Apple PowerBook G3 (Original, 1997) vs Apple PowerBook G3 Series (Wallstreet, 1998)

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PowerBook G3 (Original, 1997) compared with PowerBook G3 Series (Wallstreet, 1998)

	ApplePowerBook G3 (Original, 1997)	ApplePowerBook G3 Series (Wallstreet, 1998)
Overview
Released
Released	November 1997	May 1998
Display
Screen size
Screen size	12.1″	12.1″
Resolution
Resolution	800 × 600	800 × 600 or 1024 × 768 (better)
Touchscreen
Touchscreen	No	No
Display type
Display type	12.1-inch active-matrix TFT colour LCD; the maker does not publish IPS/TN panel technology, brightness or refresh rate.	12.1-inch STN passive-matrix 800 × 600 screen or 13.3- and 14.1-inch TFT active-matrix 1024 × 768 screens; all are CCFL-backlit. The 14.1-inch case is 53 mm thick, compared with 51 mm for the smaller versions.
Display features
Display features	800 × 600 native display with 16-bit colour on the built-in screen. The 1997 launch release says 18-bit colour, differing from the technical sheet.	–
Performance
Processor
Processor	PowerPC G3 250 MHz (original PowerBook G3)	PowerPC G3 233 MHz (PowerBook G3 Series 1998), PowerPC G3 250 MHz (PowerBook G3 Series 1998) or PowerPC G3 292 MHz (PowerBook G3 Series 1998)
CPU cores
CPU cores	1	1
Graphics
Graphics	Chips and Technologies 65554 (2 MB VRAM)	–
Memory
Memory	32 MB	32 MB or 64 MB (better)
Storage
Storage	5 GB	2 GB to 8 GB (better)
CPU
CPU	250 MHz PowerPC G3; 50 MHz system bus, 512 KB backside L2 cache running at 100 MHz. Exact fitted silicon supplier and process are unpublished.	PowerPC 750 (G3) at 233, 250 or 292 MHz. The 233 MHz launch version has no backside L2 cache; the 250 and 292 MHz versions each have 1 MB L2 cache. System bus is 66.7 MHz on 233 MHz models and 83.3 MHz on faster models.
GPU
GPU	Chips and Technologies 65554 PCI graphics controller with 2 MB video RAM; built-in display supports 16-bit colour, external display up to 24-bit colour.	ATI 3D RAGE LT graphics with 2 MB or 4 MB SGRAM video memory, depending on configuration; built-in 2D and 3D acceleration.
Memory type
Memory type	32 MB EDO DRAM built in, one expansion slot for 16, 32, 64 or 128 MB modules; maker maximum 160 MB. A separate 4 MB ROM is listed in the contemporary technical sheet.	32 MB or 64 MB factory SDRAM in the listed regional configurations, using two SO-DIMM slots; Apple gives 192 MB as the original expansion limit.
Storage type
Storage type	5 GB internal 2.5-inch ATA hard drive. The expansion bay takes a 1.44 MB floppy module or 20× CD-ROM module, both in the original package; removable media are not counted as internal storage.	Removable internal 2 GB, 4 GB or 8 GB EIDE hard drive, depending on configuration. The two expansion bays accept battery, floppy, CD-ROM or DVD-ROM modules; removable media are separate from internal storage.
Battery and size
Battery life (maker's claim)
Battery life (maker's claim)	Up to 4 hours	Up to 3.5 hours
Battery capacity
Battery capacity	47 Wh	49 Wh (better)
Weight
Weight	3.4 kg (better)	3.45 kg
Thickness
Thickness	60.96 mm	51 mm (better)
Width × depth
Width × depth	292.1 × 241.3 mm	323 × 265 mm
Battery life detail
Battery life detail	47 Wh removable lithium-ion main battery; maker claims 2–4 hours depending on use, with 4 hours as the maximum. A 60 mAh NiMH backup battery keeps clock and memory alive briefly for battery exchange. Maker reference weight is 3.4 kg with floppy module, 3.5 kg with CD-ROM and 3.2 kg without a module.	Removable 49 Wh lithium-ion battery. Apple's service data sheet claims up to 3.5 hours on one battery or seven hours with two batteries. Maker reference weight of 3.45 kg includes one battery and a CD-ROM module.
Charger
Charger	45 W AC adapter, 100–240 V at 50/60 Hz input, 24 V 1.875 A output.	–
Connections
Ports
Ports	Ethernet, headphone jack	Ethernet, headphone jack
Operating system
Operating system	macOS	macOS
Port detail
Port detail	One shared RJ-45 socket for 10BASE-T Ethernet and the internal 33.6 Kbps modem; ADB, HDI-15 external video, HDI-30 SCSI with disk mode, GeoPort/RS-422 serial, stereo audio output and input, and an infrared transceiver supporting IR Talk and IrDA. Two PC Card Type I/II slots or one Type III card; the lower slot supports Zoomed Video.	Built-in 10BASE-T Ethernet, VGA external video, HDI-30 SCSI, ADB, GeoPort serial, audio input and headphone output, infrared and two Type II CardBus slots (or one Type III). The 13.3- and 14.1-inch versions also have S-video output; some configurations included a K56flex modem.
External displays
External displays	External VGA/SVGA/Apple displays through HDI-15, up to 1024 × 768 at 24-bit colour; display mirroring is supported. The technical sheet lists 640 × 480 and 800 × 600 as well.	VGA output on every configuration, up to 1280 × 960 pixels according to Apple's developer note; S-video output on 13.3- and 14.1-inch versions.
Keyboard
Keyboard	Full-size built-in keyboard with 3 mm travel, 19 mm key pitch and an inverted-T arrow cluster.	Full-size keyboard with an embedded numeric keypad and inverted-T arrow keys.
Trackpad
Trackpad	Built-in solid-state trackpad.	Solid-state trackpad with tap, double-tap and drag support.
Speakers
Speakers	Four speakers: two in the display and two beneath the keyboard; 16-bit stereo at 44.1, 22 or 11 kHz.	–
Microphones
Microphones	Built-in omnidirectional electret microphone.	–
In the box
In the box	Floppy and 20× CD-ROM expansion-bay modules, removable battery and AC adapter. Original Mac OS 8 installation. Apple announced US availability immediately in November 1997; European sales were planned for late November and Japan for December. The current maker sheet gives 2.4-inch thickness (60.96 mm); its older technical PDF lists 65.6 mm despite labelling that as 2.4 inches, so the current sheet controls the main dimension.	Mac OS 8.1 and a 45 W adapter. Apple Canada said the 12.1- and 13.3-inch versions began shipping on 7 May 1998; the 14.1-inch version was planned for early June. The listed CPU, screen, RAM and disk pairings are four regional launch configurations recorded at Apple's May 1998 Japan announcement.