Apple PowerBook G4 12-inch (Early 2003) vs Apple PowerBook G4 (17-inch, 1.67GHz)

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, 1.67GHz)
ApplePowerBook G4 12-inch (Early 2003)ApplePowerBook G4 (17-inch, 1.67GHz)
Overview
Released2003February 2005
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 Exact panel technology, brightness and refresh unpublished.17-inch TFT widescreen; panel technology and refresh unpublished.
Performance
ProcessorPowerPC G4 867 MHz (PowerBook 12-inch Early 2003)PowerPC G4 1.67 GHz (PowerBook 17-inch Early 2005)
CPU cores11
GraphicsNVIDIA GeForce4 420 Go (32 MB DDR)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.1.67 GHz PowerPC G4, 512 KB on-chip L2 and 167 MHz bus. Exact silicon supplier omitted.
GPUNVIDIA GeForce4 420 Go, AGP 4 × and 32 MB DDR video memory.ATI Mobility Radeon 9700 with 128 MB DDR and dual-link DVI
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, 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.100 GB 5400 rpm Ultra ATA/100 standard with Sudden Motion Sensor. Retained maker build-to-order list offers 80 GB or 100 GB on 15/17-inch models; 80 GB alternative represented without changing the 100 GB stock specification. 8× DVD±RW/CD-RW SuperDrive.
Battery and size
Battery life (maker's claim)Up to 5 hoursUp to 4.5 hours
Battery capacity47 Wh58 Wh (better)
Weight2.1 kg (better)3.1 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.58 Wh lithium-ion, up to 4.5 hours. Maker reference 3.1 kg includes battery and optical drive and varies by configuration/manufacturing. Published dimensions: height 2.6 cm, width 39.2 cm, depth 25.9 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, FireWire 400 and 800, Gigabit Ethernet, 56K V.92 modem, DVI, S-video and PC Card/CardBus slot. Combined optical-digital/analogue input and output minijacks.
External displaysDual display or mirroring; external display up to 1600 × 1200 at millions of colours.DVI dual-link: external display up to 2560 × 1600, including 30-inch Cinema HD display; VGA, S-video and composite supported with listed adapters.
KeyboardFull-size keyboard, 78 US or 79 ISO keys, embedded numeric keypad.Full-size illuminated fibre-optic keyboard with ambient light sensor; Apple states backlighting up to ten times brighter than previous generation.
Trackpad–Two-finger scrolling/panning, tap, double-tap and drag support
SpeakersStereo speakers with midrange-enhancing third speakerTwo stereo speakers
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 report says his unit shipped the previous week and arrived Monday; February precision retained without a verified first shipping day. Launch Mac OS X 10.3 Panther and iLife ’05.

More comparisons