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

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

	AppleiBook (FireWire)	ApplePowerBook G3 (Original, 1997)
Overview
Released
Released	September 2000	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 display, 800 × 600 native resolution. Exact panel technology, brightness and built-in refresh unpublished.	12.1-inch active-matrix TFT colour LCD; the maker does not publish IPS/TN panel technology, brightness or refresh rate.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 366 MHz (iBook FireWire 2000) or PowerPC G3 466 MHz (iBook FireWire 2000)	PowerPC G3 250 MHz (original PowerBook G3)
CPU cores
CPU cores	1	1
Graphics
Graphics	ATI Rage Mobility 128 (8 MB SDRAM)	Chips and Technologies 65554 (2 MB VRAM)
Memory
Memory	64 MB or 320 MB (better)	32 MB
Storage
Storage	10 GB to 20 GB (better)	5 GB
CPU
CPU	366 MHz PowerPC G3 standard, 466 MHz Special Edition; 256 KB on-chip L2 cache at processor clock and 66 MHz system/memory buses. Exact silicon supplier and model omitted.	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 Exact fitted silicon supplier and process are unpublished.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 128 with 8 MB SDRAM and AGP 2×.	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	64 MB onboard PC100 SDRAM and one SO-DIMM slot; maker-supported maximum 320 MB total.	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	10 GB IDE drive, optional 20 GB. Standard models have 24× CD-ROM; Special Edition has 6× maximum DVD-ROM according to the maker sheet. EveryMac lists 4× instead; maker retained.	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	50 Wh (better)	47 Wh
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	50 Wh lithium-ion battery; maker claim up to six hours. Maker weights are 3.0 kg standard and 3.1 kg Special Edition, so no single main weight is selected. Maker labels: width 34.4 cm, height 29.4 cm, average depth 4.6 cm (range 3.15–5.2 cm). No main axis reinterpretation or computed metric dimensions.	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	Rubber-coated translucent clamshell with carrying handle and latchless lid.	–
Colours
Colours	Indigo standard, Graphite Special Edition; Key Lime available for both through the Apple Store.	–
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 12 Mbps USB port, one 400 Mbps FireWire port, 10/100BASE-T Ethernet, internal 56K V.90 modem and stereo headphone/composite AV output. Optional AirPort 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	Composite video output via the AV port; no built-in VGA 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	76 US or 77 ISO keys, including 12 function keys, four arrows and embedded numeric keypad.	Full-size built-in keyboard with 3 mm travel, 19 mm key pitch and an inverted-T arrow cluster.
Trackpad
Trackpad	Tap, double tap and drag support	Built-in solid-state trackpad.
Speakers
Speakers	Single built-in mono 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; optional USB microphone supported	Built-in omnidirectional electret microphone.
In the box
In the box	Mac OS 9, iMovie 2, AppleWorks and QuickTime; power adapter, power cord, battery and modem cable. All configurations available immediately in the maker release.	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.