Apple Macintosh PowerBook 1400c/117 vs Apple PowerBook G3 (Original, 1997)

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Macintosh PowerBook 1400c/117 compared with PowerBook G3 (Original, 1997)

	AppleMacintosh PowerBook 1400c/117	ApplePowerBook G3 (Original, 1997)
Overview
Released
Released	November 1996	November 1997
Display
Screen size
Screen size	11.3″	12.1″
Resolution
Resolution	800 × 600	800 × 600
Touchscreen
Touchscreen	No	No
Display type
Display type	11.3-inch CCFL-backlit active-matrix TFT colour LCD with 800 × 600 resolution. Apple lists 16-bit colour in its service sheet.	12.1-inch active-matrix TFT colour LCD; the maker does not publish IPS/TN panel technology, brightness or refresh rate.
Display features
Display features	–	800 × 600 native display with 16-bit colour on the built-in screen. The 1997 launch release says 18-bit colour, differing from the technical sheet.
Performance
Processor
Processor	PowerPC 603e 117 MHz (PowerBook 1400)	PowerPC G3 250 MHz (original PowerBook G3)
CPU cores
CPU cores	1	1
Graphics
Graphics	–	Chips and Technologies 65554 (2 MB VRAM)
Memory
Memory	16 MB	32 MB (better)
Storage
Storage	1 GB	5 GB (better)
CPU
CPU	117 MHz PowerPC 603e on a 33.3 MHz bus; 32 KB L1 cache and no L2 cache in the original service configuration.	250 MHz PowerPC G3; 50 MHz system bus, 512 KB backside L2 cache running at 100 MHz. Exact fitted silicon supplier and process are unpublished.
GPU
GPU	–	Chips and Technologies 65554 PCI graphics controller with 2 MB video RAM; built-in display supports 16-bit colour, external display up to 24-bit colour.
Memory type
Memory type	16 MB RAM in Apple's original 1996 developer-note configuration, expandable to 64 MB. Apple's later service sheet lists a 32 MB minimum, conflicting with the original developer note.	32 MB EDO DRAM built in, one expansion slot for 16, 32, 64 or 128 MB modules; maker maximum 160 MB. A separate 4 MB ROM is listed in the contemporary technical sheet.
Storage type
Storage type	1 GB internal 2.5-inch IDE hard drive in Apple's original developer note. The expansion bay took a 1.4 MB floppy module or a 6× CD-ROM module, both supplied with this configuration.	5 GB internal 2.5-inch ATA hard drive. The expansion bay takes a 1.44 MB floppy module or 20× CD-ROM module, both in the original package; removable media are not counted as internal storage.
Battery and size
Battery life (maker's claim)
Battery life (maker's claim)	Up to 5 hours	Up to 4 hours
Battery capacity
Battery capacity	30 Wh	47 Wh (better)
Weight
Weight	–	3.4 kg
Thickness
Thickness	–	60.96 mm
Width × depth
Width × depth	–	292.1 × 241.3 mm
Battery life detail
Battery life detail	30 Wh removable nickel-metal hydride battery; Apple claimed up to five hours. Its service sheet lists 6.6 lb weight with a note that installed modules affect it.	47 Wh removable lithium-ion main battery; maker claims 2–4 hours depending on use, with 4 hours as the maximum. A 60 mAh NiMH backup battery keeps clock and memory alive briefly for battery exchange. Maker reference weight is 3.4 kg with floppy module, 3.5 kg with CD-ROM and 3.2 kg without a module.
Charger
Charger	–	45 W AC adapter, 100–240 V at 50/60 Hz input, 24 V 1.875 A output.
Connections
Ports
Ports	–	Ethernet, headphone jack
Operating system
Operating system	macOS	macOS
Port detail
Port detail	ADB, HDI-30 SCSI, RS-422 serial/LocalTalk, audio input and output, infrared, and two Type II PC Card slots (or one Type III). Ethernet required an optional expansion or PC Card; external video required an optional mini-15 card.	One shared RJ-45 socket for 10BASE-T Ethernet and the internal 33.6 Kbps modem; ADB, HDI-15 external video, HDI-30 SCSI with disk mode, GeoPort/RS-422 serial, stereo audio output and input, and an infrared transceiver supporting IR Talk and IrDA. Two PC Card Type I/II slots or one Type III card; the lower slot supports Zoomed Video.
External displays
External displays	–	External VGA/SVGA/Apple displays through HDI-15, up to 1024 × 768 at 24-bit colour; display mirroring is supported. The technical sheet lists 640 × 480 and 800 × 600 as well.
Keyboard
Keyboard	–	Full-size built-in keyboard with 3 mm travel, 19 mm key pitch and an inverted-T arrow cluster.
Trackpad
Trackpad	Built-in trackpad with tap, double-tap and drag support.	Built-in solid-state trackpad.
Speakers
Speakers	–	Four speakers: two in the display and two beneath the keyboard; 16-bit stereo at 44.1, 22 or 11 kHz.
Microphones
Microphones	–	Built-in omnidirectional electret microphone.
In the box
In the box	System 7.5.3, battery, floppy module and 6× CD-ROM module. Apple lists an October 1996 introduction; contemporary launch coverage says machines were expected in mid-November.	Floppy and 20× CD-ROM expansion-bay modules, removable battery and AC adapter. Original Mac OS 8 installation. Apple announced US availability immediately in November 1997; European sales were planned for late November and Japan for December. The current maker sheet gives 2.4-inch thickness (60.96 mm); its older technical PDF lists 65.6 mm despite labelling that as 2.4 inches, so the current sheet controls the main dimension.