Apple to sell notebook computer made by IBM

     Associated Press
      TOKYO -- Apple Computer Inc. said Thursday it will start selling a smaller, lighter version of its PowerBook notebook computer manufactured by its former rival, IBM Corp.
      The PowerBook 2400c, which weighs 4.4 pounds, is the first computer with Apple's Macintosh operating system to be made by IBM.
      Apple initially planned to sell the computer only in Japan, where subnotebook computers are popular, but strong interest in the United States led to a decision to introduce it there as well, Apple officials said.
      The new model will be released in Japan later this month and in the United States by the end of July. It is expected to sell for about $3,500.
      IBM is part of a consortium with Apple and Motorola Inc. that designed and makes the PowerPC microprocessor at the heart of all current Apple Macintosh models.
      As part of that arrangement, IBM has a license to use the Macintosh operating system, but so far has not released any Mac clones under its own name. Its involvement with the PowerBook 2400c has led to speculation it might release a Mac-based version of its own ThinkPad line of notebook computers.
      The PowerBook 2400 initially will run at a speed of 180 megahertz, Apple said. Its keyboard will be 88 percent of normal size and a battery will power it for up to four hours. It comes with an external floppy disk.
      Apple's other current PowerBook models, the 1400 and 3400, are both larger and heavier than the 2400 and are available with removable internal floppy disks and CD-ROM drives.
      PowerBooks once contributed substantially to Apple's earnings, but in recent years the company has had a string of problems with its portable models, including poor reliability and batteries that had to be withdrawn because of fire problems.
      Apple hopes its new PowerBook lineup, all introduced in the past half year, will reverse that trend and contribute to a return to profitability.
      Last month, the Cupertino, California-based computer maker reported a $708 million quarterly loss.
      Japan is Apple's largest market outside the United States.