Apple iBook (1999) vs Apple PowerBook G4 (12-inch, 1.5GHz)

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iBook (1999) compared with PowerBook G4 (12-inch, 1.5GHz)

	AppleiBook (1999)	ApplePowerBook G4 (12-inch, 1.5GHz)
Overview
Released
Released	September 1999	2005
Display
Screen size
Screen size	12.1″	12.1″
Resolution
Resolution	800 × 600	1024 × 768 (better)
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 Panel technology, brightness and built-in refresh unpublished.	12.1-inch TFT XGA active-matrix display; panel technology and refresh unpublished.
Performance
Processor
Processor	PowerPC G3 300 MHz (iBook 1999)	PowerPC G4 1.5 GHz (PowerBook 12-inch 2005)
CPU cores
CPU cores	1	1
Graphics
Graphics	ATI Rage Mobility (4 MB)	NVIDIA GeForce FX Go5200 (64 MB DDR)
Memory
Memory	32 MB or 288 MB	512 MB or 1.25 GB (better)
Storage
Storage	3.2 GB	60 GB to 100 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.	1.5 GHz PowerPC G4, 512 KB on-chip L2 and 167 MHz system bus. Exact silicon supplier omitted.
GPU
GPU	ATI Rage Mobility with 4 MB video memory and AGP 2× support (SFGate and Macworld exact-model reviews).	NVIDIA GeForce FX Go5200 with 64 MB DDR video memory and AGP 4×.
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.	512 MB PC2700 DDR333 standard; one SO-DIMM slot, maximum 1.25 GB.
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.	5400 rpm Ultra ATA/100 hard drive with Sudden Motion Sensor. Combo base60GB; SuperDrive base80GB; 100GB build-to-order on either. 8× DVD±RW/CD-RW SuperDrive; optical-drive differences retained in details.
Battery and size
Battery life (maker's claim)
Battery life (maker's claim)	Up to 6 hours	Up to 5 hours
Battery capacity
Battery capacity	45 Wh	50 Wh (better)
Weight
Weight	–	2.1 kg
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 The maker publishes 6.7 pounds and dimensions 11.6 H × 13.5 W × 1.8 D inches; ambiguous axes and unpublished metric figures are not converted.	50 Wh lithium-ion, up to five hours. Published reference weight 2.1 kg with battery and optical drive; varies by configuration/manufacturing. Published dimensions: height 3.0 cm, width 27.7 cm, depth 21.9 cm.
Charger
Charger	–	45 W power adapter
Materials
Materials	Coloured clamshell enclosure with rubber bumpers, translucent plastics and retractable handle (Macworld).	Aluminium enclosure
Colours
Colours	Blueberry and white; Tangerine and white	–
Connections
Ports
Ports	USB-A, Ethernet, headphone jack	2 × USB-A, Ethernet, headphone jack
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi	Optional AirPort 802.11b	AirPort Extreme 802.11g/b
Bluetooth
Bluetooth	–	2.0 + EDR
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.	Two USB 2.0 ports, FireWire 400, 10/100 Ethernet, 56K V.92 modem, mini-DVI, audio input and headphone output. Mini-DVI-to-DVI and mini-DVI-to-VGA adapters included; television adapter separate.
External displays
External displays	No built-in external display output	Dual display and mirroring; external resolution up to 2048 × 1536.
Keyboard
Keyboard	Full-size keyboard and embedded numeric keypad; lift-out keyboard provides memory access (Macworld).	Full-size keyboard with embedded numeric keypad
Trackpad
Trackpad	Built-in trackpad with a separate button	Two-finger scrolling/panning, tap, double-tap and drag support
Speakers
Speakers	Single built-in speaker	Stereo speakers with midrange-enhancing third speaker
Microphones
Microphones	No built-in microphone	Internal omnidirectional 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.	Apple announced 31 January 2005 with availability planned later that week. Actual first on-sale month unestablished after a bounded search; year precision retained. Launch Mac OS X 10.3 Panther and iLife ’05; later units shipped Tiger.