Apple MacBook Pro (15-inch, Early 2006) vs Apple PowerBook G4 (Original 2001)
Better figure, where one is clearly better
| AppleMacBook Pro (15-inch, Early 2006) | ApplePowerBook G4 (Original 2001) | |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Released | February 2006 | January 2001 |
| Display | ||
| Screen size | 15.4″ | 15.2″ |
| Resolution | 1440 × 900 (better) | 1152 × 768 |
| 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 Exact panel technology and refresh rate unpublished in the maker sources read.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 active-matrix display. Exact panel technology, brightness and built-in refresh unpublished.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 400 MHz (PowerBook Original 2001) or PowerPC G4 500 MHz (PowerBook Original 2001) |
| CPU cores | 2 | 1 |
| Graphics | ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 (128 MB GDDR3) or ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 (256 MB GDDR3) | ATI Rage Mobility 128 (8 MB SDRAM) |
| Memory | 512 MB, 1 GB or 2 GB (better) | 128 MB, 256 MB or 1 GB |
| Storage | 80 GB to 120 GB (better) | 10 GB to 30 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. | 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 Mobility Radeon X1600 (128 MB GDDR3); ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 (256 MB GDDR3). GPU memory varies with processor configuration. | ATI Rage Mobility 128 with 8 MB SDRAM and AGP 2 ×. |
| 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. | 128 MB stock at 400 MHz or 256 MB at 500 MHz; two PC100 SO-DIMM slots support up to 1 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. | 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 4.5 hours | Up to 5 hours |
| Battery capacity | 60 Wh (better) | 50 Wh |
| Weight | 2.54 kg | 2.4 kg (better) |
| Thickness | 25.9 mm (better) | 26 mm |
| Width × depth | 357 × 243 mm | 341 × 241 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. | 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. |
| Charger | 85 W MagSafe Power Adapter | – |
| Materials | Aluminium enclosure | Titanium enclosure |
| Colours | Silver | – |
| Connections | ||
| Ports | 2 × USB-A, Ethernet, headphone jack, MagSafe | 2 × USB-A, Ethernet, headphone jack |
| Wi-Fi | AirPort Extreme 802.11g | Optional AirPort 802.11b |
| Bluetooth | 2.0 + EDR | – |
| 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 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 | One external display up to 2560 × 1600 alongside the built-in screen through dual-link DVI; included VGA adapter, optional composite/S-video adapter. | 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 | Full-size backlit keyboard with ambient light sensors, 78 US or 79 ISO keys, 12 function keys and four arrow keys; embedded numeric keypad | 77 US or 78 ISO keys; 12 function keys, four arrows and embedded numeric keypad. |
| 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 | Two built-in stereo speakers |
| 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. | 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. |
More comparisons
- Apple MacBook Pro 14″ (M5 Pro or M5 Max) vs Apple MacBook Pro (15-inch, Early 2006)
- Apple MacBook Pro (15-inch, Early 2006) vs Apple MacBook Pro 16″ (M5 Pro or M5 Max)
- Apple MacBook Pro 14″ (M5) vs Apple MacBook Pro (15-inch, Early 2006)
- Apple MacBook Pro 14″ (M5) vs Apple PowerBook G4 (Original 2001)
- Apple MacBook Pro 14″ (M4 Pro or M4 Max) vs Apple MacBook Pro (15-inch, Early 2006)
- Apple MacBook Pro 14″ (M4) vs Apple MacBook Pro (15-inch, Early 2006)
- Apple MacBook Pro (15-inch, Early 2006) vs Apple MacBook Pro 16″ (M4 Pro or M4 Max)
- Apple MacBook Pro 14″ (M3 Pro / M3 Max) vs Apple MacBook Pro (15-inch, Early 2006)
- Apple MacBook Pro 14″ (M3) vs Apple MacBook Pro (15-inch, Early 2006)
- Apple MacBook Pro 14″ (M1 Pro / M1 Max) vs Apple MacBook Pro (15-inch, Early 2006)
- Apple MacBook Pro (15-inch, Early 2006) vs Apple MacBook Pro (15-inch, Mid 2012)
- Apple MacBook Pro (15-inch, Early 2006) vs Apple MacBook Pro (15-inch, Late 2011)
- Apple MacBook Pro (15-inch, Early 2006) vs Apple MacBook Pro (15-inch, Early 2011)
- Apple MacBook Pro (15-inch, Early 2006) vs Apple MacBook Pro (15-inch, Mid 2010)
- Apple MacBook Pro (15-inch, Early 2006) vs Apple MacBook Pro (15-inch, Early 2008)
- Apple MacBook Pro (15-inch, Early 2006) vs Apple MacBook Pro (15-inch, Late 2006)

