Apple iBook (1999) vs Apple Macintosh PowerBook 3400c
Better figure, where one is clearly better
| AppleiBook (1999) | AppleMacintosh PowerBook 3400c | |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Released | September 1999 | February 1997 |
| Display | ||
| Screen size | 12.1″ | 12.1″ |
| Resolution | 800 × 600 | 800 × 600 |
| Touchscreen | No | No |
| Display type | 12.1-inch active-matrix TFT SVGA display; exact size confirmed by SFGate's full original-model review. Panel technology, brightness and built-in refresh unpublished. | 12.1-inch active-matrix TFT colour LCD, displaying 32,768 colours at 800 × 600 |
| Performance | ||
| Processor | PowerPC G3 300 MHz (iBook 1999) | PowerPC 603e 180 MHz (PowerBook 3400c), PowerPC 603e 200 MHz (PowerBook 3400c) or PowerPC 603e 240 MHz (PowerBook 3400c) |
| CPU cores | 1 | 1 |
| Graphics | ATI Rage Mobility (4 MB) | – |
| Memory | 32 MB or 288 MB (better) | 16 MB |
| Storage | 3.2 GB (better) | 1.3 GB to 3 GB |
| CPU | 300 MHz PowerPC G3; 66 MHz data path, 64 KB L1 cache and 512 KB L2 cache. Exact supplier and silicon model omitted because the maker sheet does not publish them. | PowerPC 603e at 180, 200 or 240 MHz; 40 MHz bus, 32 KB L1 cache and 256 KB L2 cache |
| GPU | ATI Rage Mobility with 4 MB video memory and AGP 2× support (SFGate and Macworld exact-model reviews). | Chips and Technologies CT65550 PCI video controller, named by Apple in its Japanese series specification |
| Memory type | 32 MB onboard and one SO-DIMM slot. The retained maker sheet supports 288 MB total for the original; contemporary reviews described the earlier 160 MB maximum. | 16 MB EDO RAM on the logic board, expandable to 144 MB with a memory card |
| Storage type | 3.2 GB IDE hard drive and 24× CD-ROM drive; the 6 GB stocks belong to the February 2000 refresh. | 1.3 GB ATA hard drive on the 180 MHz model; 2 GB on the 200 MHz and 3 GB on the 240 MHz Japanese configurations. Swappable 1.4 MB floppy and CD-ROM modules; Apple lists 6× CD for the 180 MHz model and 12× for the 200/240 MHz Japanese models. |
| Battery and size | ||
| Battery life (maker's claim) | Up to 6 hours | Up to 4 hours |
| Battery capacity | 45 Wh (better) | 32 Wh |
| Weight | – | 3.2 kg |
| Thickness | – | 65.6 mm |
| Width × depth | – | 293 × 239.5 mm |
| Battery life detail | 45 Wh lithium-ion battery; Apple’s six-hour claim is reported in the exact SFGate review. The maker publishes 6.7 pounds and dimensions 11.6 H × 13.5 W × 1.8 D inches; ambiguous axes and unpublished metric figures are not converted. | 32 Wh lithium-ion battery; Apple claimed two to four hours for the Japanese 200/240 MHz series. The Japanese 3.2 kg weight is with the floppy module; Apple lists 3.3 kg with CD-ROM. |
| Materials | Coloured clamshell enclosure with rubber bumpers, translucent plastics and retractable handle (Macworld). | – |
| Colours | Blueberry and white; Tangerine and white | – |
| Connections | ||
| Ports | USB-A, Ethernet, headphone jack | – |
| Wi-Fi | Optional AirPort 802.11b | – |
| Operating system | macOS | macOS |
| Port detail | One USB port, 10/100BASE-T Ethernet, internal 56K modem and stereo headphone output. No FireWire, video-out, PC Card slot or audio input. AirPort requires an optional internal card. | ADB, RS-422 serial/LocalTalk, HDI-30 SCSI, HDI-15 external video, infrared, stereo audio input/output and two Type II PC Card slots or one Type III. Built-in 10Base-T Ethernet and 33.6 Kbps modem on the 200/240 MHz Japanese configurations; Ethernet optional on the 180 MHz support specification. |
| External displays | No built-in external display output | HDI-15 external display output; Apple lists 8-bit colour to a 21-inch monitor and 32,768 colours in SVGA mode on smaller monitors |
| Keyboard | Full-size keyboard and embedded numeric keypad; lift-out keyboard provides memory access (Macworld). | – |
| Trackpad | Built-in trackpad with a separate button | Built-in solid-state trackpad |
| Speakers | Single built-in speaker | Four built-in speakers and an omnidirectional microphone |
| Microphones | No built-in microphone | – |
| In the box | Mac OS 8.6 at launch. Apple’s spokesperson confirmed September 1999 shipping in Bryan Chaffin’s Mac Observer report; the July 1999 introduction is not the on-sale date. Macworld’s retail test is labelled January 2000 in the article despite its incorrect migrated webpage date. | Apple's Japanese 200/240 MHz configurations included floppy and 12× CD-ROM modules, lithium-ion battery, power adapter and Mac OS 7.6 |
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