Apple iBook (Late 2001) vs Apple PowerBook G4 (Original 2001)
Better figure, where one is clearly better
| AppleiBook (Late 2001) | ApplePowerBook G4 (Original 2001) | |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Released | October 2001 | January 2001 |
| Display | ||
| Screen size | 12.1″ | 15.2″ |
| Resolution | 1024 × 768 | 1152 × 768 (better) |
| Touchscreen | No | No |
| Display type | 12.1-inch TFT XGA active-matrix display,1024 ×768 native resolution. Exact panel technology, brightness and built-in refresh unpublished. | 15.2-inch TFT widescreen active-matrix display. Exact panel technology, brightness and built-in refresh unpublished. |
| Performance | ||
| Processor | PowerPC G3 500 MHz (iBook Late 2001) or PowerPC G3 600 MHz (iBook Late 2001) | PowerPC G4 400 MHz (PowerBook Original 2001) or PowerPC G4 500 MHz (PowerBook Original 2001) |
| CPU cores | 1 | 1 |
| Graphics | ATI Rage Mobility 128 (8 MB SDRAM) | ATI Rage Mobility 128 (8 MB SDRAM) |
| Memory | 128 MB or 640 MB | 128 MB, 256 MB or 1 GB (better) |
| Storage | 15 GB to 20 GB | 10 GB to 30 GB (better) |
| CPU | 500 MHz PowerPC G3 with 66 MHz data path in the CD-ROM stock; 600 MHz with 100 MHz system bus in DVD-ROM/Combo stocks. 256 KB L2 cache; supplier and silicon model omitted. | 400 or 500 MHz PowerPC G4 with Velocity Engine; 1 MB backside L2 cache on 200 or 250 MHz dedicated 64-bit cache bus, 100 MHz system bus, 64 KB L1 (32 KB data/32 KB instruction). Exact supplier/SKU omitted. |
| GPU | ATI Rage Mobility 128 with 8 MB SDRAM and AGP 2×. | ATI Rage Mobility 128 with 8 MB SDRAM and AGP 2 ×. |
| Memory type | 128 MB onboard PC100 SDRAM plus one SO-DIMM slot; maker maximum 640 MB. | 128 MB stock at 400 MHz or 256 MB at 500 MHz; two PC100 SO-DIMM slots support up to 1 GB. |
| Storage type | Factory ties: 500 MHz / 15 GB / CD-ROM; 600 MHz / 15 GB / DVD-ROM; 600 MHz / 20 GB / Combo. Other optical options are listed without extending stock CPU/storage pairings. Macworld hands-on reports optional 30 GB, retained as named detail only. | 400 MHz stock 10 GB, 500 MHz stock 20 GB Ultra ATA/66. Maker-listed 30 GB build-to-order option retained for both with published RAM maxima; no intermediate capacities invented. Slot-loading DVD-ROM reads DVD-ROM, DVD-Video, DVD-RAM and CD-ROM. |
| Battery and size | ||
| Battery life (maker's claim) | Up to 5 hours | Up to 5 hours |
| Battery capacity | 42 Wh | 50 Wh (better) |
| Weight | – | 2.4 kg |
| Thickness | – | 26 mm |
| Width × depth | – | 341 × 241 mm |
| Battery life detail | 42 Wh lithium-ion battery in exact maker sheet; up to five hours in maker 17 October family notice. Maker publishes 4.9 pounds and 9.1 H × 11.2 W × 1.35 D inches; main metric weight/dimensions omitted. No calculated metric values. | 50 Wh lithium-ion; up to five hours maker claim. Published 2.4 kg includes battery and varies by configuration/manufacturing process. Metric dimensions 34.1 × 24.1 × 2.6 cm are from the exact Apple technical sheet preserved by SavageTaylor, not calculated from inches. |
| Materials | Impact-resistant polycarbonate enclosure | Titanium enclosure |
| Colours | White | – |
| Connections | ||
| Ports | 2 × USB-A, Ethernet, headphone jack | 2 × USB-A, Ethernet, headphone jack |
| Wi-Fi | Optional AirPort 802.11b | Optional AirPort 802.11b |
| Operating system | macOS | macOS |
| Port detail | Two USB ports, one FireWire, 10/100BASE-T Ethernet, internal 56K modem and stereo AV/headphone output. Optional AirPort card; VGA and optional composite AV cable. | Two 12 Mbps USB ports, one 400 Mbps FireWire port, 10/100BASE-T Ethernet, 56K V.90 modem, 4 Mbps IrDA, one Type I/II PC Card/CardBus slot with ZoomVideo support, VGA, S-video and stereo output; no microphone input jack. |
| External displays | VGA video output and composite video via optional Apple AV Cable | VGA 24-bit video output and S-video, with S-video-to-composite adapter. 8 MB video memory supports millions of colours on external monitors up to 21 inches (preserved exact maker sheet). |
| Keyboard | Built-in keyboard | 77 US or 78 ISO keys; 12 function keys, four arrows and embedded numeric keypad. |
| Trackpad | Built-in trackpad | Tap, double-tap and drag support |
| Speakers | Built-in stereo speakers | Two built-in stereo speakers |
| Microphones | Built-in microphone | Internal omnidirectional microphone |
| In the box | Mac OS X 10.1 and Mac OS 9.2.1 preinstalled according to launch notice; exact retained sheet lists 9.1, so launch source preferred. iTunes, iMovie 2 and new compact power adapter. Available immediately 16 October 2001. | Power adapter, DVD software, iMovie 2 and iTunes. Maker promised January availability; LowEndMac reported actual retail collection on 31 January 2001. First sale day unestablished, so month retained. |
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