PowerBook · The Beige Era · 1991
PowerBook 170
The top original PowerBook paired the new laptop layout with a crisp active-matrix screen and 25 MHz 68030.
PowerBook 170: key facts
When was the PowerBook 170 released?
The PowerBook 170 was released in October 1991. Apple discontinued it in October 1992.
How much did the PowerBook 170 cost?
The PowerBook 170 launched at $4,599 in 1991 — about $10,762 in today’s money (approximate, US CPI).
What are the PowerBook 170’s specs?
The PowerBook 170 used a Motorola 68030 running at 25 MHz, with 2 MB of memory and 40 MB of storage. It ran System 7.
Why does the PowerBook 170 matter?
High-end original PowerBook with an active-matrix display.
Full specifications
| CPU | Motorola 68030 · 25 MHz |
|---|---|
| Cores | 1 |
| Memory (RAM) | 2 MB (up to 8 MB) |
| Storage | 40 MB |
| Display | 9.8" active-matrix monochrome |
| GPU | Integrated / NuBus video |
| Ports | SCSI, ADB, serial |
| Weight | Varies by configuration |
| Dimensions | Clamshell laptop |
| Operating system | System 7 |
| Released | October 1991 |
| Discontinued | October 1992 |
| Launch price | $4,599 |
How the PowerBook 170 compares to today
A 16 GB Apple Silicon MacBook Pro has about 8,190× more memory than this device shipped with.
At 25 MHz, the clock is roughly 128× slower than a single performance core of a 16 GB Apple Silicon MacBook Pro — and that is before counting cores, width and IPC.
All of this storage holds about 10 modern phone photos.
Launched at $4,599 in 1991 — about $10,762 in today’s money (approx., US CPI).
Cross-architecture speed figures are clock-only and approximate; inflation figures use US CPI.
Did you know?
It is the kind of model collectors use to map Apple’s complicated family tree.
Related PowerBook models
Open the PowerBook 170 in the interactive archive →
Last updated: 2026-06-27