Apple Macintosh PowerBook Duo 2300C/100
I have the main unit, power adapter and Apple Duo Dock 2.
type computer
country USA
year 1995
os Mac OS 7.5.3
cpu PowerPC 603e
speed 100 MHz
ram 40 MB (standard 8 MB)
hd 4 GB (standard 750 MB)
graphic 9,5″ active-matrix LCD 640 x 400
colors 16 bit
sound yes
ports power, serial, Duo Dock
Duo Dock 2
disk Apple SuperDrive 800/1440KB
hd SCSI 120 MB
port video, ADB, SCSI, Serial (2), microphone, sound out, security lock, power, NuBus (2)
The Apple Macintosh PowerBook Duo 2300c/100 — The Last Duo
Released in August 1995, the PowerBook Duo 2300c/100 was the last and most powerful model in the PowerBook Duo series. Using a 100 MHz PowerPC 603e processor — a significant leap from the 68030 chips of earlier Duo models — and featuring a 9.5-inch FSTN active-matrix colour display, the 2300c brought the Duo concept into the PowerPC era with substantially improved performance. It was the only PowerPC-based Duo ever produced, representing both the peak and the end of a fascinating chapter in portable Mac design.
The PowerPC Transition in the Duo
Fitting a PowerPC 603e processor into the Duo’s compact chassis was a significant engineering achievement. The 603e’s lower power consumption compared to the 601 chip used in desktop Power Macs made it suitable for the battery-powered Duo, while its 100 MHz clock speed delivered performance that was competitive with full-size PowerBook models. The FSTN active-matrix colour display — producing 256 colours at 640×480 pixels — transformed the visual experience compared to the grayscale screens of earlier Duo models.
The End of the Duo Line
The 2300c was discontinued in 1997 when Apple consolidated its PowerBook line around the thinner, more capable PowerBook 3400 and G3 series. The arrival of these faster machines with built-in drives and ports made the Duo Dock concept less compelling, and Apple chose simplicity over the elegance of the dual-mode Duo system. The 2300c remains the most capable Duo ever made and is highly prized by collectors who appreciate how close it came to perfectly realising the ultralight portable Mac vision.