Apple Macintosh PowerBook 520c vs Apple Macintosh PowerBook 540

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

Better figure, where one is clearly better

Macintosh PowerBook 520c compared with Macintosh PowerBook 540
AppleMacintosh PowerBook 520cAppleMacintosh PowerBook 540
Overview
ReleasedMay 1994May 1994
Display
Screen size9.5″9.5″
Resolution640 × 480640 × 480
TouchscreenNoNo
Display type9.5-inch backlit dual-scan passive-matrix colour LCD with 256 colours9.5-inch active-matrix greyscale LCD with 64 grey levels at 640 × 480
Performance
ProcessorMotorola 68LC040 50 MHz (PowerBook 520)Motorola 68LC040 66 MHz (PowerBook 540c)
CPU cores11
Memory12 MB (better)4 MB
Storage240 MB to 320 MB (better)240 MB
CPUMotorola 68LC040 with 50 MHz internal processor speed and 25 MHz bus interface; no floating-point unitMotorola 68LC040 with 66 MHz internal processor speed and 33 MHz bus interface; 8 KB L1 cache and no floating-point unit
Memory type4 MB on the logic board, expandable to 36 MB; Apple's Japanese bundled configurations contain 12 MB4 MB on the logic board, expandable to 36 MB through one memory expansion slot
Storage typeInternal SCSI hard drive and 1.4 MB Apple SuperDrive floppy drive; Japanese configurations pair 12 MB RAM with 240 or 320 MB storage. English support also lists a 160 MB drive240 MB internal SCSI hard drive and Apple SuperDrive floppy drive
Battery and size
Battery life (maker's claim)Up to 3 hoursUp to 3 hours
Weight2.9 kg (better)3.2 kg
Thickness57 mm (better)58 mm
Width × depth292 × 245 mm292 × 246 mm
Battery life detailNickel-metal hydride intelligent battery; Japanese specification claims three hours per battery, with one supplied and room for two. April 1995 Apple Facts instead gives 2–4 hours on one battery and 4–7 hours on two; 2.9 kg includes one batteryTwo high-capacity Type II nickel-metal hydride batteries supplied; Apple claims 1.5–3 hours on one battery or 3–6 hours on two
Connections
Operating systemmacOSmacOS
Port detailADB, RS-422 serial/LocalTalk, AAUI Ethernet, HDI-30 SCSI, stereo audio input/output, external video and power input; optional internal modem and PCMCIA module supporting two Type II or one Type III cardADB, serial/LocalTalk, AAUI Ethernet, HDI-30 SCSI, external video, stereo sound input/output and power input; optional internal modem and processor-direct PCMCIA expansion module
External displaysMirroring and extended desktop through an optional video adapter cableVideo output supports compatible external Apple displays through an adapter; built-in greyscale display can be upgraded to active-matrix colour with Apple's optional upgrade
TrackpadBuilt-in solid-state trackpadBuilt-in solid-state trackpad
SpeakersTwo stereo speakers and a built-in microphoneTwo built-in speakers and microphone with 16-bit stereo sound
In the boxJapanese 12 MB/240 MB bundle includes one intelligent battery, power adapter, KanjiTalk 7.5 media and PowerBook Mobility Bundle; the 12 MB/320 MB bundle adds Express Modem IINotebook, two batteries and power adapter; preinstalled PowerBook Mobility Bundle. Dimensions and metric weight come from Apple's October 1994 Apple Facts

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