Apple iBook G3
Hardware
Apple Computer, Inc.
Media Archeology Lab
Label written by Kalei Ganser
The Apple iBook with its signature “clamshell” design in color “Tangerine”. The clamshell design is attributed to the absence of a latch on the screen to keep the laptop firmly shut, instead, this detail is achieved by the hinges. The G3’s early bulky and colorful visage was abandoned in subsequent generations on iBooks. The iBook was manufactured from 1999 to 2006 with its successor being the more traditionally shaped MacBook. The appeals of the iBook were both in its portable design which included a handle integrated with the hinges and the variety of colors the computer came in. The design of the iBook was heavily influenced by the iMac even including the slogan “iMac to go” in marketing campaigns. The shape and appearance also show clear ties to the eMate 300, Apple’s only laptop running on a Newton operating system intended as a personal digital assistant. Traces of the iBook can be found in Apple laptops today including side-lying ports, closing latch, and varied color options.
Image citiation:
- Media Archeology Lab, Apple iBook G3, Creative Commons: Attribution, Non-Commercial