Apple iBook

The iBook was a line of laptop computers sold by Apple Computer between 1999 and 2006. It was targeted at the consumer and education markets, with fewer features and lower prices than the PowerBook, and more recently, the MacBook Pro. more...

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The 2nd generation (white) iBook with translucent case finish (up to 800 MHz) was known as one of the most stylish and desirable designs in a notebook line. Arguably, this has been due to the fact that material quality has deteriorated in the newer iBook G4 and MacBook line. An example of this being the opaque plastic finish on the iBook G4 and MacBook, compared to the "glass over white" of the original 2nd generation iBook G3. The MacBook replaced the iBook line in May 2006.

iBook ("Clamshell")

After much speculation, Steve Jobs unveiled the consumer-targeted iBook laptop computer during the keynote presentation of Macworld Conference & Expo, New York City on July 21, 1999. The design was influenced by Apple's consumer desktop, the iMac, with a large distinctive shape, translucent clear and coloured plastics. Its marketing slogan was "iMac to go".

The iBook design catered to children and students. A carrying handle was built into the hinge. Apple demonstrated someone holding the iBook while jumping off a height (onto cushions) to tout the durability of the casing. Like the iMac, the iBook ran a PowerPC G3 chip, and included no legacy Apple interfaces. USB, Ethernet, modem ports and an optical drive were standard. The ports were placed uncovered along the side, as a cover was thought to be fragile. Similarly, there were no latches. The bottom surface had additional power connectors that allowed multiple iBooks to be easily charged on a custom-made rack.

The first iBook was the first mainstream computer ever designed and sold with internal wireless networking. The display bezel contained the wireless antenna, which attached to an optional internal wireless card. Lucent helped in creating this wireless capability and establish the industry standard. Apple released the AirPort Wireless Base Station at the same time.

There was heated debate over just many things such as the aesthetics, features, weight, performance, pricing. The iBook was heftier than the PowerBook of the time, with lower specifications. Standard features like PC card slots were absent, as were long rumoured features like touch-screens, and an ultra-long battery life. The iBook was labelled "toilet seat", among other things, due to the distinctive design. Nevertheless, this same distinctive design made the iBook visible in movies and televisions shows.

The iBook was a commercial success. The line continually received processor, memory, hard disk upgrades, and new colors. FireWire and video out were later added.

Read more at Wikipedia.org