PowerBook 2400c

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PowerBook 2400c
Manufacturer	Apple Computer
Introduced	May 8, 1997
Discontinued	March 14, 1998
Price	US$3500
CPU	PowerPC 603e, 180 or 240 (Japan only) MHz
RAM	16 MB, expandable to 112 MB, 60 ns SO-DIMM
OS	System 7.6.1

The PowerBook 2400c (codenames: "Comet", "Nautilus") is a subnotebook in Apple Computer's PowerBook range of Macintosh computers. It was designed and sold by Apple, but the manufacturer actually was IBM^[1]. It was introduced in May 1997 as a late replacement for the PowerBook Duo 2300c, which had been the last of the compact PowerBook Duo series. The 2400c was discontinued in March 1998, with no immediate replacement - the model that followed it was the much larger PowerBook G3 Series (known as "Wallstreet"/"Mainstreet"). However, in Japan a 2400c with a 240 MHz CPU (codenamed "Mighty Cat") was offered shortly after the original model's discontinuation, until the end of the year.

The 2400c uses the same PowerPC 603e processor as the preceding Duo 2300c, but at a much higher CPU clock - 180 instead of 100 MHz. However, the 2400 is unable to utilize the DuoDock like the 2300c was, making the lack of an internal removable drive much more noticeable. It was sold with an external floppy drive, but no CD-ROM. Peripheral ports on the machine include: ADB, serial com, floppy, VGA video out, SCSI, sound in / out (stere miniplug), infrared, and two PCMCIA card slots. The PCMCIA slots officially accept only 2 Type II or 1 Type III PCMCIA-spec cards, but some users have applied simple motherboard modifications to allow the use of Cardbus expansion cards as well. The 2400 is built around a 10.4 inch active matrix color LCD screen, making the computer very compact indeed - it is slightly smaller and lighter, though a bit thicker, than a 12 inch iBook.

Due to its processor being located on a detachable daughter card, the PowerBook 2400c saw a small number of PowerPC G3 processor cards created for it. Companies such as Interware, Vimage, and Newer Technologies offered processor upgrades which would swap out the 603e for a G3 ranging from 240 MHz to 400 MHz. These cards are often highly sought after and can bring large dollar amounts at auction.