Remembering the iBook: The Translucent Clamshell That Started Apple's Tiered Laptop Legacy

PC Magazine’s archives revisit Apple’s iBook, a translucent clamshell laptop introduced with a base price of $1,599 on Dec. 1, 1999. Positioned as a more affordable alternative to the expensive PowerBooks, the iBook helped start Apple’s tiered approach to laptops—a strategy later echoed by budget-focused models like the MacBook Neo. At 6.6 pounds and about two inches thick, it was bulky and slower than some IBM ThinkPads of the era, while missing common PC features such as a PC Card slot, floppy drive, serial/parallel ports, and even Apple’s FireWire. Still, it was notable for being the first mass-market consumer laptop to offer Wi‑Fi, via an optional AirPort card supporting up to 11Mbps.