Apple has influenced everything from unibody laptop cases to high-res screens.
By Devindra Hardawar Oct. 27, 2026 7:00 am EST Nguyenducquang/Getty Images Add Engadget on Google: Google DiscoverThe dream of a truly portable Mac is almost as old as the Macintosh itself. Five years after the debut of the original Macintosh desktop in 1984, Apple launched the disastrously expensive, 16-pound Macintosh Portable. It failed quickly. But out of the ashes came the PowerBook 100 in 1991, followed by the more refined PowerBook 500 and PowerBook G3 in 1994. Apple finally struck mainstream consumer gold with the colorful iBook G3 in 1999. With a small handle and an adorably rounded case, what more could you want? It wasn't exactly fast, but it was a clear sign that Apple was aiming to make computers that appeal to the masses.
