From Apple's history: The PowerBook G3 with a bronze keyboard is coming

Even before Apple started the era of its MacBooks, it offered a product line of PowerBook laptops. In the first half of May 1999, it introduced the third generation of its PowerBook G3. The new laptops were 20% thinner, less than one kilogram lighter than their predecessors and boasted a new keyboard with a bronze finish.

The notebooks earned the nicknames Lombard (according to the internal code designation) or PowerBook G3 Bronze Keyboard, and enjoyed great popularity. The PowerBook G3 was originally equipped with a 333MHz or 400MHz PowerPC 750 (G3) processor and boasted improved battery life compared to previous models, allowing it to run for up to five hours on a single charge. In addition, users could connect an additional battery to the computer via the expansion slot, which could double the life of the laptop. The PowerBook G3 was also equipped with 64 MB of RAM, a 4 GB hard drive and ATI Rage LT Pro graphics with 8 MB of SDRAM. Apple equipped its new computer with a color 14,1-inch TFT Active-Matrix monitor. The laptop was able to run the operating system from Mac OS version 8.6 up to OS X version 10.3.9.

Gallery

PowerBook G3 “Lombard” (Bronze Keyboard) (1999) (1)

Apple's Upside Down Downside Up Logo (PowerBook G3 (Lombard) by Damian_Ward, via Flickr)

Apple PowerBook G3 500 Pismo

Apple PowerBook G3 500 Pismo

As the material for the translucent keyboard, Apple chose bronze-colored plastic, the variant with a 400 MHz processor included a DVD drive, which was an optional option for owners of the 333 MHz model. USB ports were also a significant innovation for the PowerBook G3, but at the same time SCSI support was retained. Of the original two PC Card slots, only one remained, the new PowerBook also no longer supported ADB. With the arrival of the next generations of its laptops, Apple gradually said goodbye to SCSI support. The year 1999, when the PowerBook G3 saw the light of day, was indeed very significant for Apple. The company was profitable for the first year after years of hardship, users rejoiced at the brightly colored G3 iMacs and the Mac OS 9 operating system, and the first harbinger of OS X also arrived. Apple produced its PowerBook G3 until 2001, when it was replaced by the PowerBook G4 series.