Apple Macintosh PowerBook 1400c/117 vs Apple PowerBook G4 (12-inch, 1.5GHz)

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

Only show differences

Better figure, where one is clearly better

Share comparison

Macintosh PowerBook 1400c/117 compared with PowerBook G4 (12-inch, 1.5GHz)

	AppleMacintosh PowerBook 1400c/117	ApplePowerBook G4 (12-inch, 1.5GHz)
Overview
Released
Released	November 1996	2005
Display
Screen size
Screen size	11.3″	12.1″
Resolution
Resolution	800 × 600	1024 × 768 (better)
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 Apple lists 16-bit colour in its service sheet.	12.1-inch TFT XGA active-matrix display; panel technology and refresh unpublished.
Performance
Processor
Processor	PowerPC 603e 117 MHz (PowerBook 1400)	PowerPC G4 1.5 GHz (PowerBook 12-inch 2005)
CPU cores
CPU cores	1	1
Graphics
Graphics	–	NVIDIA GeForce FX Go5200 (64 MB DDR)
Memory
Memory	16 MB	512 MB or 1.25 GB (better)
Storage
Storage	1 GB	60 GB to 100 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.	1.5 GHz PowerPC G4, 512 KB on-chip L2 and 167 MHz system bus. Exact silicon supplier omitted.
GPU
GPU	–	NVIDIA GeForce FX Go5200 with 64 MB DDR video memory and AGP 4×.
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.	512 MB PC2700 DDR333 standard; one SO-DIMM slot, maximum 1.25 GB.
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.	5400 rpm Ultra ATA/100 hard drive with Sudden Motion Sensor. Combo base60GB; SuperDrive base80GB; 100GB build-to-order on either. 8× DVD±RW/CD-RW SuperDrive; optical-drive differences retained in details.
Battery and size
Battery life (maker's claim)
Battery life (maker's claim)	Up to 5 hours	Up to 5 hours
Battery capacity
Battery capacity	30 Wh	50 Wh (better)
Weight
Weight	–	2.1 kg
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.	50 Wh lithium-ion, up to five hours. Published reference weight 2.1 kg with battery and optical drive; varies by configuration/manufacturing. Published dimensions: height 3.0 cm, width 27.7 cm, depth 21.9 cm.
Charger
Charger	–	45 W power adapter
Materials
Materials	–	Aluminium enclosure
Connections
Ports
Ports	–	2 × USB-A, Ethernet, headphone jack
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi	–	AirPort Extreme 802.11g/b
Bluetooth
Bluetooth	–	2.0 + EDR
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.	Two USB 2.0 ports, FireWire 400, 10/100 Ethernet, 56K V.92 modem, mini-DVI, audio input and headphone output. Mini-DVI-to-DVI and mini-DVI-to-VGA adapters included; television adapter separate.
External displays
External displays	–	Dual display and mirroring; external resolution up to 2048 × 1536.
Keyboard
Keyboard	–	Full-size keyboard with embedded numeric keypad
Trackpad
Trackpad	Built-in trackpad with tap, double-tap and drag support.	Two-finger scrolling/panning, tap, double-tap and drag support
Speakers
Speakers	–	Stereo speakers with midrange-enhancing third speaker
Microphones
Microphones	–	Internal omnidirectional 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.	Apple announced 31 January 2005 with availability planned later that week. Actual first on-sale month unestablished after a bounded search; year precision retained. Launch Mac OS X 10.3 Panther and iLife ’05; later units shipped Tiger.