Apple PowerBook G4 12-inch (Early 2003) vs Apple PowerBook G4 (Gigabit Ethernet)
Better figure, where one is clearly better
| ApplePowerBook G4 12-inch (Early 2003) | ApplePowerBook G4 (Gigabit Ethernet) | |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Released | 2003 | October 2001 |
| Display | ||
| Screen size | 12.1″ | 15.2″ |
| Resolution | 1024 × 768 | 1152 × 768 (better) |
| Touchscreen | No | No |
| Display type | 12.1-inch TFT XGA active-matrix display. Exact panel technology, brightness and refresh unpublished. | 15.2-inch TFT widescreen. Native 1152 × 768 resolution from exact-model EveryMac specification; panel technology, brightness and refresh unpublished. |
| Performance | ||
| Processor | PowerPC G4 867 MHz (PowerBook 12-inch Early 2003) | PowerPC G4 550 MHz (PowerBook Gigabit Ethernet) or PowerPC G4 667 MHz (PowerBook Gigabit Ethernet) |
| CPU cores | 1 | 1 |
| Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce4 420 Go (32 MB DDR) | ATI Mobility Radeon (16 MB DDR) |
| Memory | 256 MB or 640 MB | 128 MB, 256 MB or 1 GB (better) |
| Storage | 40 GB | 20 GB to 48 GB (better) |
| CPU | 867 MHz PowerPC G4 with Velocity Engine, 256 KB L2 cache and 133 MHz system bus. Exact supplier/SKU not inferred. | 550 or 667 MHz PowerPC G4, 256 KB on-chip L2. Maker launch release specifies 100 MHz system bus at 550 MHz and 133 MHz at 667 MHz; retained support table gives a generic 100 MHz figure, so the configuration-specific launch figures take precedence. Exact silicon supplier omitted. |
| GPU | NVIDIA GeForce4 420 Go, AGP 4 × and 32 MB DDR video memory. | ATI Mobility Radeon, 16 MB DDR video memory and AGP 4 ×. |
| Memory type | 256 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. | Two PC133 SO-DIMM slots, maximum 1 GB. Launch base memory 128 MB at 550 MHz and 256 MB at 667 MHz; limited launch promotion doubled these to 256 and 512 MB. Configurations retain base and maximum memory; temporary promotion described here. |
| Storage type | 40 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. | 20 GB at 550 MHz or 30 GB at 667 MHz; 48 GB build-to-order option. Launch slot-loading DVD-ROM or optional CD-RW. Combo DVD/CD-RW became standard on 17 December 2001, corroborated by fully read Bare Feats and EveryMac; later drive and memory changes are described without inventing a new model. |
| Battery and size | ||
| Battery life (maker's claim) | Up to 5 hours | Up to 5 hours |
| Battery capacity | 47 Wh | 50 Wh (better) |
| Weight | 2.1 kg | – |
| Thickness | 30 mm | – |
| Width × depth | 277 × 219 mm | – |
| Battery life detail | 47 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 five hours maker claim. Maker publishes 5.3 lb and closed dimensions 1 × 13.4 × 9.5 inches. Metric main fields omitted rather than calculated; exact-model EveryMac provides metric figures but has inconsistent inch/cm thickness entries. |
| Materials | Aluminium alloy enclosure | Titanium enclosure |
| Connections | ||
| Ports | 2 × USB-A, Ethernet, headphone jack | 2 × USB-A, Ethernet, headphone jack |
| Wi-Fi | Optional AirPort Extreme 802.11b/g | AirPort 802.11b; optional at 550 MHz, installed at 667 MHz |
| Bluetooth | 1.1 | – |
| Operating system | macOS | macOS |
| Port detail | Two 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 ports, one FireWire 400, Gigabit Ethernet, modem, infrared, Type I/II PC Card slot, VGA and S-video output, stereo output. No audio input jack. |
| External displays | Dual display or mirroring; external display up to 1600 × 1200 at millions of colours. | – |
| Keyboard | Full-size keyboard, 78 US or 79 ISO keys, embedded numeric keypad. | – |
| Speakers | Stereo speakers with midrange-enhancing third speaker | – |
| Microphones | Internal omnidirectional microphone | Internal microphone |
| In the box | Apple 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. | Mac OS X 10.1 and Mac OS 9.2.1. Maker states immediate availability on 16 October 2001. |
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