Apple iBook (1999) vs Apple PowerBook G3 (Original, 1997)

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iBook (1999) compared with PowerBook G3 (Original, 1997)

	AppleiBook (1999)	ApplePowerBook G3 (Original, 1997)
Overview
Released
Released	September 1999	November 1997
Display
Screen size
Screen size	12.1″	12.1″
Resolution
Resolution	800 × 600	800 × 600
Touchscreen
Touchscreen	No	No
Display type
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 Panel technology, brightness and built-in refresh unpublished.	12.1-inch active-matrix TFT colour LCD; the maker does not publish IPS/TN panel technology, brightness or refresh rate.
Display features
Display features	–	800 × 600 native display with 16-bit colour on the built-in screen. The 1997 launch release says 18-bit colour, differing from the technical sheet.
Performance
Processor
Processor	PowerPC G3 300 MHz (iBook 1999)	PowerPC G3 250 MHz (original PowerBook G3)
CPU cores
CPU cores	1	1
Graphics
Graphics	ATI Rage Mobility (4 MB)	Chips and Technologies 65554 (2 MB VRAM)
Memory
Memory	32 MB or 288 MB (better)	32 MB
Storage
Storage	3.2 GB	5 GB (better)
CPU
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.	250 MHz PowerPC G3; 50 MHz system bus, 512 KB backside L2 cache running at 100 MHz. Exact fitted silicon supplier and process are unpublished.
GPU
GPU	ATI Rage Mobility with 4 MB video memory and AGP 2× support (SFGate and Macworld exact-model reviews).	Chips and Technologies 65554 PCI graphics controller with 2 MB video RAM; built-in display supports 16-bit colour, external display up to 24-bit colour.
Memory type
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.	32 MB EDO DRAM built in, one expansion slot for 16, 32, 64 or 128 MB modules; maker maximum 160 MB. A separate 4 MB ROM is listed in the contemporary technical sheet.
Storage type
Storage type	3.2 GB IDE hard drive and 24× CD-ROM drive; the 6 GB stocks belong to the February 2000 refresh.	5 GB internal 2.5-inch ATA hard drive. The expansion bay takes a 1.44 MB floppy module or 20× CD-ROM module, both in the original package; removable media are not counted as internal storage.
Battery and size
Battery life (maker's claim)
Battery life (maker's claim)	Up to 6 hours	Up to 4 hours
Battery capacity
Battery capacity	45 Wh	47 Wh (better)
Weight
Weight	–	3.4 kg
Thickness
Thickness	–	60.96 mm
Width × depth
Width × depth	–	292.1 × 241.3 mm
Battery life detail
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.	47 Wh removable lithium-ion main battery; maker claims 2–4 hours depending on use, with 4 hours as the maximum. A 60 mAh NiMH backup battery keeps clock and memory alive briefly for battery exchange. Maker reference weight is 3.4 kg with floppy module, 3.5 kg with CD-ROM and 3.2 kg without a module.
Charger
Charger	–	45 W AC adapter, 100–240 V at 50/60 Hz input, 24 V 1.875 A output.
Materials
Materials	Coloured clamshell enclosure with rubber bumpers, translucent plastics and retractable handle (Macworld).	–
Colours
Colours	Blueberry and white; Tangerine and white	–
Connections
Ports
Ports	USB-A, Ethernet, headphone jack	Ethernet, headphone jack
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi	Optional AirPort 802.11b	–
Operating system
Operating system	macOS	macOS
Port detail
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.	One shared RJ-45 socket for 10BASE-T Ethernet and the internal 33.6 Kbps modem; ADB, HDI-15 external video, HDI-30 SCSI with disk mode, GeoPort/RS-422 serial, stereo audio output and input, and an infrared transceiver supporting IR Talk and IrDA. Two PC Card Type I/II slots or one Type III card; the lower slot supports Zoomed Video.
External displays
External displays	No built-in external display output	External VGA/SVGA/Apple displays through HDI-15, up to 1024 × 768 at 24-bit colour; display mirroring is supported. The technical sheet lists 640 × 480 and 800 × 600 as well.
Keyboard
Keyboard	Full-size keyboard and embedded numeric keypad; lift-out keyboard provides memory access (Macworld).	Full-size built-in keyboard with 3 mm travel, 19 mm key pitch and an inverted-T arrow cluster.
Trackpad
Trackpad	Built-in trackpad with a separate button	Built-in solid-state trackpad.
Speakers
Speakers	Single built-in speaker	Four speakers: two in the display and two beneath the keyboard; 16-bit stereo at 44.1, 22 or 11 kHz.
Microphones
Microphones	No built-in microphone	Built-in omnidirectional electret microphone.
In the box
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.	Floppy and 20× CD-ROM expansion-bay modules, removable battery and AC adapter. Original Mac OS 8 installation. Apple announced US availability immediately in November 1997; European sales were planned for late November and Japan for December. The current maker sheet gives 2.4-inch thickness (60.96 mm); its older technical PDF lists 65.6 mm despite labelling that as 2.4 inches, so the current sheet controls the main dimension.