It was the first mass consumer product to offer Wi-Fi network connectivity, which was then branded by Apple as AirPort.

It was a significant departure from previous portable computer designs due to its shape, bright colors, incorporation of a handle into the casing, lack of a display closing latch, lack of a hinged cover over the external ports and built-in wireless networking.

Two years later, the second generation abandoned the original form factor in favor of a more conventional, rectangular design.

This left only the consumer portable space empty, leading to much rumor on the Internet of potential designs and features.

Putting an end to this speculation, on July 21, 1999, Steve Jobs unveiled the iBook G3 during the keynote presentation of Macworld Conference & Expo, New York City.

Featuring a clamshell design, when the lid was closed, the hinge kept it firmly shut, so there was no need for a latch on the screen.

Additional power connectors on the bottom surface allowed multiple iBook G3s to be charged on a custom-made rack.

The iBook G3 was the first Mac to use Apple's new "Unified Logic Board Architecture", which condensed all of the machine's core features into two chips, and added AGP and Ultra DMA support.

[4][5] To provide sufficient impact protection, the iBook was larger and heftier than the PowerBook of the time, and yet had lower specifications.

Steve Jobs announced that the Key Lime color, "a little less conservative, a little more fun", was exclusive to the online Apple Store.

This resulted in some crowd members booing, to which Jobs replied: "Don't you like buying on the Apple Online Store?

[9] The original iBook is on exhibition at the London Design Museum and the Yale University Art Gallery.

[10][11] Vestiges of design ideas first adopted in the iBook G3 can still be seen today: moving interface ports from the back to the sides and leaving them uncovered, omitting a latch for the computer's lid, and providing multiple color options.

The previous bold colors and bulky form-factor were abandoned, as were the handle, latch-less design and additional power connectors on the bottom surface.

With this revision, Apple began transitioning to translucent and white polycarbonate casings in most of its consumer line, such as the iMac and the eMac.

The iBook G4 notebook also features an opaque white case finish and keyboard and a plastic display hinge.

Accessing the hard disk drive is complex and time-consuming, involving partial disassembly of the unit and the removal of over 30 different-sized screws.

[22] Owners of iBooks that required expensive repairs for these problems submitted new class action lawsuits in December 2006.