"PC Week" benchmarked the PowerBook 100, measuring it against its predecessor, the Macintosh Portable. The PowerBook 100 took 5.3 seconds to open a Microsoft Word document and 2.5 seconds to save it, while the Portable took 5.4 and 2.6 seconds respectively. "PC Week" tested the battery life, which delivered 3 hours 47 minutes of use. "Byte magazine"s review concluded, "The PowerBook 100 is recommended for word processing and communications tasks; the higher-end products offer enough power for complex reports, large spreadsheets and professional graphics." "MacWEEK" described it as "ideal for writers and others on a tight budget."