Apple PowerBook G4 (15-inch, 1.67/1.5GHz) vs Apple PowerBook G4 (15-inch FW800)
Better figure, where one is clearly better
| ApplePowerBook G4 (15-inch, 1.67/1.5GHz) | ApplePowerBook G4 (15-inch FW800) | |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Released | February 2005 | September 2003 |
| Display | ||
| Screen size | 15.2″ | 15.2″ |
| Resolution | 1280 × 854 | 1280 × 854 |
| Touchscreen | No | No |
| Display type | 15.2-inch TFT widescreen; panel technology and refresh unpublished. | 15.2-inch TFT widescreen; panel technology and refresh unpublished. |
| Performance | ||
| Processor | PowerPC G4 1.5 GHz (PowerBook 15-inch Early 2005) or PowerPC G4 1.67 GHz (PowerBook 15-inch Early 2005) | PowerPC G4 1 GHz (PowerBook 15-inch FW800) or PowerPC G4 1.25 GHz (PowerBook 15-inch FW800) |
| CPU cores | 1 | 1 |
| Graphics | ATI Mobility Radeon 9700 (64 MB DDR) or ATI Mobility Radeon 9700 (128 MB DDR) | ATI Mobility Radeon 9600 (64 MB DDR) |
| Memory | 512 MB or 2 GB | 256 MB, 512 MB or 2 GB |
| Storage | 80 GB to 100 GB (better) | 60 GB to 80 GB |
| CPU | 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. | 1 or 1.25 GHz PowerPC G4 with 512 KB on-chip L2 cache and 167 MHz system bus. Exact silicon supplier omitted. |
| GPU | 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. | ATI Mobility Radeon 9600, 64 MB DDR video memory, AGP 4×. |
| Memory type | 512 MB PC 2700 DDR 333 in a single SO-DIMM; two slots, maximum 2 GB. | Two PC2700 DDR333 SO-DIMM slots; base 256 MB at 1 GHz or 512 MB at 1.25 GHz; maximum 2 GB. |
| Storage type | 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. | 60 GB 4200 rpm at 1 GHz or 80 GB 4200 rpm at 1.25 GHz, Ultra ATA/100. 80 GB 4200/5400 rpm build-to-order options; capacities represented, drive speed alternatives retained here. Combo drive at 1 GHz or 2× DVD-R SuperDrive at 1.25 GHz, also optional on lower model. |
| Battery and size | ||
| Battery life (maker's claim) | Up to 4.5 hours | Up to 4.5 hours |
| Battery capacity | 50 Wh (better) | 46 Wh |
| Weight | 2.5 kg | 2.5 kg |
| Battery life detail | 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. | 46 Wh lithium-ion, up to 4.5 hours. Maker reference 2.5 kg includes battery and optical drive and varies by configuration/manufacturing. Published dimensions: height 2.8 cm, width 34.8 cm, depth 24.1 cm. |
| Charger | 65 W power adapter | 65 W power adapter |
| Materials | Aluminium enclosure | Aluminium enclosure |
| Connections | ||
| Ports | 2 × USB-A, Ethernet, headphone jack | 2 × USB-A, Ethernet, headphone jack |
| Wi-Fi | AirPort Extreme 802.11g/b | AirPort Extreme 802.11g/b; optional at 1 GHz, standard at 1.25 GHz |
| Bluetooth | 2.0 + EDR | 1.1 |
| Operating system | macOS | macOS |
| Port detail | 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. | 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 displays | 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. | Dual display/mirroring; external resolution up to 2048 × 1536. DVI-to-VGA and S-video-to-composite adapters included; ADC adapter separate. |
| Keyboard | 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. | Full-size keyboard; fibre-optic backlight and ambient light sensor included at 1.25 GHz, build-to-order at 1 GHz. |
| Trackpad | Two-finger scrolling/panning, tap, double-tap and drag support | Tap, double-tap and drag support |
| Speakers | Stereo speakers with midrange-enhancing third speaker | Stereo speakers with midrange-enhancing third speaker |
| Microphones | Internal omnidirectional microphone | Internal omnidirectional microphone |
| In the box | 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. | Apple UK states immediate 15-inch availability on 16 September 2003. Launch Mac OS X 10.2.7; current retained sheet lists later Panther software. |
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