Apple Macintosh PowerBook 520 vs Apple Macintosh PowerBook 540c

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

Better figure, where one is clearly better

Macintosh PowerBook 520 compared with Macintosh PowerBook 540c
AppleMacintosh PowerBook 520AppleMacintosh PowerBook 540c
Overview
ReleasedMay 1994May 1994
Display
Screen size9.5″9.5″
Resolution640 × 480640 × 480
TouchscreenNoNo
Display type9.5-inch backlit FSTN passive-matrix greyscale LCD with 16 shades of grey9.5-inch backlit active-matrix colour LCD; 256 colours at 640 × 480 or 32,768 colours at 640 × 400
Performance
ProcessorMotorola 68LC040 50 MHz (PowerBook 520)Motorola 68LC040 66 MHz (PowerBook 540c)
CPU cores11
Memory12 MB12 MB
Storage240 MB320 MB to 500 MB (better)
CPUMotorola 68LC040 running internally at 50 MHz with a 25 MHz bus; 8 KB L1 cache and no floating-point unitMotorola 68LC040 running internally at 66 MHz with a 33 MHz bus; 8 KB L1 cache and no floating-point unit
Memory type4 MB on the logic board, expandable to 36 MB; Apple's Japanese configurations supplied 12 MB4 MB on the logic board, expandable to 36 MB; Apple's Japanese configurations supplied 12 MB
Storage typeInternal SCSI hard drive and 1.4 MB Apple SuperDrive floppy drive; Apple lists 160–240 MB drives in its English support sheet and 240/320 MB Japanese configurationsInternal SCSI hard drive and 1.4 MB Apple SuperDrive floppy drive; Apple lists 240–500 MB in English support and 320/500 MB Japanese configurations
Battery and size
Battery life (maker's claim)Up to 3.5 hoursUp to 3 hours
Weight2.9 kg (better)3.3 kg
Thickness57 mm57 mm
Width × depth292 × 245 mm292 × 245 mm
Battery life detailRemovable nickel-metal hydride intelligent battery; Apple claimed 3.5 hours per battery, with room for a second batteryTwo removable nickel-metal hydride intelligent batteries were supplied in Japan; Apple claimed three hours per battery. Published 3.3 kg weight includes both batteries.
Connections
Operating systemmacOSmacOS
Port detailADB, RS-422 serial/LocalTalk, HDI-30 SCSI, AAUI Ethernet, mini-15 video and stereo audio input/output; an optional PCMCIA module supported two Type II or one Type III cardADB, RS-422 serial/LocalTalk, HDI-30 SCSI, AAUI Ethernet, mini-15 video and stereo audio input/output; an optional PCMCIA module supported two Type II or one Type III card
External displaysBuilt-in video output supports mirroring or an extended desktop with an optional Apple video adapter cableBuilt-in video output supports mirroring or an extended desktop with an optional Apple video adapter cable
TrackpadBuilt-in solid-state trackpad in place of a trackballBuilt-in solid-state trackpad in place of a trackball
SpeakersTwo built-in stereo speakers and a microphoneTwo built-in stereo speakers and a microphone
In the boxApple's Japanese 12 MB/240 MB configuration included one battery, power adapter and PowerBook Mobility Bundle softwareApple's Japanese 12 MB/320 MB configuration included two batteries, power adapter and PowerBook Mobility Bundle software

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