Apple MacBook Pro (17-inch, Late 2006) vs Apple PowerBook G4 (17-inch, Double-Layer SD)

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

Better figure, where one is clearly better

MacBook Pro (17-inch, Late 2006) compared with PowerBook G4 (17-inch, Double-Layer SD)
AppleMacBook Pro (17-inch, Late 2006)ApplePowerBook G4 (17-inch, Double-Layer SD)
Overview
ReleasedNovember 2006October 2005
Display
Screen size17″17″
Resolution1680 × 10501680 × 1050
Brightness300 nits–
TouchscreenNoNo
Display typeWidescreen TFT display; optional glossy finish 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 Exact panel technology and refresh rate unpublished in the maker sources read.17-inch TFT widescreen; panel technology, absolute brightness and refresh rate unpublished on maker sheet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
ProcessorIntel Core 2 Duo 2.33 GHz (MacBook Pro Late 2006)PowerPC G4 1.67 GHz (PowerBook 17-inch Late 2005)
CPU cores21
GraphicsATI Mobility Radeon X1600 (256 MB GDDR3)ATI Mobility Radeon 9700 (128 MB DDR)
Memory2 GB or 3 GB (better)512 MB, 1 GB or 2 GB
Storage100 GB to 200 GB (better)100 GB to 120 GB
CPUDual-core Intel Core 2 Duo at 2.33 GHz, with 4 MB shared L2 cache and 667 MHz frontside bus. The record retains the maker’s clock and model without an unverified Intel SKU.1.67 GHz PowerPC G4 with Velocity Engine, 512 KB on-chip L2 SRAM and 167 MHz system bus; exact silicon supplier/process omitted
GPUATI Mobility Radeon X1600 (256 MB GDDR3)ATI Mobility Radeon 9700 with AGP 4× support, 128 MB DDR video memory and dual-link DVI
Memory type667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM in two SO-DIMM slots; 2 GB standard, configurable to 3 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 type160 GB 5400-rpm Serial ATA hard drive, configurable to 100 GB at 7200 rpm or 200 GB at 4200 rpm. 8× SuperDrive with 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 hoursUp to 5.5 hours
Battery capacity68 Wh (better)58 Wh
Weight–3.1 kg
Thickness–26 mm
Width × depth–392 × 259 mm
Battery life detailRemovable 68 Wh lithium-polymer battery; up to 5.5 hours in Apple’s test. Apple publishes 6.8 lb and a 15.4 × 10.4 × 1.0-inch enclosure; weight varies by configuration. Unpublished metric fields omitted.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
Charger85 W MagSafe Power Adapter65 W power adapter with cable management system
MaterialsAluminium enclosureAluminium enclosure
ColoursSilver–
Connections
Ports3 × USB-A, Ethernet, headphone jack, MagSafe2 × USB-A, Ethernet, headphone jack
Wi-FiAirPort Extreme 802.11g; 802.11n requires the optional software enablerAirPort Extreme 802.11g/b
Bluetooth2.0 + EDR2.0 + EDR
WebcamBuilt-in iSight camera–
Operating systemmacOSmacOS
Port detail3 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 displaysOne 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
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 fibre-optic keyboard with ambient light sensor; 78 US or 79 ISO keys, 12 function keys, inverted-T arrows and embedded keypad
TrackpadScrolling trackpad with a separate button; two-finger scrolling, tap, double-tap and drag.Solid-state trackpad with tap, double-tap, drag and scrolling support
SpeakersBuilt-in stereo speakersTwo built-in stereo 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 10.4.8 Tiger and iLife ’06. Apple’s 24 October announcement says this model would ship the following week, crossing the month boundary; Macworld’s contemporary laboratory report confirms that actual shipping began in November. An exact first-sale day is unestablished.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

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