Apple MacBook Pro (17-inch, Early 2006) vs Apple PowerBook G4 (17-inch, Double-Layer SD)
Better figure, where one is clearly better
| AppleMacBook Pro (17-inch, Early 2006) | ApplePowerBook G4 (17-inch, Double-Layer SD) | |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Released | May 2006 | October 2005 |
| Display | ||
| Screen size | 17″ | 17″ |
| Resolution | 1680 × 1050 | 1680 × 1050 |
| Brightness | 300 nits | – |
| Touchscreen | No | No |
| Display type | Widescreen TFT display; matte at launch, with glossy option added later in May 2006 with millions of colours. Exact panel technology and refresh rate unpublished in the maker sources read. | 17-inch TFT widescreen; panel technology, absolute brightness and refresh rate unpublished on maker sheet |
| Display features | – | Millions of colours at native resolution; maker UK launch claims up to 46% brighter than preceding 17-inch model |
| Performance | ||
| Processor | Intel Core Duo 2.16 GHz (MacBook Pro Early 2006) | PowerPC G4 1.67 GHz (PowerBook 17-inch Late 2005) |
| CPU cores | 2 | 1 |
| Graphics | ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 (256 MB GDDR3) | ATI Mobility Radeon 9700 (128 MB DDR) |
| Memory | 1 GB or 2 GB | 512 MB, 1 GB or 2 GB |
| Storage | 100 GB to 120 GB | 100 GB to 120 GB |
| CPU | Dual-core Intel Core Duo at 2.16 GHz, with 2 MB shared L2 cache and 667 MHz frontside bus. The record retains the maker’s clock and model rather than copying an unverified retail-chip specification. | 1.67 GHz PowerPC G4 with Velocity Engine, 512 KB on-chip L2 SRAM and 167 MHz system bus; exact silicon supplier/process omitted |
| GPU | ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 (256 MB GDDR3) | ATI Mobility Radeon 9700 with AGP 4× support, 128 MB DDR video memory and dual-link DVI |
| Memory type | 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM in two SO-DIMM slots; 1 GB standard, configurable to 2 GB. | 512 MB PC2-4200 DDR2 SDRAM running at 333 MHz standard in one SO-DIMM; two slots, maximum 2 GB, with 512 MB and 1 GB module options |
| Storage type | 120 GB 5400-rpm Serial ATA hard drive, configurable to 100 GB at 7200 rpm. 8× SuperDrive with 2.4× double-layer DVD+R writing. | 120 GB 5400 rpm Ultra ATA/100 standard or 100 GB 7200 rpm build-to-order, with Sudden Motion Sensor. Slot-loading 8× DVD±R SuperDrive supports 2.4× double-layer DVD+R, 4× DVD±RW, 24× CD-R and 16× CD-RW; optional DVD-ROM/CD-RW Combo drive |
| Battery and size | ||
| Battery life (maker's claim) | Up to 5.5 hours | Up to 5.5 hours |
| Battery capacity | 68 Wh (better) | 58 Wh |
| Weight | 3.1 kg | 3.1 kg |
| Thickness | 25.9 mm (better) | 26 mm |
| Width × depth | 392 × 265 mm | 392 × 259 mm |
| Battery life detail | Removable 68 Wh lithium-polymer battery; up to 5.5 hours in Apple’s test. Maker reference weight varies by configuration and manufacturing process. | 58 Wh lithium-ion with charge indicator LEDs; maker up to 5.5 hours depends on configuration and use. Maker reference 3.1 kg includes battery and optical drive and varies by configuration/manufacturing. Metric dimensions are maker centimetres expressed in millimetres |
| Charger | 85 W MagSafe Power Adapter | 65 W power adapter with cable management system |
| Materials | Aluminium enclosure | Aluminium enclosure |
| Colours | Silver | – |
| Connections | ||
| Ports | 3 × USB-A, Ethernet, headphone jack, MagSafe | 2 × USB-A, Ethernet, headphone jack |
| Wi-Fi | AirPort Extreme 802.11g | AirPort Extreme 802.11g/b |
| Bluetooth | 2.0 + EDR | 2.0 + EDR |
| Webcam | Built-in iSight camera | – |
| Operating system | macOS | macOS |
| Port detail | 3 USB 2.0 ports, FireWire 400 and FireWire 800, 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 at up to 480 Mbps, FireWire 800 and 400, Gigabit Ethernet, 56K V.92 modem, DVI, S-video and Type I/II PC Card slot; combined optical-digital/analogue input and output minijacks; Kensington lock slot |
| 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. | Simultaneous native 1680 × 1050 internal and up to 2560 × 1600 external display with millions of colours; dual-link DVI, including 30-inch Cinema HD display; mirroring, VGA with included DVI adapter, composite with included S-video adapter |
| 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 illuminated fibre-optic keyboard with ambient light sensor; 78 US or 79 ISO keys, 12 function keys, inverted-T arrows and embedded keypad |
| Trackpad | Scrolling trackpad with a separate button; two-finger scrolling, tap, double-tap and drag. | Solid-state trackpad with tap, double-tap, drag and scrolling 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 10.4.6 Tiger and iLife ’06. Apple’s 24 April 2006 notice states shipping the following week, supporting May month precision without an exact delivery day. The optional glossy screen was introduced later in May and is not treated as an original launch configuration. | Power adapter, AC wall plug, power cord, lithium-ion battery, modem cable, DVI-to-VGA and S-video-to-composite adapters; Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger and iLife ’05 supplied. Apple UK confirms immediate availability on 19 October 2005 |
More comparisons
- Apple MacBook Pro 16″ (M5 Pro or M5 Max) vs Apple MacBook Pro (17-inch, Early 2006)
- Apple MacBook Air 15″ (M5) vs Apple MacBook Pro (17-inch, Early 2006)
- Apple MacBook Pro 16″ (M5 Pro or M5 Max) vs Apple PowerBook G4 (17-inch, Double-Layer SD)
- Apple MacBook Pro 14″ (M5 Pro or M5 Max) vs Apple MacBook Pro (17-inch, Early 2006)
- Apple MacBook Pro 14″ (M5) vs Apple MacBook Pro (17-inch, Early 2006)
- Apple MacBook Pro 14″ (M4 Pro or M4 Max) vs Apple MacBook Pro (17-inch, Early 2006)
- Apple MacBook Pro 14″ (M4) vs Apple MacBook Pro (17-inch, Early 2006)
- Apple MacBook Pro 16″ (M4 Pro or M4 Max) vs Apple MacBook Pro (17-inch, Early 2006)
- Apple MacBook Pro 14″ (M3 Pro / M3 Max) vs Apple MacBook Pro (17-inch, Early 2006)
- Apple MacBook Pro 14″ (M3) vs Apple MacBook Pro (17-inch, Early 2006)
- Apple MacBook Pro 16″ (M1 Pro / M1 Max) vs Apple MacBook Pro (17-inch, Early 2006)
- Apple MacBook Pro (15-inch, Late 2008) vs Apple MacBook Pro (17-inch, Early 2006)
- Apple MacBook Pro (17-inch, Early 2006) vs Apple MacBook Pro (17-inch, Early 2008)
- Apple MacBook Pro (17-inch, Early 2008) vs Apple PowerBook G4 (17-inch, Double-Layer SD)
- Apple MacBook Pro (17-inch, Early 2006) vs Apple MacBook Pro (17-inch, Mid 2007)
- Apple MacBook Pro (17-inch, Early 2006) vs Apple MacBook Pro (17-inch, Late 2006)

