Apple Macintosh PowerBook 550c vs Apple PowerBook G4 (12-inch, 1.33GHz)

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 550c compared with PowerBook G4 (12-inch, 1.33GHz)

	AppleMacintosh PowerBook 550c	ApplePowerBook G4 (12-inch, 1.33GHz)
Overview
Released
Released	1995	April 2004
Display
Screen size
Screen size	10.4″	12.1″
Resolution
Resolution	640 × 480	1024 × 768 (better)
Touchscreen
Touchscreen	No	No
Display type
Display type	Backlit active-matrix colour LCD; 256 colours at 640 × 480 or 32768 colours at 640 × 400 according to Apple Japan	12.1-inch TFT XGA active-matrix display; panel technology and refresh unpublished.
Performance
Processor
Processor	Motorola 68040 66 MHz (PowerBook 550c)	PowerPC G4 1.33 GHz (PowerBook 12-inch 2004)
CPU cores
CPU cores	1	1
Graphics
Graphics	–	NVIDIA GeForce FX Go5200 (64 MB DDR)
Memory
Memory	12 MB	256 MB or 1.25 GB (better)
Storage
Storage	750 MB	60 GB to 80 GB (better)
CPU
CPU	Motorola 68040 with MMU and floating-point unit; Apple specifies 66 MHz internal processor clock and 33 MHz bus interface. The English support table incorrectly says no FPU, conflicting with the exact Japanese sheet and original Apple technical article	1.33 GHz PowerPC G4, 512 KB on-chip L2 and 167 MHz system bus. Exact silicon supplier omitted.
GPU
GPU	Service Source specifies 512 KB video memory; built-in video output supports 256 colours	NVIDIA GeForce FX Go5200 with 64 MB DDR video memory and AGP 4×.
Memory type
Memory type	4 MB on the logic board plus an 8 MB expansion card in the standard 12 MB configuration; expandable to 36 MB using one 70 ns or faster low-power self-refreshing card	256 MB PC2700 DDR333 standard, one open SO-DIMM slot; maximum 1.25 GB.
Storage type
Storage type	Internal 750 MB SCSI hard drive and 1.4 MB Apple SuperDrive; full KanjiTalk CD-ROM installation needs an external CD-ROM drive	60 GB 4200 rpm Ultra ATA/100 standard; 80 GB 5400 rpm build-to-order alternative. Combo DVD-ROM/CD-RW or 4× DVD-R SuperDrive.
Battery and size
Battery life (maker's claim)
Battery life (maker's claim)	Up to 3 hours	Up to 5 hours
Battery capacity
Battery capacity	–	50 Wh
Weight
Weight	3.1 kg	2.1 kg (better)
Thickness
Thickness	57 mm	–
Width × depth
Width × depth	292 × 245 mm	–
Battery life detail
Battery life detail	Two removable nickel-metal hydride intelligent batteries; Apple Japan claims three hours per battery, while the original technical article and service manual say up to 3.5 hours. Recharge takes two hours asleep or off, four hours running. Headline runtime is per battery rather than an inferred combined claim. Published 3.1 kg includes two batteries; Service Source instead lists 3.3 kg	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	40 W power adapter according to Apple Service Source	45 W power adapter
Materials
Materials	Dark-grey enclosure according to the original Apple technical article	Aluminium enclosure
Connections
Ports
Ports	–	2 × USB-A, Ethernet, headphone jack
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi	–	AirPort Extreme 802.11g/b
Bluetooth
Bluetooth	–	1.1
Operating system
Operating system	macOS	macOS
Port detail
Port detail	ADB, RS-422 serial/LocalTalk, AAUI Ethernet, HDI-30 SCSI, stereo audio input/output and external video. A 90-pin processor-direct slot accepts the optional PCMCIA module for two Type II or one Type III card; Service Source places it in the second battery bay	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	Mirroring or extended desktop using an optional video adapter; Japanese specifications list Macintosh, VGA and SVGA support. Service Source identifies a micro DV-14 connector, while the English support table labels it mini-15	Dual display and mirroring; external resolution up to 2048 × 1536.
Keyboard
Keyboard	Japanese JIS keyboard with tilt adjustment and power-on key; original Apple technical article specifies 79 keys including twelve function keys, unlike Service Source's generic domestic/ISO counts	Full-size keyboard with embedded numeric keypad
Trackpad
Trackpad	Built-in solid-state trackpad with adjustable acceleration	Tap, double-tap and drag support
Speakers
Speakers	Two built-in stereo speakers and 16-bit audio with 11.035, 22.050 or 44.100 kHz sampling	Stereo speakers with midrange-enhancing third speaker
Microphones
Microphones	Built-in electret microphone; Japanese specifications call it directional while the original technical article and service manual say omnidirectional	Internal omnidirectional microphone
In the box
In the box	12 MB/750 MB PowerBook, two intelligent batteries, power adapter, KanjiTalk 7.5 CD-ROM and system disks, PowerBook Mobility Bundle, documentation and warranty. Apple records introduction on 30 May 1995, while contemporary TidBITS coverage expected late-June availability; the July maker technical article confirms a released Japan-only product without a first-sale day or month	Apple UK confirms immediate availability on 19 April 2004; Mac OS X 10.3 Panther and iLife ’04 supplied.