the greatest vintage apple-collection

Compact Disc goes mobile

In 1996, Apple finally delivered what many had been waiting for: the PowerBook 1400c with an integrated CD drive. After the detours and compromises of the 5300 series, this felt like a long overdue step.

The design of the PowerBook 1400c was compelling. Clean lines, a compact form, interchangeable modules – a notebook that once again seemed well-thought-out. The performance, however, was a disappointment. Apple only used a 117 MHz PowerPC processor, exactly the same one as in the PowerBook 5300ce. Later models with 133 MHz or 166 MHz changed little – they didn't offer noticeably more performance.

The true strength of the PowerBook 1400c only became apparent with the upgrade option. The device could be equipped with a G3 processor up to 333 MHz. I performed this upgrade – and it was a godsend. Suddenly, the PowerBook felt fast, responsive, and modern. The 1400c could finally show what it was capable of.

Aside from the initial processor choice, the PowerBook 1400c was a very solid, robust, and attractive device. It felt high-quality, was reliable, and simply a joy to use every day.

One thing is particularly remarkable: Even almost 30 years later, the PowerBook 1400c shows hardly any weaknesses. Neither the capacitors nor the overall build quality cause any problems—a rarity for PowerBooks of this era. Only the hinges are considered a potential weak point, as they can develop cracks in the plastic over time.

My personal experience is all the more gratifying: None of my many PowerBook 1400c units exhibit these problems. This speaks to the quality of this model—and to the fact that Apple was back on the right track.

The PowerBook 1400c may not have been a performance marvel out of the box, but it was an honest, durable, and well-designed notebook. With the G3 upgrade, it became one of the best classic PowerBooks ever made.