Apple PowerBook G4 12-inch (Early 2003) vs Apple PowerBook G4 17-inch (Early 2003)

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 17-inch (Early 2003)
ApplePowerBook G4 12-inch (Early 2003)ApplePowerBook G4 17-inch (Early 2003)
Overview
Released2003March 2003
Display
Screen size12.1″17″
Resolution1024 × 7681440 × 900 (better)
TouchscreenNoNo
Display type12.1-inch TFT XGA active-matrix display. Exact panel technology, brightness and refresh unpublished.17-inch TFT widescreen; exact panel technology, brightness and built-in refresh unpublished.
Performance
ProcessorPowerPC G4 867 MHz (PowerBook 12-inch Early 2003)PowerPC G4 1 GHz (PowerBook 17-inch Early 2003)
CPU cores11
GraphicsNVIDIA GeForce4 420 Go (32 MB DDR)NVIDIA GeForce4 440 Go (64 MB DDR)
Memory256 MB or 640 MB512 MB or 1 GB (better)
Storage40 GB60 GB (better)
CPU867 MHz PowerPC G4 with Velocity Engine, 256 KB L2 cache and 133 MHz system bus. Exact supplier/SKU not inferred.1 GHz PowerPC G4 with Velocity Engine, 1 MB DDR SRAM L3 cache and 167 MHz system bus. Exact silicon supplier/SKU omitted.
GPUNVIDIA GeForce4 420 Go, AGP 4 × and 32 MB DDR video memory.NVIDIA GeForce4 440 Go, AGP 4 × with 64 MB DDR video memory.
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 PC2700 DDR333 standard; two SO-DIMM slots and maker-supported maximum 1 GB. Unofficial 2 GB in EveryMac is excluded from configurations.
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.60 GB 4200 rpm Ultra ATA/100 and slot-loading SuperDrive. Maker UK launch sheet specifies DVD-R 1 × write/8 × read, CD-R 8 × write, CD-RW 4 × write and CD 24 × read; later EveryMac 2 × DVD-R and Macworld 16 × CD-R figures differ, so launch maker specification retained.
Battery and size
Battery life (maker's claim)Up to 5 hoursUp to 4.5 hours
Battery capacity47 Wh55 Wh (better)
Weight2.1 kg (better)3.1 kg
Thickness30 mm26 mm (better)
Width × depth277 × 219 mm392 × 259 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.55 Wh lithium-ion, up to 4.5 hours maker claim. Published 3.1 kg includes battery and optical drive and varies by configuration/manufacturing process; closed metric dimensions 39.2 × 25.9 × 2.6 cm.
MaterialsAluminium alloy enclosureAnodised aluminium enclosure
Connections
Ports2 × USB-A, Ethernet, headphone jack2 × USB-A, Ethernet, headphone jack
Wi-FiOptional AirPort Extreme 802.11b/gAirPort Extreme 802.11b/g
Bluetooth1.11.1
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 12 Mbps USB 1.1 ports, one FireWire 400 and one FireWire 800, Gigabit Ethernet, 56K V.92 modem, Type I/II PC Card/CardBus, DVI, S-video, line input and headphone output. Support table mislabels FireWire MBps; UK sheet explicitly states Mbps.
External displaysDual display or mirroring; external display up to 1600 × 1200 at millions of colours.Dual display or mirroring up to 2048 × 1536 externally; DVI and included VGA/composite adapters.
KeyboardFull-size keyboard, 78 US or 79 ISO keys, embedded numeric keypad.Full-size keyboard with fibre-optic backlighting and ambient light control; 79 ISO keys and embedded numeric keypad.
SpeakersStereo speakers with midrange-enhancing third speakerTwo built-in stereo speakers
MicrophonesInternal omnidirectional microphoneInternal omnidirectional microphone under left speaker grille
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.65 W power adapter, cord, modem cable, DVI-to-VGA and S-video-to-composite adapters. January announcement expected February; Macworld reported actual customer arrivals in March 2003. Month retained without inventing first delivery day.

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