Apple PowerBook G3 (Bronze Keyboard) vs Apple PowerBook G3 Series (September 1998)

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PowerBook G3 (Bronze Keyboard) compared with PowerBook G3 Series (September 1998)

	ApplePowerBook G3 (Bronze Keyboard)	ApplePowerBook G3 Series (September 1998)
Overview
Released
Released	May 1999	September 1998
Display
Screen size
Screen size	14.1″	14.1″
Resolution
Resolution	1024 × 768	1024 × 768 or 800 × 600
Touchscreen
Touchscreen	No	No
Display type
Display type	14.1-inch TFT active-matrix colour LCD. The maker does not publish IPS/TN subtype, brightness or refresh rate.	Active-matrix TFT; 14.1-inch XGA 1024 × 768 or later 12.1-inch SVGA 800 × 600; resolution scaling supports lower resolutions
Display features
Display features	1024 × 768 native resolution with millions of colours; 640 × 480 and 800 × 600 scaled modes. Simultaneous internal and external extended desktop.	–
Performance
Processor
Processor	PowerPC G3 333 MHz (PowerBook Bronze Keyboard) or PowerPC G3 400 MHz (PowerBook Bronze Keyboard)	PowerPC G3 233 MHz (PowerBook G3 Series September 1998), PowerPC G3 266 MHz (PowerBook G3 Series September 1998) or PowerPC G3 300 MHz (PowerBook G3 Series September 1998)
CPU cores
CPU cores	1	1
Graphics
Graphics	ATI RAGE LT Pro (8 MB video SDRAM)	–
Memory
Memory	64 MB	32 MB or 64 MB
Storage
Storage	4 GB to 6 GB	2 GB to 8 GB (better)
CPU
CPU	333 MHz PowerPC G3 with 512 KB backside L2 cache or 400 MHz with 1 MB; maker support table lists 66/83 MHz data-path clocks. Exact fitted silicon supplier and process not assigned.	PowerPC G3 at 233, 266 or 300 MHz, 66 MHz system bus; 512 KB backside cache on 233 MHz or 1 MB on 266/300 MHz. Dedicated backside buses 117, 133 or 150 MHz; integrated FPU and 64 KB L1 cache
GPU
GPU	ATI RAGE LT Pro controller with 8 MB video SDRAM; accelerated 2D/3D graphics.	ATI RAGE LT PRO with 4 MB SGRAM on 14.1-inch or 2 MB on 12.1-inch TFT; earlier passive-matrix models remain in the original May entry
Memory type
Memory type	64 MB SDRAM factory fitted; two SO-DIMM slots, maker maximum 384 MB. EDO memory is incompatible according to Apple Service Source.	32 MB or 64 MB factory SDRAM in two 144-pin SO-DIMM slots; original maker expansion limit 192 MB
Storage type
Storage type	Original factory pairs: 333 MHz/64 MB/4 GB IDE/24× CD-ROM (M7304) and 400 MHz/64 MB/6 GB IDE/2× DVD-ROM with MPEG-2 decode (M7308). Apple lists 10 GB hard drive, more memory and DVD on the 333 MHz as build-to-order options without a complete factory pairing; they are not multiplied into speculative configurations.	Removable 2 GB, 4 GB or 8 GB internal IDE drive. Expansion bays accept CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, optional floppy, battery and third-party modules; 20× CD-ROM or 1.5× DVD-ROM with up to 12× CD reading
Battery and size
Battery life (maker's claim)
Battery life (maker's claim)	Up to 5 hours	Up to 3.5 hours
Battery capacity
Battery capacity	50 Wh (better)	49 Wh
Weight
Weight	2.6761963 kg (better)	3.5 kg
Thickness
Thickness	43.18 mm	–
Width × depth
Width × depth	322.58 × 264.16 mm	–
Battery life detail
Battery life detail	50 Wh lithium-ion battery; maker claims up to five hours on one battery and ten with two. A second battery can occupy the optical expansion bay. Macworld obtained around three hours at full processor speed on the 400 MHz model.	Removable 49 Wh lithium-ion battery; up to 3.5 hours with one or seven hours with two under maker normal-use conditions. Reference 3.5 kg includes modem, battery and CD-ROM; 12.1-inch reference is 3.3 kg. Maker sources give rounded dimensions and conflicting axis labels, so no unqualified dimensions adopted
Charger
Charger	45 W maximum AC power, 100–240 V, 50–60 Hz.	45 W AC adapter
Connections
Ports
Ports	2 × USB-A, Ethernet, headphone jack	Ethernet, headphone jack
Operating system
Operating system	macOS	macOS
Port detail
Port detail	Two 12 Mbps USB ports, HDI-30 SCSI, VGA, S-video, 10/100BASE-T Ethernet, RJ-11 56K V.90 modem, 4 Mbps IrDA, stereo line input and headphone output. One Type II CardBus/PC Card slot with Zoomed Video support; no ADB or built-in FireWire. Apple current support table lists one USB, but its 1999 announcement and exact Service Source both document two.	ADB, HDI-30 SCSI, RS-422 serial, 10BASE-T Ethernet, RJ-11 K56flex/V.90 modem, 4 Mbps infrared, VGA-style video, S-video and stereo audio input/output. Two Type I/II or one Type III PC Card slots with CardBus; lower slot supports Zoomed Video. No built-in USB or FireWire
External displays
External displays	Built-in 1024 × 768 screen and external VGA monitor can form an extended desktop or mirror each other; S-video drives PAL or NTSC television.	VGA-style and S-video output; DVD-Video requires the decoder PC Card supplied with DVD-ROM configurations or optional DVD-Video kit
Keyboard
Keyboard	Full-size 76-key US or 77-key ISO bronze translucent keyboard, inverted-T arrow keys and embedded numeric keypad; keyboard lifts for memory and hard-drive access.	Full-size keyboard with 76 US or 77 ISO keys, twelve function keys, inverted-T arrows and embedded keypad
Trackpad
Trackpad	Built-in trackpad supports tap, double-tap and drag.	Solid-state trackpad supports tap, double-tap and drag
Speakers
Speakers	Built-in stereo speakers, 16-bit CD-quality audio.	Two built-in stereo speakers
Microphones
Microphones	Built-in microphone and line input.	Internal omnidirectional microphone
In the box
In the box	Original Mac OS 8.6. Apple’s May 1999 announcement says both base configurations were available from authorised dealers; no first-delivery day is established. Current support page mislabels the axes of its 12.7 × 10.4 × 1.7-inch dimensions; the contemporary Apple technical information identifies width, depth and thickness respectively. Current support also lists only 6/10 GB, while maker launch and Service Source establish the original 4 GB 333 MHz configuration.	Mac OS 8.1, AC adapter and regional cables/adapters. AppleCare article 30895 retrospectively confirms September 1998 release; revised service manual introduces M7229 12.1-inch TFT on 1 October. October brochure lists both CD-ROM and DVD-ROM 300 MHz choices; optical-drive variants share the same CPU/RAM/disk configuration below