Jurassic Park computers in excruciating detail

Jul 13, 2026

After I mentioned a Jurassic Park anecdote the other day, I watched the movie again. I must have seen it at least ten times now. This time, I researched every computer/software I spotted.

EDIT: Just when I was putting the final touches on this article, I read the sad news that Sam Neill, who played paleontologist Alan Grant in JP, has passed away today. R.I.P Sam.

Apple Powerbook 100

Surprisingly, the first computer visible is not on the island Isla Nublar but in Alan Grant and Ellie Sattler's mobile trailer. It is an Apple Powerbook 100, visible in the image below on the left side.

Apple Powerbook 100

It had a Motorola 68000 processor at 16 MHz, 2–8 megabytes (MB) of RAM, a 9-inch (23 cm) monochrome backlit liquid-crystal display (LCD) with 640 × 400 pixel resolution, and the System 7.0.1 operating system. Wikipedia

This machine specs reminds me of how awful '90s laptop screens, based on a passive matrix, were. Definitely something I don't miss from that era.

Jurassic Park Control Room

... continue reading