Blackbird was Apple’s code name for its first line of PowerBooks based on the 68LC040 processor. (The LC version of the 68040 draws less power and has no FPU.) The 500 series included several firsts: the first portable with a trackpad, the first with a PCMCIA (later PC Card) slot, the first with stereo speakers, the first with built-in ethernet, the first with an “intelligent” NiMH battery, the first with an expansion bay, and the first to automatically go to sleep when the lid was shut.

In the field, users raved about the dual battery slots, allowing up to 4 hours from a charged pair of batteries.

These PowerBooks also introduced a full-sized keyboard (with 12 function keys), had a 640 x 480 screen, and were designed so they could be upgraded with a PowerPC processor.

Specs (via Low End Mac)

• Cpu: 33 MHz 68LC040
• Fpu: none
• Ram: 4 MB, expandable to 36 MB using a special 100ns pseudostatic RAM card
• Rom: 2 MB
• Video: 512 KB VRAM, VID-14 port, supports 8-bit external video at 512 x 384, 640 x 480, 800 x 600, and 832 x 624 with video adapter
• Vram: 512 KB
• Display: 9.5″ 640 x 480 84 ppi 8-bit color active matrix
• Gestalt Id: 72
• Code Name: Blackbird
• Adb Ports: 1 port for keyboard and mouse
• Ethernet: AAUI connector, requires adapter
• Weight: 7.3 lb. with both batteries, 6.6 lb. with one battery
• Cpu Performance: 1.18, Speedometer 4.02 (Quadra 605 = 1.0), see our benchmark page
• Fpu Performance: 6.25, Speedometer 4.02 (Quadra 605 = 1.0), see our benchmark page
• Serial Ports: 1 DIN-8 RS-422 port on back of computer
• Scsi Ports: HDI30 connector on back of computer
• Power Supply: M1893 or M1910
• See: Online resources and links for the PowerBook 540c