Apple MacBook (13-inch, Early 2006) vs Apple PowerBook G4 12-inch (Early 2003)
Better figure, where one is clearly better
| AppleMacBook (13-inch, Early 2006) | ApplePowerBook G4 12-inch (Early 2003) | |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Released | May 2006 | 2003 |
| Display | ||
| Screen size | 13.3″ | 12.1″ |
| Resolution | 1280 × 800 (better) | 1024 × 768 |
| Brightness | 250 nits | – |
| Touchscreen | No | No |
| Display type | Glossy TFT widescreen display with millions of colours; panel technology and refresh rate unpublished by Apple. The launch announcement specifies 250 cd/m² brightness. | 12.1-inch TFT XGA active-matrix display. Exact panel technology, brightness and refresh unpublished. |
| Performance | ||
| Processor | Intel Core Duo T2400 or Intel Core Duo T2500 | PowerPC G4 867 MHz (PowerBook 12-inch Early 2003) |
| CPU cores | 2 | 1 |
| Graphics | Intel GMA 950 (64 MB shared DDR2) | NVIDIA GeForce4 420 Go (32 MB DDR) |
| Memory | 512 MB, 1 GB or 2 GB (better) | 256 MB or 640 MB |
| Storage | 60 GB to 120 GB (better) | 40 GB |
| CPU | 1.83 GHz Intel Core Duo T2400 or 2.0 GHz Core Duo T2500; exact processor identities confirmed by Ars Technica. 2 MB shared L2 cache and 667 MHz front-side bus. | 867 MHz PowerPC G4 with Velocity Engine, 256 KB L2 cache and 133 MHz system bus. Exact supplier/SKU not inferred. |
| GPU | Intel GMA 950 with 64 MB DDR2 shared with main memory; Apple notes a minimum 80 MB allocation including graphics and system use. | NVIDIA GeForce4 420 Go, AGP 4 × and 32 MB DDR video memory. |
| Memory type | Two SO-DIMM slots for 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM (PC2-5300); 512 MB standard, configurable to 1 GB or 2 GB. | 256 MB PC2100 DDR266 stock: 128 MB onboard plus 128 MB SO-DIMM. Maker-supported maximum 640 MB retained; third-party 1152 MB maximum in EveryMac is not a maker configuration. |
| Storage type | 5400 rpm Serial ATA hard drive. White models start at 60 GB and black at 80 GB; 80 GB, 100 GB and 120 GB build-to-order drives. The 1.83 GHz model has a DVD-ROM/CD-RW Combo drive; 2.0 GHz models have a DVD-writing SuperDrive. | 40 GB 4200 rpm Ultra ATA/100 hard drive. Combo reads DVD 8 ×, writes CD-R 24 × and CD-RW 10 ×; optional SuperDrive writes DVD-R 1 ×, CD-R 8 × and CD-RW 4 ×. No unlisted drive capacity combinations. |
| Battery and size | ||
| Battery life (maker's claim) | – | Up to 5 hours |
| Battery capacity | 55 Wh (better) | 47 Wh |
| Weight | 2.36 kg | 2.1 kg (better) |
| Thickness | 27.5 mm (better) | 30 mm |
| Width × depth | 325 × 227 mm | 277 × 219 mm |
| Battery life detail | Removable 55 Wh lithium-polymer battery. Maker reference weight varies with configuration and manufacturing process; battery-life hours are not published in the archived specification. | 47 Wh, up to five hours maker claim. Published 2.1 kg includes battery and optical drive and varies by configuration/manufacturing process; closed metric dimensions 27.7 × 21.9 × 3.0 cm. |
| Charger | 60 W MagSafe Power Adapter | – |
| Materials | Polycarbonate enclosure | Aluminium alloy enclosure |
| Colours | White at 1.83 GHz or 2.0 GHz; black at 2.0 GHz. The configurations table combines colour variants with matching processor, memory and storage. | – |
| Connections | ||
| Ports | 2 × USB-A, Ethernet, headphone jack, MagSafe | 2 × USB-A, Ethernet, headphone jack |
| Wi-Fi | AirPort Extreme 802.11g | Optional AirPort Extreme 802.11b/g |
| Bluetooth | 2.0 + EDR | 1.1 |
| Webcam | iSight camera, 640 × 480 resolution | – |
| Operating system | macOS | macOS |
| Port detail | Two USB 2.0 ports, one FireWire 400 port (8 W), Gigabit Ethernet, MagSafe and Mini-DVI; separate combined optical digital audio input/line input and combined optical digital audio output/headphone output. Display adapters sold separately. | Two 12 Mbps USB 1.1 ports, one FireWire 400, 10/100 Ethernet, 56K V.92 modem, audio line in and headphone output. Mini-VGA supports included VGA and S-video/composite adapters. No PC Card slot. |
| External displays | One external display up to 1920 × 1200 alongside the built-in screen; Mini-DVI adapters support DVI, VGA, S-video and composite video. | Dual display or mirroring; external display up to 1600 × 1200 at millions of colours. |
| Keyboard | Full-size keyboard with 78 US or 79 ISO keys, 12 function keys, four arrow keys and an embedded numeric keypad | Full-size keyboard, 78 US or 79 ISO keys, embedded numeric keypad. |
| Trackpad | Trackpad with two-finger scrolling and a separate button | – |
| Speakers | Built-in stereo speakers | Stereo speakers with midrange-enhancing third speaker |
| Microphones | Built-in omnidirectional microphone | Internal omnidirectional microphone |
| In the box | MacBook, Apple Remote, removable battery, 60 W MagSafe Power Adapter with AC wall plug and power cord, install/restore DVDs and documentation; Mac OS X 10.4.6 Tiger and iLife ’06. | Apple Video Adapter, VGA adapter, modem cable, 45 W power adapter, plug and cord. January 7 maker launch promised later-January availability; full production review on February 3 confirms subsequent availability but exact first sale month is unestablished, so year retained. |
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