Apple PowerBook G4 12-inch (Early 2003) vs Apple PowerBook G4 (15-inch, 1.67/1.5GHz)

Every spec side by side, from each maker's published figures.

Better figure, where one is clearly better

PowerBook G4 12-inch (Early 2003) compared with PowerBook G4 (15-inch, 1.67/1.5GHz)
ApplePowerBook G4 12-inch (Early 2003)ApplePowerBook G4 (15-inch, 1.67/1.5GHz)
Overview
Released2003February 2005
Display
Screen size12.1″15.2″
Resolution1024 × 7681280 × 854 (better)
TouchscreenNoNo
Display type12.1-inch TFT XGA active-matrix display. Exact panel technology, brightness and refresh unpublished.15.2-inch TFT widescreen; panel technology and refresh unpublished.
Performance
ProcessorPowerPC G4 867 MHz (PowerBook 12-inch Early 2003)PowerPC G4 1.5 GHz (PowerBook 15-inch Early 2005) or PowerPC G4 1.67 GHz (PowerBook 15-inch Early 2005)
CPU cores11
GraphicsNVIDIA GeForce4 420 Go (32 MB DDR)ATI Mobility Radeon 9700 (64 MB DDR) or ATI Mobility Radeon 9700 (128 MB DDR)
Memory256 MB or 640 MB512 MB or 2 GB (better)
Storage40 GB80 GB to 100 GB (better)
CPU867 MHz PowerPC G4 with Velocity Engine, 256 KB L2 cache and 133 MHz system bus. Exact supplier/SKU not inferred.1.5 or 1.67 GHz PowerPC G 4 with 512 KB on-chip L 2 and 167 MHz bus. Retained sheet processor paragraph omits 1.5 GHz, but factory configuration table and UK release confirm it. Exact silicon supplier omitted.
GPUNVIDIA GeForce4 420 Go, AGP 4 × and 32 MB DDR video memory.ATI Mobility Radeon 9700 with 64 MB DDR standard; 128 MB plus dual-link DVI build-to-order restricted to 1.67 GHz. UK release higher-base bullet ambiguously mentions dual-link with 64 MB; its BTO paragraph and full sheet tie dual-link to 128 MB.
Memory type256 MB PC2100 DDR266 stock: 128 MB onboard plus 128 MB SO-DIMM. Maker-supported maximum 640 MB retained; third-party 1152 MB maximum in EveryMac is not a maker configuration.512 MB PC 2700 DDR 333 in a single SO-DIMM; two slots, maximum 2 GB.
Storage type40 GB 4200 rpm Ultra ATA/100 hard drive. Combo reads DVD 8 ×, writes CD-R 24 × and CD-RW 10 ×; optional SuperDrive writes DVD-R 1 ×, CD-R 8 × and CD-RW 4 ×. No unlisted drive capacity combinations.80 GB 5400 rpm Ultra ATA/100 standard on both processors; 100 GB build-to-order alternative, with Sudden Motion Sensor. Combo on 1.5 GHz base, 8× DVD±RW/CD-RW SuperDrive on 1.67 GHz; SuperDrive upgrade available.
Battery and size
Battery life (maker's claim)Up to 5 hoursUp to 4.5 hours
Battery capacity47 Wh50 Wh (better)
Weight2.1 kg (better)2.5 kg
Thickness30 mm–
Width × depth277 × 219 mm–
Battery life detail47 Wh, up to five hours maker claim. Published 2.1 kg includes battery and optical drive and varies by configuration/manufacturing process; closed metric dimensions 27.7 × 21.9 × 3.0 cm.50 Wh lithium-ion, up to 4.5 hours. Maker reference 2.5 kg includes battery and optical drive; varies by configuration/manufacturing. Published dimensions: height 2.8 cm, width 34.8 cm, depth 24.1 cm.
Charger–65 W power adapter
MaterialsAluminium alloy enclosureAluminium enclosure
Connections
Ports2 × USB-A, Ethernet, headphone jack2 × USB-A, Ethernet, headphone jack
Wi-FiOptional AirPort Extreme 802.11b/gAirPort Extreme 802.11g/b
Bluetooth1.12.0 + EDR
Operating systemmacOSmacOS
Port detailTwo 12 Mbps USB 1.1 ports, one FireWire 400, 10/100 Ethernet, 56K V.92 modem, audio line in and headphone output. Mini-VGA supports included VGA and S-video/composite adapters. No PC Card slot.Two USB 2.0 ports, one FireWire 400 and one FireWire 800, Gigabit Ethernet, 56K V.92 modem, Type I/II PC Card slot, DVI, S-video, audio input and headphone output.
External displaysDual display or mirroring; external display up to 1600 × 1200 at millions of colours.DVI with VGA adapter and S-video/composite output; up to 2048×1536 external. Optional 128 MB dual-link configuration on 1.67 GHz supports 30-inch Cinema HD display.
KeyboardFull-size keyboard, 78 US or 79 ISO keys, embedded numeric keypad.Full-size illuminated fibre-optic keyboard with ambient light sensor on both processor configurations; Apple states up to ten times brighter backlighting than previous generation.
Trackpad–Two-finger scrolling/panning, tap, double-tap and drag support
SpeakersStereo speakers with midrange-enhancing third speakerStereo speakers with midrange-enhancing third speaker
MicrophonesInternal omnidirectional microphoneInternal omnidirectional microphone
In the boxApple Video Adapter, VGA adapter, modem cable, 45 W power adapter, plug and cord. January 7 maker launch promised later-January availability; full production review on February 3 confirms subsequent availability but exact first sale month is unestablished, so year retained.Apple announced 31 January 2005 with availability planned later that week. Ken Mingis’s 10 February Computerworld account confirms 15-inch units had reached buyers by then; February precision retained without a verified first shipping day. Launch Mac OS X 10.3 Panther and iLife ’05.

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