PowerBook · The Beige Era · 1997
PowerBook 2400c
A cult-favorite subnotebook, especially in Japan, the 2400c delivered serious PowerPC performance in a very small pre-Air package.
PowerBook 2400c: key facts
When was the PowerBook 2400c released?
The PowerBook 2400c was released in May 1997. Apple discontinued it in March 1998.
How much did the PowerBook 2400c cost?
The PowerBook 2400c launched at $3,500 in 1997 — about $6,965 in today’s money (approximate, US CPI).
What are the PowerBook 2400c’s specs?
The PowerBook 2400c used a PowerPC 603e running at 180 MHz, with 16 MB of memory and 1.3 GB of storage. It ran System 7.
Why does the PowerBook 2400c matter?
Tiny high-end PowerBook built with IBM Japan.
Full specifications
| CPU | PowerPC 603e · 180 MHz |
|---|---|
| Cores | 1 |
| Memory (RAM) | 16 MB (up to 80 MB) |
| Storage | 1.3 GB |
| Display | 10.4" active-matrix color |
| GPU | Integrated / NuBus video |
| Ports | SCSI, ADB, serial |
| Weight | Varies by configuration |
| Dimensions | Subnotebook |
| Operating system | System 7 |
| Released | May 1997 |
| Discontinued | March 1998 |
| Launch price | $3,500 |
How the PowerBook 2400c compares to today
A 16 GB Apple Silicon MacBook Pro has about 1,020× more memory than this device shipped with.
At 180 MHz, the clock is roughly 18× 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 325 modern phone photos.
Launched at $3,500 in 1997 — about $6,965 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 2400c in the interactive archive →
Last updated: 2026-06-27