Apple PowerBook G3 (Original, 1997) vs Apple PowerBook G4 (12-inch, 1.33GHz)

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PowerBook G3 (Original, 1997) compared with PowerBook G4 (12-inch, 1.33GHz)

	ApplePowerBook G3 (Original, 1997)	ApplePowerBook G4 (12-inch, 1.33GHz)
Overview
Released
Released	November 1997	April 2004
Display
Screen size
Screen size	12.1″	12.1″
Resolution
Resolution	800 × 600	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panel technology, brightness or refresh rate.	12.1-inch TFT XGA active-matrix display; panel technology and refresh unpublished.
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 G4 1.33 GHz (PowerBook 12-inch 2004)
CPU cores
CPU cores	1	1
Graphics
Graphics	Chips and Technologies 65554 (2 MB VRAM)	NVIDIA GeForce FX Go5200 (64 MB DDR)
Memory
Memory	32 MB	256 MB or 1.25 GB (better)
Storage
Storage	5 GB	60 GB to 80 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 Exact fitted silicon supplier and process are unpublished.	1.33 GHz PowerPC G4, 512 KB on-chip L2 and 167 MHz system bus. Exact silicon supplier omitted.
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.	NVIDIA GeForce FX Go5200 with 64 MB DDR video memory and AGP 4×.
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.	256 MB PC2700 DDR333 standard, one open SO-DIMM slot; maximum 1.25 GB.
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.	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 4 hours	Up to 5 hours
Battery capacity
Battery capacity	47 Wh	50 Wh (better)
Weight
Weight	3.4 kg	2.1 kg (better)
Thickness
Thickness	60.96 mm	–
Width × depth
Width × depth	292.1 × 241.3 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.	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	45 W AC adapter, 100–240 V at 50/60 Hz input, 24 V 1.875 A output.	45 W power adapter
Materials
Materials	–	Aluminium enclosure
Connections
Ports
Ports	Ethernet, headphone jack	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	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.	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	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.	Dual display and mirroring; external resolution up to 2048 × 1536.
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 embedded numeric keypad
Trackpad
Trackpad	Built-in solid-state trackpad.	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.	Stereo speakers with midrange-enhancing third speaker
Microphones
Microphones	Built-in omnidirectional electret microphone.	Internal omnidirectional 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.	Apple UK confirms immediate availability on 19 April 2004; Mac OS X 10.3 Panther and iLife ’04 supplied.