PowerBook Duo · The Beige Era · 1993
PowerBook Duo 270c
The 270c squeezed active-matrix color into the slim Duo idea, making the dockable subnotebook feel properly premium.
PowerBook Duo 270c: key facts
When was the PowerBook Duo 270c released?
The PowerBook Duo 270c was released in October 1993. Apple discontinued it in May 1994.
How much did the PowerBook Duo 270c cost?
The PowerBook Duo 270c launched at $3,100 in 1993 — about $6,758 in today’s money (approximate, US CPI).
What are the PowerBook Duo 270c’s specs?
The PowerBook Duo 270c used a Motorola 68030 running at 33 MHz, with 4 MB of memory and 240 MB of storage. It ran System 7.
Why does the PowerBook Duo 270c matter?
First color PowerBook Duo.
Full specifications
| CPU | Motorola 68030 · 33 MHz |
|---|---|
| Cores | 1 |
| Memory (RAM) | 4 MB (up to 32 MB) |
| Storage | 240 MB |
| Display | 8.4" active-matrix color |
| GPU | Integrated / NuBus video |
| Ports | SCSI, ADB, serial |
| Weight | Varies by configuration |
| Dimensions | Subnotebook dockable laptop |
| Operating system | System 7 |
| Released | October 1993 |
| Discontinued | May 1994 |
| Launch price | $3,100 |
How the PowerBook Duo 270c compares to today
A 16 GB Apple Silicon MacBook Pro has about 4,100× more memory than this device shipped with.
At 33 MHz, the clock is roughly 97× 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 60 modern phone photos.
Launched at $3,100 in 1993 — about $6,758 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 Duo models
Open the PowerBook Duo 270c in the interactive archive →
Last updated: 2026-06-27