Apple released the first three PowerBooks: the low-end PowerBook 100, the more powerful PowerBook 140, and the high end PowerBook 170. These machines caused a stir in the industry with their compact dark grey cases, use of a trackball, and the clever positioning of the keyboard which left room for palmrests.

For several years, new PowerBook and PowerBook Duo computers were introduced which featured incremental changes, including color screens, but by mid-decade, most other companies had copied the majority of the PowerBook's features, and Apple was unable to regain their lead.

The first series of PowerBooks were hugely successful capturing 40% of all laptop sales, a fact that Apple did not capitalize on. The original team left to work at Compaq, setting back updated versions for some time. When increasing processing power, Apple was hampered by the overheating problems of the 68040 this resulted in the 100-series PowerBook being stuck with the aging 68030 which could not compete with newer-generation Intel 80486-based PC laptops introduced in 1994.

Prior to the PowerBook's introduction, Apple produced the Macintosh Portable. Third-party portables that ran Macintosh software were also available, such as the Outbound Laptop.