When Steve Jobs returned in the 90s he set out to simplify the company’s computer lineup. He created a 4 by 4 grid of both consumer and professional level of desktop and portables, with the iBook being a consumer-level portable.
Apple iBook 20th anniversary
Today is the iBook’s 20th anniversary, which was originally held in New York’s Macworld Expo 1999.
The iBook was an innovative machine during its time, featuring a clamshell design and translucent plastic shell encased in colorful rubber. Consumers could choose Tangerine, Blueberry or later models that were in Key Lime, Indigo and Graphite.
Originally priced at $1,599, the iBook had a 12-inch screen with 800 x 600 resolution, a trackpad and a full-sized keyboard, along with a retractable handle located right at the hinge. It was also the first to have 802.11b wireless networking, which was demonstrated on-stage by Steve Jobs and Phil Schiller.
The iBook went through several redesigns in 2001 and 2006, but the original will always be a special milestone for Apple.
