Kupitero's Keep Gadgets Page

On to Kupitero's obsolete computers/gadgets...(please note that these are all actual pictures)!

Apple "Clamshell" iBook:

One of the most unusually-designed notebooks made by Apple that was released in 1999, this "clamshell-inspired" notebook was the only notebook Apple ever introduced in different colors (the one seen here is tangerine). A lot of people also derided its appearance, saying, "it looks like a toilet seat cover."

Despite its very controversial design, it also came with a lot of firsts in notebook technology. It was the very first notebook to use wireless networking (WiFi (802.11b) or, as Apple named it: AirPort). Unlike its PC laptop counterpart that enabled or used WiFi usually via a PCMCIA wireless card that stuck-out very ugly on the side, the iBook has the AirPort card cleverly concealed underneath the easily-removable keyboard! The WiFi antenna is also built-in around the periphery of the LCD screen for better coverage and reception.

There is also a retractable handle but NO latch to open up the unit. But the clever design made sure that the notebook opens and shuts perfectly well with no obtrusive buttons nor ugly locks to fumble with. Hence, nothing mars its sleek, smooth edges.

The original iBook came with a 300 mhz G3 processor, 64MB of SODIMM/SDRAM , an ATI Rage Mobility video (4MB of VRAM), 24X CD-ROM drive & a 6GB of hard drive. Except for the CPU and video, all the rest of the above are upgradeable. Also built-in were sound, 56K modem,10/100 Mbps Ethernet & a USB port. The 12" LCD screen is crisp but is hampered by its max of only 800 x 600 resolution.

The keyboard maybe a bit cheesy but still has a nice tactile-feedback & is easily detachable for installation of the AirPort card (optional) as well as quick memory upgrades (max of 320 MB).

A lot clamshell iBooks are still in active use today, and Apple -with the release of their now signature "Snow White" and "Titanium" colored iBooks - stopped producing their candy-colored versions of the iBook altogether... the last being the iBook SE (FireWire).

NOTE: The original iBook (Tangerine) pictured above still faithfully serves as a backup for the ancient Apple G4 - now a PowerMac G5 - that used to hosts these web pages. :)

Apple IIc Plus (with matching Apple Monochrome Display & stand):

Among the last models in the legendary Apple II series, the Apple IIc Plus was the fastest Apple II that was ever released. Powered by a MOS 65C02 chip clocked at 4 MHz, it was 4X faster than the original Apple II computer that helped Apple Computer become one of America's top, mainstream computer company.

Officially launched in September 1988 - a time when Apple engineers were already obsessed in making enhancements to their Macintosh series - the Apple IIc Plus was Apple's last computer that still used a non-graphical user interface (ProDos/AppleDOS 3.1). It was actually an enhancement of the original Apple IIc that the company originally released in 1984 which, coincidentally, was also the year they released the original Macintosh.

It came with a then, de-facto 3.5", 800k diskette drive instead of the older 5.25" ones, as well as a built-in power supply - unlike the original Apple IIc that came with a bulky, 12V power brick. A notable feature was the "keyboard button", which toggled the keyboard between 'QWERTY' and the DVORAK layout. The latter was named for its inventor, Dr. August Dvorak, who designed it with the goal of maximizing typing efficiency. It was also the beautiful design that made the Apple IIc -as well as the enhanced Apple IIc Plus- very popular among Apple collectors, since it won the Industrial Design Excellence Award in October 1984. The unit was discontinued in November 1990.

The one seen here comes with a matching Apple Monochrome Monitor and stand, which is a 11.5", paper-white variety made by Sony for Apple Computer (most of the components inside an Apple computer including the newer Macs are made specially by Sony for Apple). It's just the perfect size for the Apple IIc/IIc Plus.

Together, the Apple IIc Plus and the Apple Monochrome Monitor complement each other perfectly specially on days when - simply composing a letter or playing those games made my afternoons and evenings in the late 80s much easier - I long for the times when computing was more straightforward and the people...much warmer, humbler and kinder.

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