Apple iBook (FireWire) vs Apple PowerBook G3 Series (Wallstreet, 1998)

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iBook (FireWire) compared with PowerBook G3 Series (Wallstreet, 1998)

	AppleiBook (FireWire)	ApplePowerBook G3 Series (Wallstreet, 1998)
Overview
Released
Released	September 2000	May 1998
Display
Screen size
Screen size	12.1″	12.1″
Resolution
Resolution	800 × 600	800 × 600 or 1024 × 768 (better)
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 Exact panel technology, brightness and built-in refresh unpublished.	12.1-inch STN passive-matrix 800 × 600 screen or 13.3- and 14.1-inch TFT active-matrix 1024 × 768 screens; all are CCFL-backlit. The 14.1-inch case is 53 mm thick, compared with 51 mm for the smaller versions.
Performance
Processor
Processor	PowerPC G3 366 MHz (iBook FireWire 2000) or PowerPC G3 466 MHz (iBook FireWire 2000)	PowerPC G3 233 MHz (PowerBook G3 Series 1998), PowerPC G3 250 MHz (PowerBook G3 Series 1998) or PowerPC G3 292 MHz (PowerBook G3 Series 1998)
CPU cores
CPU cores	1	1
Graphics
Graphics	ATI Rage Mobility 128 (8 MB SDRAM)	–
Memory
Memory	64 MB or 320 MB (better)	32 MB or 64 MB
Storage
Storage	10 GB to 20 GB (better)	2 GB to 8 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.	PowerPC 750 (G3) at 233, 250 or 292 MHz. The 233 MHz launch version has no backside L2 cache; the 250 and 292 MHz versions each have 1 MB L2 cache. System bus is 66.7 MHz on 233 MHz models and 83.3 MHz on faster models.
GPU
GPU	ATI Rage Mobility 128 with 8 MB SDRAM and AGP 2×.	ATI 3D RAGE LT graphics with 2 MB or 4 MB SGRAM video memory, depending on configuration; built-in 2D and 3D acceleration.
Memory type
Memory type	64 MB onboard PC100 SDRAM and one SO-DIMM slot; maker-supported maximum 320 MB total.	32 MB or 64 MB factory SDRAM in the listed regional configurations, using two SO-DIMM slots; Apple gives 192 MB as the original expansion limit.
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.	Removable internal 2 GB, 4 GB or 8 GB EIDE hard drive, depending on configuration. The two expansion bays accept battery, floppy, CD-ROM or DVD-ROM modules; removable media are separate from internal storage.
Battery and size
Battery life (maker's claim)
Battery life (maker's claim)	Up to 6 hours	Up to 3.5 hours
Battery capacity
Battery capacity	50 Wh (better)	49 Wh
Weight
Weight	–	3.45 kg
Thickness
Thickness	–	51 mm
Width × depth
Width × depth	–	323 × 265 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.	Removable 49 Wh lithium-ion battery. Apple's service data sheet claims up to 3.5 hours on one battery or seven hours with two batteries. Maker reference weight of 3.45 kg includes one battery and a CD-ROM module.
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.	Built-in 10BASE-T Ethernet, VGA external video, HDI-30 SCSI, ADB, GeoPort serial, audio input and headphone output, infrared and two Type II CardBus slots (or one Type III). The 13.3- and 14.1-inch versions also have S-video output; some configurations included a K56flex modem.
External displays
External displays	Composite video output via the AV port; no built-in VGA output.	VGA output on every configuration, up to 1280 × 960 pixels according to Apple's developer note; S-video output on 13.3- and 14.1-inch versions.
Keyboard
Keyboard	76 US or 77 ISO keys, including 12 function keys, four arrows and embedded numeric keypad.	Full-size keyboard with an embedded numeric keypad and inverted-T arrow keys.
Trackpad
Trackpad	Tap, double tap and drag support	Solid-state trackpad with tap, double-tap and drag support.
Speakers
Speakers	Single built-in mono speaker	–
Microphones
Microphones	No built-in microphone; optional USB microphone supported	–
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.	Mac OS 8.1 and a 45 W adapter. Apple Canada said the 12.1- and 13.3-inch versions began shipping on 7 May 1998; the 14.1-inch version was planned for early June. The listed CPU, screen, RAM and disk pairings are four regional launch configurations recorded at Apple's May 1998 Japan announcement.