Apple Macintosh PowerBook 1400c/166 vs Apple PowerBook G3 (Original, 1997)
Better figure, where one is clearly better
| AppleMacintosh PowerBook 1400c/166 | ApplePowerBook G3 (Original, 1997) | |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Released | July 1997 | November 1997 |
| Display | ||
| Screen size | 11.3″ | 12.1″ |
| Resolution | 800 × 600 | 800 × 600 |
| Touchscreen | No | No |
| Display type | 11.3-inch active-matrix SVGA colour LCD; 16-bit colour at 800 × 600. | 12.1-inch active-matrix TFT colour LCD; the maker does not publish IPS/TN panel technology, brightness or refresh rate. |
| 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 | PowerPC 603e 166 MHz (PowerBook 1400c/166) | PowerPC G3 250 MHz (original PowerBook G3) |
| CPU cores | 1 | 1 |
| Graphics | – | Chips and Technologies 65554 (2 MB VRAM) |
| Memory | 16 MB | 32 MB (better) |
| Storage | 2 GB | 5 GB (better) |
| CPU | 166 MHz PowerPC 603e with 32 KB L1 and 128 KB L2 cache on a 33.3 MHz data path. | 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 Exact fitted silicon supplier and process are unpublished.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 | – | 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 | 16 MB on the logic board, expandable to 64 MB using the memory slot's stacked cards. | 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 | 2 GB internal ATA hard drive; removable 1.44 MB floppy and 8× CD-ROM modules for the expansion bay. | 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. |
| Connections | ||
| Ports | – | Ethernet, headphone jack |
| Operating system | macOS | macOS |
| Port detail | ADB, HDI-30 SCSI, serial printer, audio input and output, infrared and two Type II PC Card slots or one Type III; Ethernet and mini-15 video required optional cards. | 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 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 | – | Full-size built-in keyboard with 3 mm travel, 19 mm key pitch and an inverted-T arrow cluster. |
| Trackpad | – | Built-in solid-state trackpad. |
| Speakers | – | Four speakers: two in the display and two beneath the keyboard; 16-bit stereo at 44.1, 22 or 11 kHz. |
| Microphones | – | Built-in omnidirectional electret microphone. |
| In the box | Canadian launch configuration included the floppy and 8× CD-ROM modules with Mac OS 7.6 or 7.6.1 preinstalled. | 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. |
| Battery and size | ||
| Battery life (maker's claim) | – | Up to 4 hours |
| Battery capacity | – | 47 Wh |
| Weight | – | 3.4 kg |
| Thickness | – | 60.96 mm |
| Width × depth | – | 292.1 × 241.3 mm |
| Battery life detail | Removable PowerBook 1400 nickel-metal hydride battery; Apple lists weight as 6.6 lb, varying with installed modules. | 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 | – | 45 W AC adapter, 100–240 V at 50/60 Hz input, 24 V 1.875 A output. |
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