Blackbird was Apple’s code name for a line of PowerBooks based on Motorola’s 68LC040 and 68040 processors. (The LC version draws less power and has no FPU.) The PowerBook 550c was available only in Japan. Differences from the rest of the 500-series include use of regular 68040 (not the stripped down 68LC040), a 750 MB hard drive, and a larger screen.

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.

Specs (via Low End Mac)

• Cpu: 33 MHz 68040
• Fpu: part of CPU
• Ram: 8 MB, expandable to 36 MB
• 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: 10.4″ 640 x 480 77 ppi 8-bit color active matrix
• Gestalt Id: 72
• Code Name: Blackbird
• Adb Ports: 1 port for keyboard and mouse
• Weight: 6.8 lb.
• 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 550c