PowerBook 5300
Template:Short description Template:Fanpov Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox information appliance
The PowerBook 5300 is the first generation of PowerBook laptops manufactured by Apple Computer to use the PowerPC processor. Released in August 1995, these PowerBooks were notable for being the first to feature hot-swappable expansion modules for a variety of different units such as Zip drives; PC Card slots as standard; and an infrared communication port.[1] In common with most preceding Macintosh portables, SCSI, Serial, and ADB ports were included as standard. An internal expansion slot was also available for installing a variety of modules including Ethernet and video cards to drive a second monitor in mirroring or dual-screen modes.
Although a significant advance over preceding portable Macs, the PowerBook 5300 suffered from a number of design faults and manufacturing problems that have led to it being cited as among the worst Apple products of all time.[2] Among other issues, it is one of the first laptops to suffer negative publicity from battery fires,[3] and features a hot-swappable drive bay with insufficient space for an internal CD-ROM drive.
Design
The PowerBook 5300 was designed during 1993 and 1994 under the codename M2. Compared with the preceding PowerBook 500 series, the 5300 was explicitly designed to be as small as possible (which precluded the use of a CD-ROM drive) and featured a more compact but less curvy design. Pop-out feet were used instead of the rotating rocker-style feet typical of earlier PowerBooks, and a slightly darker shade of grey was used for the plastic casing.[1] The PowerBook 190 and 190cs used an identical casing and shared many features and internal components, but used the older and slower Motorola 68LC040 processor instead, which could be upgraded to a full PPC processor by swapping the logic board.
Specifications
There are four models in the 5300 series, ranging from the low-end greyscale 5300 to the deluxe, high-resolution, TFT-equipped 5300ce:
| Model | Display | CPU clock | Standard RAM | Retail price (US) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PowerBook 5300 | 640×480 pixel passive matrix greyscale LCD | 100 MHz | 8 MB | $2,300 |
| PowerBook 5300cs | 10.4" 640×480 pixel passive matrix color LCD | 8/16 MB | $2,900 | |
| PowerBook 5300c | 10.4" 640×480 pixel active matrix color LCD | $3,900 | ||
| PowerBook 5300ce | 10.4" 800×600 pixel active matrix color LCD | 117 MHz | 32 MB[4] | $6,800 |
Problems
For a variety of reasons, the PowerBook 5300 series has been viewed as a disappointment. Problems with cracked cases and overheating batteries prompted several recalls,[5] while some users were simply unimpressed with the specifications of the machine and its lackluster performance. Some systems, after heavy use, would develop hinge problems; cracking of the hinge covers, as well as internal ribbon cables wearing/tearing and causing the display to show vertical lines and occasionally black out completely. This problem existed on earlier Powerbook models as well, most notably the Powerbook 500 series (including 520, 540c and the black-cased, higher-spec Japan-only 550c)[2]
Lack of L2 cache
Although the PowerPC 603e processor built into the 5300 series was relatively fast for its time, because these machines lacked a Level 2 cache, real world performance was much less than the CPU frequency would suggest.[2]
Expansion bay options
The variety of expansion bay options available was wide, but because of the size and shape of the computer, fitting a CD-ROM drive into the available space wasn't possible.[1] Apple had a prototype CD-ROM module compatible with non-standard 80 mm disks that would have been used with the PowerBook 5300 series, but finished versions of this device were never released.Script error: No such module "Unsubst". Instead, it was planned that the 5300 series would use 3.5 inch magneto-optical drive modules initially, with the option of releasing a stretched version a year or two later that had space for a full-sized CD-ROM drive.[1]
Batteries
Template:Multiple image Two early production PowerBook 5300s caught fire, one at an Apple employee's house and another at the factory; it turned out that the Sony-manufactured lithium-ion batteries had overheated while recharging. Apple recalled the 5300s sold (around a hundred machines) and replaced the batteries on these and all subsequent 5300s with nickel metal hydride batteries that provided only about 70% the endurance.[6] At the time, the media viewed the problems with the PowerBook 5300 series as yet another example of Apple's decline.[5][7]
Legacy
Apple's next high-end series of portables, the PowerBook 3400 series introduced in February 1997, shared an almost identical form factor with the 5300, right down to being able to share many of the same hot-swappable expansion modules. However, the 3400 series were substantially different on the inside, featuring DMA and PCI architecture.[8] The first series of PowerBook G3 portables released in November 1997 were internally even more advanced, being built around the PowerPC G3 processor, though they still retained the basic PowerBook 5300 form factor. Apple did not introduce portables with an entirely new form factor until March 1998 with the release of the "Wallstreet" G3 PowerBooks.
Popular use in media
The 5300 is seen in several movies during the 1990s, including Liar Liar (1997), Free Willy 3: The Rescue (1997), Home Alone 3 (1997), The Saint (1997), Volcano (1997), My Best Friend's Wedding (1997), Jingle All the Way (1996), Ransom (1996), Fled (1996) and Independence Day (1996).[9]
Timeline
| Timeline of portable Macintoshes Script error: No such module "Navbar". |
|---|
| <timeline>
DateFormat = mm/dd/yyyy Define $now = 12/21/2025 Define $later = 12/21/2026 Period = from:07/01/1989 till:$later Define $skip = at:end # Force a blank line Define $dayunknown = 15 # what day to use if it's actually not known ImageSize = width:1200 height:auto barincrement:22 TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal PlotArea = right:5 left:20 bottom:120 top:5 Colors = id:bg value:white
id:mp value:rgb(0.9,0.9,1) legend:Macintosh_Portable
id:mpa value:rgb(0.85,0.85,1)
id:100 value:rgb(0.75,0.85,1) legend:PowerBook_100_series
id:100a value:rgb(0.8,0.9,1)
id:duo value:rgb(1,0.9,0.8) legend:PowerBook_Duo
id:duoa value:rgb(1,0.95,0.85)
id:500 value:rgb(0.6,0.9,1) legend:PowerBook_500_series
id:500a value:rgb(0.6,0.95,1)
id:x300 value:rgb(1,0.85,0.85) legend:PowerBook_x300_series
id:x400 value:rgb(0.95,0.8,0.75) legend:PowerBook_x400_series
id:pbg3 value:rgb(0.7,1,0.8) legend:PowerBook_G3_series
id:pbg3a value:rgb(0.8,1,0.9)
id:pbg4 value:rgb(0.2,0.9,0.6) legend:PowerBook_G4
id:pbg4a value:rgb(0.4,1,0.5)
id:ibg3 value:rgb(1,0.96,0.7) legend:iBook
id:ibg4 value:rgb(1,1,0.5)
id:mb1 value:rgb(0.9,0.7,0.8) legend:MacBook
id:mb2 value:rgb(0.9,0.6,0.8)
id:mba1 value:rgb(1,0.75,0.1) legend:MacBook_Air_(Intel)
id:mba2 value:rgb(0.9,0.7,0.1)
id:mbp1 value:rgb(0.8,0.7,1) legend:MacBook_Pro_(Intel)
id:mbp2 value:rgb(0.7,0.7,1)
id:mba3 value:rgb(0.4,0.55,0.9) legend:MacBook_Air_(Apple_silicon)
id:mba4 value:rgb(0.5,0.65,1)
id:mbp3 value:rgb(0.9,0.25,0.4) legend:MacBook_Pro_(Apple_silicon)
id:mbp4 value:rgb(1,0.35,0.5)
id:line value:rgb(0.2,0.2,0.2)
id:lightline value:rgb(0.8,0.8,0.8)
id:lighttext value:rgb(0.5,0.5,0.5)
id:current value:rgb(0.9,0.9,0.9) legend:Assuming_future_production
id:reference value:rgb(0.95,0.95,0.95) legend:Reference_desktop_Macs/PDA
id:reference2 value:rgb(0.9,0.9,0.9)
BackgroundColors = canvas:bg ScaleMajor = gridcolor:lighttext unit:year increment:1 start:01/01/1990 ScaleMinor = gridcolor:lightline unit:months increment:6 start:07/01/1989 Legend = orientation:vertical position:bottom columns:1 BarData = barset:main barset:alt barset:reference PlotData= width:15 textcolor:black shift:(5,-5) anchor:from fontsize:s barset:main color:mp from:09/20/1989 till:02/11/1991 text:"Mac Portable" barset:break color:mpa from:02/11/1991 till:10/21/1991 barset:break color:100 from:10/21/1991 till:08/03/1992 text:"100" $skip $skip color:100a from:10/21/1991 till:08/03/1992 text:"140" $skip $skip color:100a from:10/21/1991 till:10/19/1992 text:"170" barset:break color:duo from:10/19/1992 till:10/21/1993 text:"210" color:duo from:10/19/1992 till:07/27/1994 text:"230" $skip color:100 from:08/03/1992 till:06/07/1993 text:"145" color:100 from:10/19/1992 till:08/16/1993 text:"160" color:100 from:02/10/1993 till:12/13/1993 text:"165c" color:100 from:10/19/1992 till:05/16/1994 text:"180" barset:break color:duoa from:10/21/1993 till:05/16/1994 text:"250" $skip color:duoa from:10/21/1993 till:05/16/1994 text:"270c" shift: (-5,-5) color:100a from:06/07/1993 till:07/18/1994 text:"145B" color:100a from:08/16/1993 till:07/18/1994 text:"165" $skip $skip color:100 from:06/07/1993 till:03/14/1994 text:"180c" barset:break color:duo from:05/16/1994 till:11/14/1994 text:"280" $skip color:duo from:05/16/1994 till:01/14/1996 text:"280c" color:100 from:07/18/1994 till:10/14/1995 text:"150" $skip color:500a from:05/16/1994 till:06/10/1995 text:"520" color:500 from:05/16/1994 till:09/16/1995 text:"520c" color:500a from:05/16/1994 till:10/17/1994 text:"540" color:500 from:05/16/1994 till:08/16/1995 text:"540c" barset:break $skip color:x300 from:08/28/1995 till:02/01/1997 text:"2300c" $skip $skip color:100 from:08/28/1995 till:09/01/1996 text:"190/cs" shift: (-1,-5) color:x300 from:08/28/1995 till:09/01/1996 text:"5300/c/s/e" shift: (-5,-5) $skip color:500a from:05/30/1995 till:04/01/1996 text:"550c" barset:break $skip color:x400 from:05/08/1997 till:12/31/1998 text:"2400c" $skip color:x400 from:11/20/1996 till:05/06/1998 text:"1400c/cs" $skip color:x400 from:02/17/1997 till:03/14/1998 text:"3400c" barset:break $skip $skip $skip $skip color:pbg3 from:11/10/1997 till:03/14/1998 text:"12” PB G3" # Kanga barset:break $skip $skip $skip $skip color:pbg3a from:05/06/1998 till:09/01/1998 #Wallstreet color:pbg3a from:05/06/1998 till:09/01/1998 text:"13” PB G3" color:pbg3a from:05/06/1998 till:09/01/1998 text:"14” PB G3" barset:break $skip $skip $skip $skip $skip $skip color:pbg3 from:09/01/1998 till:05/10/1999 #PDQ barset:break color:ibg3 from:07/21/1999 till:04/30/2001 text:"12” iBook" $skip color:ibg3 from:02/16/2000 till:04/30/2001 text:"12” iBook SE" shift: (-10,-5) $skip $skip $skip color:pbg3a from:05/10/1999 till:02/16/2000 #Bronze Lombard barset:break $skip $skip $skip $skip $skip $skip color:pbg3 from:02/16/2000 till:01/09/2001 #Pismo barset:break color:ibg4 from:05/01/2001 till:10/21/2003 text:"White" $skip color:ibg4 from:01/07/2002 till:10/21/2003 text:"14” iBook" $skip $skip $skip color:pbg4 from:01/09/2001 till:09/16/2003 text:"15” PB G4" barset:break color:ibg3 from:10/22/2003 till:05/16/2006 text:"G4" $skip color:ibg3 from:10/22/2003 till:05/16/2006 text:"G4" $skip color:pbg4a from:01/07/2003 till:04/16/2006 text:"12” PB G4 Aluminum" $skip color:pbg4a from:09/16/2003 till:02/14/2006 text:"Aluminum" $skip color:pbg4a from:01/07/2003 till:04/24/2006 text:"17” PB G4 Aluminum" barset:break color:mb1 from:05/16/2006 till:10/20/2009 text:"13” MB" $skip $skip $skip $skip $skip color:mbp1 from:02/14/2006 till:10/14/2008 text:"15” MBP" $skip color:mbp1 from:04/24/2006 till:01/06/2009 text:"17” MBP" barset:break $skip $skip color:mba1 from:02/01/2008 till:10/19/2010 text:"13” MBA" $skip color:mb1 from:10/14/2008 till:06/08/2009 text:"13” MB Aluminum" shift: (-60,-5) $skip color:mbp2 from:10/14/2008 till:10/22/2013 text:"Unibody" $skip color:mbp2 from:01/06/2009 till:06/09/2012 text:"Unibody" barset:break color:mb2 from:10/20/2009 till:07/20/2011 text:"Polycarbonate Unibody" color:mba2 from:10/20/2010 till:10/27/2016 text:"11” MBA" color:mba2 from:10/20/2010 till:07/09/2019 text:"Tapered Unibody" $skip color:mbp2 from:06/08/2009 till:10/27/2016 text:"MBP Unibody" barset:break color:mb1 from:04/10/2015 till:04/19/2016 text:"12” MB Retina" $skip $skip $skip $skip color:mbp2 from:10/23/2012 till:06/05/2017 text:"13” MBP Retina" $skip $skip color:mbp1 from:06/09/2012 till:07/12/2018 text:"15” MBP Retina" barset:break color:mb2 from:04/19/2016 till:06/05/2017 color:mba1 from:10/30/2018 till:11/16/2020 text:"13” MBA Retina" shift: (-15,-5) $skip $skip color:mbp1 from:10/27/2016 till:11/10/2020 text:"Touch Bar (Two Ports)" $skip color:mbp1 from:10/27/2016 till:10/18/2021 text:"13” MBP Touch Bar (Four Ports)" color:mbp1 from:10/27/2016 till:11/13/2019 text:"15” MBP Touch Bar" barset:break color:mb1 from:06/05/2017 till:07/09/2019 $skip $skip $skip $skip $skip $skip color:mbp2 from:11/13/2019 till:10/18/2021 text:"16”" barset:break $skip color:mba3 from:11/17/2020 till:03/08/2024 text:"M1" $skip $skip color:mbp3 from:11/17/2020 till:06/06/2022 text:"M1" $skip color:mbp3 from:10/26/2021 till:$now text:"14” M-series Pro/Max" color:mbp3 from:10/26/2021 till:$now text:"M-series Pro/Max" barset:break $skip $skip color:mba4 from:07/15/2022 till:$now text:"13” MBA" color:mba3 from:06/13/2023 till:$now text:"15” MBA color:mbp4 from:06/06/2022 till:10/30/2023 text:"M2" barset:break $skip $skip $skip $skip color:mbp3 from:10/30/2023 till:$now text:"14” M-series" barset:break $skip $skip color:current from:$now till:$later color:current from:$now till:$later color:current from:$now till:$later $skip color:current from:$now till:$later color:current from:$now till:$later barset:reference color:reference from:start till:04/01/1994 text:"< Compact Macintoshes" barset:break color:reference2 from:04/02/1994 till:11/01/1997 text:"Power Macintosh" barset:break color:reference from:11/02/1997 till:08/30/1999 text:"PM G3" barset:break color:reference2 from:08/31/1999 till:06/23/2003 text:"Power Mac G4" barset:break color:reference from:06/24/2003 till:08/06/2006 text:"Power Mac G5" barset:break color:reference2 from:08/07/2006 till:06/29/2007 text:"Mac Pro" shift:(-5,-5) barset:break color:reference from:06/29/2007 till:04/03/2010 text:"iPhone" barset:break color:reference2 from:04/03/2010 till:04/24/2015 text:"iPad" barset:break color:reference from:04/24/2015 till:12/14/2017 text:"Watch" barset:break color:reference2 from:12/14/2017 till:11/17/2020 text:"iMac Pro" barset:break color:reference from:11/17/2020 till:end text:"Apple silicon" </timeline> Script error: No such module "Labelled list hatnote". |
References
External links
Script error: No such module "Navbox".
- ↑ a b c d Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ a b c lowendmac.com: PowerBook 5300: A Compromised Mac Template:Webarchive
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Template:Cite magazine
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".