You probably know what this is, but not what it’s called. Technically it’s the Apple iBook G3 but they’re better known as ‘Clamshells’ because of their curved, colourful design. Introduced in the late 1990s, these fashionable laptops reflected early attempts to offer personalisation through its range of vibrant colours, which also made them stand out in film and TV. In Legally Blonde (2001), Reece Witherspoon’s character is seen lining up to buy one and later using it in class. Sure, this is likely product placement, but it reflects how the entry level computer was targeted at the education market. It was also the first mass consumer product to have WiFi built in. We maintain a large collection of this kind of legacy equipment for use in digital archaeology and preservation of early interactive educational products and artworks.
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Our collection comprises over 40,000 moving image works, acquired and catalogued between the 1940s and early 2000s. As a result, some items may reflect outdated, offensive and possibly harmful views and opinions. ACMI is working to identify and redress such usages.
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Collection
In ACMI's collection
On display until
16 February 2031
ACMI: Gallery 1
Credits
Collection metadata
ACMI Identifier
E000285
Curatorial section
The Story of the Moving Image → Foyer → Entry → FSF-03. MPL exterior
Measurements
295 x 342 x 302mm
Object Types
3D Object
Computer and computing equipment