Apple Computer to Roll Out Some New Macintosh Products

Apple Computer Inc. will announce today a new line of Macintosh personal computer products, including a PowerBook system that marries the hot-selling portable notebook with Apple’s desktop models.

The PowerBook system integrates a 4.2-pound notebook, smaller and lighter than earlier models, with a desktop computer by allowing the notebook to be inserted into the larger computer much like a video cassette into a VCR.

Apple also said that it will begin shipping today its new PowerBook 160 and PowerBook 180 models. Both have increased storage and better performance than existing models, the company said. The PowerBook 170, Apple’s current top-of-the-line model, will be discontinued immediately.

The PowerBook 160 will sell for $2,429 to $3,149, depending on its power and performance abilities. Prices for the more powerful PowerBook 180 will range from $4,109 to 4,469.

The new PowerBook Duo notebook will be shipped to suppliers starting today, while the desktop Macintosh Duo Dock, a collaborative effort between Apple and SuperMac, won’t be ready until November, Apple said. The Dock device allows the notebook to be plugged into the Macintosh.

PowerBook Duo will carry a suggested retail price of $2,249 to $2,969, depending on capacity. The Macintosh Duo Dock will be sold at $1,079, and a floppy disk drive will cost an additional $199. A “MiniDock” that will allow connections to other systems will sell for $589.

Apple also announced a Version 7.1 upgrade of its System 7 software operating system, two new mid-range PCs and a new color display monitor.