Apple PowerBook G3 (Bronze Keyboard) vs Apple PowerBook G4 (12-inch, 1.5GHz)
Better figure, where one is clearly better
| ApplePowerBook G3 (Bronze Keyboard) | ApplePowerBook G4 (12-inch, 1.5GHz) | |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Released | May 1999 | 2005 |
| Display | ||
| Screen size | 14.1″ | 12.1″ |
| Resolution | 1024 × 768 | 1024 × 768 |
| Touchscreen | No | No |
| Display type | 14.1-inch TFT active-matrix colour LCD. The maker does not publish IPS/TN subtype, brightness or refresh rate. | 12.1-inch TFT XGA active-matrix display; panel technology and refresh unpublished. |
| 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 | PowerPC G3 333 MHz (PowerBook Bronze Keyboard) or PowerPC G3 400 MHz (PowerBook Bronze Keyboard) | PowerPC G4 1.5 GHz (PowerBook 12-inch 2005) |
| CPU cores | 1 | 1 |
| Graphics | ATI RAGE LT Pro (8 MB video SDRAM) | NVIDIA GeForce FX Go5200 (64 MB DDR) |
| Memory | 64 MB | 512 MB or 1.25 GB (better) |
| Storage | 4 GB to 6 GB | 60 GB to 100 GB (better) |
| 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. | 1.5 GHz PowerPC G4, 512 KB on-chip L2 and 167 MHz system bus. Exact silicon supplier omitted. |
| GPU | ATI RAGE LT Pro controller with 8 MB video SDRAM; accelerated 2D/3D graphics. | NVIDIA GeForce FX Go5200 with 64 MB DDR video memory and AGP 4×. |
| Memory type | 64 MB SDRAM factory fitted; two SO-DIMM slots, maker maximum 384 MB. EDO memory is incompatible according to Apple Service Source. | 512 MB PC2700 DDR333 standard; one SO-DIMM slot, maximum 1.25 GB. |
| 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. | 5400 rpm Ultra ATA/100 hard drive with Sudden Motion Sensor. Combo base60GB; SuperDrive base80GB; 100GB build-to-order on either. 8× DVD±RW/CD-RW SuperDrive; optical-drive differences retained in details. |
| Battery and size | ||
| Battery life (maker's claim) | Up to 5 hours | Up to 5 hours |
| Battery capacity | 50 Wh | 50 Wh |
| Weight | 2.6761963 kg | 2.1 kg (better) |
| Thickness | 43.18 mm | – |
| Width × depth | 322.58 × 264.16 mm | – |
| 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. | 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 | 45 W maximum AC power, 100–240 V, 50–60 Hz. | 45 W power adapter |
| Materials | – | Aluminium enclosure |
| Connections | ||
| Ports | 2 × USB-A, Ethernet, headphone jack | 2 × USB-A, Ethernet, headphone jack |
| Wi-Fi | – | AirPort Extreme 802.11g/b |
| Bluetooth | – | 2.0 + EDR |
| Operating system | macOS | macOS |
| 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. | 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 | 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. | Dual display and mirroring; external resolution up to 2048 × 1536. |
| 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 embedded numeric keypad |
| Trackpad | Built-in trackpad supports tap, double-tap and drag. | Two-finger scrolling/panning, tap, double-tap and drag support |
| Speakers | Built-in stereo speakers, 16-bit CD-quality audio. | Stereo speakers with midrange-enhancing third speaker |
| Microphones | Built-in microphone and line input. | Internal omnidirectional microphone |
| 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. | Apple announced 31 January 2005 with availability planned later that week. Actual first on-sale month unestablished after a bounded search; year precision retained. Launch Mac OS X 10.3 Panther and iLife ’05; later units shipped Tiger. |
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