Blog Archive » 20 Jahre Mac Portable: Als 7,2 Kilogramm als tragbar galten Says:
    September 23rd, 2009 at 1:11 am

    […] Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments […]

  13. [mundo mac] Mac Portátil completa 20 anos. Como comemorar? Lembrando como ele era. | TargetHD Gadget Blog Says:
    September 23rd, 2009 at 9:30 am

    […] Em setembro de 1989, a Apple lança seu primeiro computador portátil, o Mac Portable. Desde então, houve muita evolução no conceito para chegar no que temos hoje em dia (o Mac Portable, por exemplo, tinha 7 kg de peso). Porém, hoje, a nostalgia que está por trás deste tipo de produtos sempre segue os nossos corações. Por isso, a galera da Technologizer fez um pequeno tributo ao Portable, fazendo uma curiosa seção fotográfica do equipamento. E assim, é possível ver maiores detalhes do equipamento: ele tinha uma tela monocromática de 10″, processador Motorola de 16 Mhz, 1 MB de TRAM, 40 MB de HD e unidade de disquete de 3,5″. Seu preço era de “apenas” US$ 6.500. Se quiser ver o ensaio fotográfico completo e relembrar tudo o que já se passou com este equipamento, clique aqui e relembre. […]

  14. Apple Rumors: The Early Years | Technologizer Says:
    September 28th, 2009 at 2:15 am

    […] Inside Apple's first Mac Portable […]

  15. Happy Birthday, Mac Luggable! « My Blog Says:
    September 29th, 2009 at 4:23 am

    […] Take a look at this 20th Anniversary Teardown Harry McCracken did over at Technologizer.com – very […]

  16. Happy Birthday, Mac Luggable! | My Blog Says:
    September 29th, 2009 at 4:39 pm

    […] Take a look at this 20th Anniversary Teardown Harry McCracken did over at Technologizer.com – very […]

  17. Primeiro notebook criado pela Apple completa 20 anos | MacMagazine Says:
    September 30th, 2009 at 1:14 pm

    […] a história dos notebooks da Apple. E, se você se interessou pelo Mac Portable, vale uma passeada pela galeria especial criada pelo […]

  18. Primeiro notebook criado pela Apple Says:
    October 1st, 2009 at 2:37 am

    […] a história dos notebooks da Apple. E, se você se interessou pelo Mac Portable, vale uma passeada pela galeria especial criada pelo […]

  19. Happy Birthday Macintosh Portable | 8Bit Aficionado Says:
    September 20th, 2010 at 10:59 am

    […] https://www.technologizer.com/2009/09/20/inside-the-macintosh-portable/ This entry was posted in Apple Macintosh Portable. Bookmark the permalink. ← Evans & Sutherland SPC9800 Computer on Ebay […]

  20. The CPU Shack Museum » Blog Archive » Grampa Mac Portable, meet the baby MacBook Air Says:
    November 11th, 2010 at 5:11 pm

    […] Its RAM was handled by SRAM, which was faster (then DRAM), and allowed an actual sleep mode. Technologizer did a tear down of one last year for its 20th anniversary. […]