Apple MacBook Pro (15-inch, Early 2006) vs Apple PowerBook G4 (15-inch, Double-Layer SD)

Every spec side by side, from each maker's published figures.

Better figure, where one is clearly better

MacBook Pro (15-inch, Early 2006) compared with PowerBook G4 (15-inch, Double-Layer SD)
AppleMacBook Pro (15-inch, Early 2006)ApplePowerBook G4 (15-inch, Double-Layer SD)
Overview
ReleasedFebruary 2006October 2005
Display
Screen size15.4″15.2″
Resolution1440 × 9001440 × 960 (better)
Brightness300 nits–
TouchscreenNoNo
Display typeWidescreen TFT display with millions of colours. Exact panel technology and refresh rate unpublished in the maker sources read.15.2-inch TFT widescreen, 1440 × 960; panel technology and refresh unpublished.
Performance
ProcessorIntel 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 1.67 GHz (PowerBook 15-inch Late 2005)
CPU cores21
GraphicsATI Mobility Radeon X1600 (128 MB GDDR3) or ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 (256 MB GDDR3)ATI Mobility Radeon 9700 (128 MB DDR)
Memory512 MB, 1 GB or 2 GB512 MB or 2 GB
Storage80 GB to 120 GB80 GB to 120 GB
CPUDual-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.1.67 GHz PowerPC G4 with 512 KB on-chip L2 and 167 MHz system bus. Exact silicon supplier omitted.
GPUATI Mobility Radeon X1600 (128 MB GDDR3); ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 (256 MB GDDR3). GPU memory varies with processor configuration.ATI Mobility Radeon 9700 with 128 MB DDR and dual-link DVI standard
Memory type667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM in two SO-DIMM slots, up to 2 GB. Lower base has 512 MB; higher base has 1 GB.512 MB PC2-4200 DDR2 running at 333 MHz; two SO-DIMM slots support up to 2 GB.
Storage typeLower 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.80 GB 5400 rpm Ultra ATA/100 standard with Sudden Motion Sensor. Build-to-order: 100 GB 5400 or 7200 rpm, or 120 GB 5400 rpm. 8× SuperDrive with 2.4× double-layer DVD+R support; optional Combo drive. Speed/optical alternatives retained here rather than duplicate capacity rows.
Battery and size
Battery life (maker's claim)Up to 4.5 hoursUp to 5.5 hours
Battery capacity60 Wh–
Weight2.54 kg–
Thickness25.9 mm–
Width × depth357 × 243 mm–
Battery life detailRemovable 60 Wh lithium-polymer battery; up to 4.5 hours in Apple’s test. Maker reference weight varies by configuration and manufacturing process.Up to 5.5 hours, dependent on configuration and use. Retained maker family sheet publishes 15-inch reference weight 5.6 pounds, footprint 13.7 × 9.5 inches and thickness 1.1 inches; no calculated metric main values. Its detailed 58 Wh battery section is explicitly 17-inch and is not borrowed.
Charger85 W MagSafe Power AdapterPower adapter included; wattage not established for this exact generation in the read family sheet.
MaterialsAluminium enclosureAluminium enclosure
ColoursSilver–
Connections
Ports2 × USB-A, Ethernet, headphone jack, MagSafe2 × USB-A, Ethernet, headphone jack
Wi-FiAirPort Extreme 802.11gAirPort Extreme 802.11g/b
Bluetooth2.0 + EDR2.0 + EDR
WebcamBuilt-in iSight camera–
Operating systemmacOSmacOS
Port detail2 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, FireWire 400 and 800, Gigabit Ethernet, 56K V.92 modem, DVI, S-video and Type I/II PC Card slot. Combined analogue/optical digital input and output.
External displaysOne external display up to 2560 × 1600 alongside the built-in screen through dual-link DVI; included VGA adapter, optional composite/S-video adapter.Dual-link DVI supports 30-inch Cinema HD display; DVI-to-VGA and S-video-to-composite adapters included.
KeyboardFull-size backlit keyboard with ambient light sensors, 78 US or 79 ISO keys, 12 function keys and four arrow keys; embedded numeric keypadFull-size illuminated keyboard with ambient light sensor
TrackpadScrolling trackpad with a separate button; two-finger scrolling, tap, double-tap and drag.Two-finger scrolling/panning, tap, double-tap and drag support
SpeakersBuilt-in stereo speakersStereo speakers
MicrophonesBuilt-in omnidirectional microphone under the left speaker grilleInternal omnidirectional microphone
In the boxMacBook 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 confirms immediate availability on 19 October 2005. Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger and iLife ’05 supplied. The retained sheet’s configuration table covers all sizes but its detailed specification section describes the 17-inch; only the 15-inch table and explicit build-to-order fields are used here.

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