PowerBook 5300
 | This article may be written from a fan's point of view, rather than a neutral point of view. (October 2020) |
PowerPC 603e @ 100 - 117 MHz | |
| Memory | 8 MB, expandable to 64 MB (70 ns unique DRAM card) |
|---|---|
The PowerBook 5300 is the first generation of
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
Specifications
There are four models in the 5300 series, ranging from the low-end
| Model | Display | CPU clock | Standard RAM | Retail price (US) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PowerBook 5300 | 640×480 pixel 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
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.
Batteries
Two early production PowerBook 5300s caught fire, one at an Apple employee's house and another at the factory; it turned out that the
Legacy
Apple's next high-end series of portables, the
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) and Independence Day (1996).[9]
Timeline
| Timeline of portable Macintoshes |
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References
- ^ ISBN 1-888001-25-9
- ^ a b c lowendmac.com: PowerBook 5300: A Compromised Mac Archived July 3, 2016, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Laptop Batteries Are Linked to Fire Risk, New York Times, March 15, 2001, archived from the original on March 6, 2016, retrieved February 19, 2017
- ^ "Macintosh PowerBook 5300ce/117: Technical Specifications". Apple. Archived from the original on July 29, 2012. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
- ^ ISBN 1-59327-010-0. Archivedfrom the original on May 12, 2020. Retrieved December 17, 2011.
- ^ "Apple Recalls PowerBook 5300 Series". MacWorld Magazine. December 1995. pp. 36–37.
- ^ Apple woes continue, CNET.com, May 6, 1996, archived from the original on October 24, 2012, retrieved April 23, 2009
- ISBN 1-888001-25-9
- ^ "Starring the Computer - Apple Powerbook 5300". www.starringthecomputer.com. Archived from the original on May 6, 2020. Retrieved April 13, 2020.
External links
