PowerBook 170
Laptops1991Rare
The PowerBook 170 was the flagship of Apple's original 1991 PowerBook lineup and the first laptop many professionals trusted to replace a desktop. Its active-matrix display was a revelation — sharp, fast, and unsmeared by the ghosting that plagued passive-matrix screens. At $4,599, it cost more than most desktops. Those who had one considered it worth every dollar.
Reference →Identity
- Manufacturer
- Apple
- Model Number
- M5409
Dates & Pricing
- Introduced
- 1991-10-21
- Discontinued
- 1992-10-19
- Release Year
- 1991
- Original Price (Low)
- $4,600
- Estimated Value
- $100
Processor
- CPU
- Motorola 68030
- CPU Speed
- 25 MHz
- FPU
- 68882
- Bus Speed
- 25 MHz
Memory
- RAM
- 4-8 MB
- RAM Max
- 8 MB
- RAM Slots
- 1
- RAM Type
- PSRAM Card
Storage & Display
- Storage
- 40 MB
- Graphics
- Built-in 10" Active Matrix LCD 640x400
- Screen Size
- 9.8" Monochrome
- Display Type
- LCD
- Native Resolution
- 640x400
Expansion & Ports
- Expansion Slots
- Modem
- Ports
- ADB: 1 , SCSI: 1 (HDI-30) , Serial (Standard): 2 , Modem: 1 (RJ-11) , Microphone: 1 (Omni) , Sound Out: 1 (8-Bit Mono) , Security (Lock): 1
Software
- Operating System
- 7.0.1
- Min OS
- 7.0.1
- Max OS
- 7.5.5
Physical
- Weight
- 6.8 lbs
- Dimensions
- 2.25 x 11.25 x 9.3
- Battery Type
- NiCad
eBay Sale Prices
Sales
13
Typical Low
$89
25th %ile
Typical High
$195
75th %ile
Avg / Median
$152
$112 med
Full range: $50–$1.2k across 13 sales
Auction
BIN
BIN + OBO
Median
Typical range
10 most recent sales
Vintage Apple PowerBook 170 (MPN M5409) 1991 - For Parts Or Repair
2026-07-16$100
Apple Macintosh Powerbook 170 M5409 for Parts Clean Mac Vintage Laptop Pb Og
2026-07-12$130
Vintage Apple Macintosh Powerbook 170 w/ AC Adapter, Batteries, Case, System 7.1
2026-07-11$110
Macintosh PowerBook 170 Untested
2026-07-08$50
Original Macintosh PowerBook 170
2026-07-03$95
Apple Macintosh PowerBook 170 68030 8MB RAM 320MB HD Mac OS 7.5.5 Vintage RARE
2026-06-24$350
Macintosh PowerBook 170 w/AC Adapter+ Case 2 Batteries
2026-06-01$70
Vintage Apple Macintosh Powerbook 170 M5409 w/ AC Adapter, Papers, Case
2026-05-28$210
Vintage 1991 Apple Macintosh PowerBook 170 8MB RAM 40MB HD Fully Working
2026-05-23$350
NEW IN BOX - Vintage Apple Computer Macintosh Mac PowerBook 170
2026-05-10$1.2k
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