Apple MacBook Pro (15-inch, Early 2006) vs Apple PowerBook G4 (15-inch FW800)
Better figure, where one is clearly better
| AppleMacBook Pro (15-inch, Early 2006) | ApplePowerBook G4 (15-inch FW800) | |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Released | February 2006 | September 2003 |
| Display | ||
| Screen size | 15.4″ | 15.2″ |
| Resolution | 1440 × 900 (better) | 1280 × 854 |
| Brightness | 300 nits | – |
| Touchscreen | No | No |
| Display type | Widescreen TFT display with millions of colours. Exact panel technology and refresh rate unpublished in the maker sources read. | 15.2-inch TFT widescreen; panel technology and refresh unpublished. |
| Performance | ||
| Processor | Intel Core Duo 1.83 GHz (MacBook Pro Early 2006), Intel Core Duo 2 GHz (MacBook Pro Early 2006) or Intel Core Duo 2.16 GHz (MacBook Pro Early 2006) | PowerPC G4 1 GHz (PowerBook 15-inch FW800) or PowerPC G4 1.25 GHz (PowerBook 15-inch FW800) |
| CPU cores | 2 | 1 |
| Graphics | ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 (128 MB GDDR3) or ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 (256 MB GDDR3) | ATI Mobility Radeon 9600 (64 MB DDR) |
| Memory | 512 MB, 1 GB or 2 GB | 256 MB, 512 MB or 2 GB |
| Storage | 80 GB to 120 GB (better) | 60 GB to 80 GB |
| CPU | Dual-core Intel Core Duo at 1.83 GHz or 2.0 GHz, with a 2.16 GHz build-to-order option restricted to the 2.0 GHz base. Each has 2 MB shared L2 cache and a 667 MHz frontside bus. The January-announced 1.67 GHz configuration was replaced before shipping and is excluded. | 1 or 1.25 GHz PowerPC G4 with 512 KB on-chip L2 cache and 167 MHz system bus. Exact silicon supplier omitted. |
| GPU | ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 (128 MB GDDR3); ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 (256 MB GDDR3). GPU memory varies with processor configuration. | ATI Mobility Radeon 9600, 64 MB DDR video memory, AGP 4×. |
| Memory type | 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM in two SO-DIMM slots, up to 2 GB. Lower base has 512 MB; higher base has 1 GB. | Two PC2700 DDR333 SO-DIMM slots; base 256 MB at 1 GHz or 512 MB at 1.25 GHz; maximum 2 GB. |
| Storage type | Lower base has an 80 GB 5400-rpm Serial ATA drive, configurable to 100 GB or 120 GB. Higher base has 100 GB and supports 120 GB; 100 GB was available at 5400 or 7200 rpm. Slot-loading 4× SuperDrive writes DVDs but does not write double-layer DVDs. | 60 GB 4200 rpm at 1 GHz or 80 GB 4200 rpm at 1.25 GHz, Ultra ATA/100. 80 GB 4200/5400 rpm build-to-order options; capacities represented, drive speed alternatives retained here. Combo drive at 1 GHz or 2× DVD-R SuperDrive at 1.25 GHz, also optional on lower model. |
| Battery and size | ||
| Battery life (maker's claim) | Up to 4.5 hours | Up to 4.5 hours |
| Battery capacity | 60 Wh (better) | 46 Wh |
| Weight | 2.54 kg | 2.5 kg (better) |
| Thickness | 25.9 mm | – |
| Width × depth | 357 × 243 mm | – |
| Battery life detail | Removable 60 Wh lithium-polymer battery; up to 4.5 hours in Apple’s test. Maker reference weight varies by configuration and manufacturing process. | 46 Wh lithium-ion, up to 4.5 hours. Maker reference 2.5 kg includes battery and optical drive and varies by configuration/manufacturing. Published dimensions: height 2.8 cm, width 34.8 cm, depth 24.1 cm. |
| Charger | 85 W MagSafe Power Adapter | 65 W power adapter |
| Materials | Aluminium enclosure | Aluminium enclosure |
| Colours | Silver | – |
| Connections | ||
| Ports | 2 × USB-A, Ethernet, headphone jack, MagSafe | 2 × USB-A, Ethernet, headphone jack |
| Wi-Fi | AirPort Extreme 802.11g | AirPort Extreme 802.11g/b; optional at 1 GHz, standard at 1.25 GHz |
| Bluetooth | 2.0 + EDR | 1.1 |
| Webcam | Built-in iSight camera | – |
| Operating system | macOS | macOS |
| Port detail | 2 USB 2.0 ports, FireWire 400, Gigabit Ethernet, MagSafe, dual-link DVI, ExpressCard/34, separate combined optical digital audio input/line input and combined optical digital audio output/headphone output, and Kensington lock slot. VGA adapter included; composite/S-video adapter optional. | Two USB 2.0 ports, one FireWire 400 and one FireWire 800, Gigabit Ethernet, 56K V.92 modem, Type I/II PC Card slot, DVI, S-video, audio input and headphone output. |
| External displays | One external display up to 2560 × 1600 alongside the built-in screen through dual-link DVI; included VGA adapter, optional composite/S-video adapter. | Dual display/mirroring; external resolution up to 2048 × 1536. DVI-to-VGA and S-video-to-composite adapters included; ADC adapter separate. |
| Keyboard | Full-size backlit keyboard with ambient light sensors, 78 US or 79 ISO keys, 12 function keys and four arrow keys; embedded numeric keypad | Full-size keyboard; fibre-optic backlight and ambient light sensor included at 1.25 GHz, build-to-order at 1 GHz. |
| Trackpad | Scrolling trackpad with a separate button; two-finger scrolling, tap, double-tap and drag. | Tap, double-tap and drag support |
| Speakers | Built-in stereo speakers | Stereo speakers with midrange-enhancing third speaker |
| Microphones | Built-in omnidirectional microphone under the left speaker grille | Internal omnidirectional microphone |
| In the box | MacBook Pro, removable battery, 85 W MagSafe Power Adapter with AC wall plug and power cord, install/restore DVDs and documentation. Apple Remote and DVI-to-VGA adapter included. Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger and iLife ’06. Higher base began shipping during the week of 14 February 2006 and lower base the following week; exact first-sale day is unestablished. | Apple UK states immediate 15-inch availability on 16 September 2003. Launch Mac OS X 10.2.7; current retained sheet lists later Panther software. |
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