Apple PowerBook G4 (15-inch, 1.67/1.5GHz) vs Apple PowerBook G4 (Original 2001)

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

Better figure, where one is clearly better

PowerBook G4 (15-inch, 1.67/1.5GHz) compared with PowerBook G4 (Original 2001)
ApplePowerBook G4 (15-inch, 1.67/1.5GHz)ApplePowerBook G4 (Original 2001)
Overview
ReleasedFebruary 2005January 2001
Display
Screen size15.2″15.2″
Resolution1280 × 854 (better)1152 × 768
TouchscreenNoNo
Display type15.2-inch TFT widescreen; panel technology and refresh unpublished.15.2-inch TFT widescreen active-matrix display. Exact panel technology, brightness and built-in refresh unpublished.
Performance
ProcessorPowerPC G4 1.5 GHz (PowerBook 15-inch Early 2005) or PowerPC G4 1.67 GHz (PowerBook 15-inch Early 2005)PowerPC G4 400 MHz (PowerBook Original 2001) or PowerPC G4 500 MHz (PowerBook Original 2001)
CPU cores11
GraphicsATI Mobility Radeon 9700 (64 MB DDR) or ATI Mobility Radeon 9700 (128 MB DDR)ATI Rage Mobility 128 (8 MB SDRAM)
Memory512 MB or 2 GB (better)128 MB, 256 MB or 1 GB
Storage80 GB to 100 GB (better)10 GB to 30 GB
CPU1.5 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.400 or 500 MHz PowerPC G4 with Velocity Engine; 1 MB backside L2 cache on 200 or 250 MHz dedicated 64-bit cache bus, 100 MHz system bus, 64 KB L1 (32 KB data/32 KB instruction). Exact supplier/SKU omitted.
GPUATI 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 Rage Mobility 128 with 8 MB SDRAM and AGP 2 ×.
Memory type512 MB PC 2700 DDR 333 in a single SO-DIMM; two slots, maximum 2 GB.128 MB stock at 400 MHz or 256 MB at 500 MHz; two PC100 SO-DIMM slots support up to 1 GB.
Storage type80 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.400 MHz stock 10 GB, 500 MHz stock 20 GB Ultra ATA/66. Maker-listed 30 GB build-to-order option retained for both with published RAM maxima; no intermediate capacities invented. Slot-loading DVD-ROM reads DVD-ROM, DVD-Video, DVD-RAM and CD-ROM.
Battery and size
Battery life (maker's claim)Up to 4.5 hoursUp to 5 hours
Battery capacity50 Wh50 Wh
Weight2.5 kg2.4 kg (better)
Thickness–26 mm
Width × depth–341 × 241 mm
Battery life detail50 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.50 Wh lithium-ion; up to five hours maker claim. Published 2.4 kg includes battery and varies by configuration/manufacturing process. Metric dimensions 34.1 × 24.1 × 2.6 cm are from the exact Apple technical sheet preserved by SavageTaylor, not calculated from inches.
Charger65 W power adapter–
MaterialsAluminium enclosureTitanium enclosure
Connections
Ports2 × USB-A, Ethernet, headphone jack2 × USB-A, Ethernet, headphone jack
Wi-FiAirPort Extreme 802.11g/bOptional AirPort 802.11b
Bluetooth2.0 + EDR–
Operating systemmacOSmacOS
Port detailTwo 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 12 Mbps USB ports, one 400 Mbps FireWire port, 10/100BASE-T Ethernet, 56K V.90 modem, 4 Mbps IrDA, one Type I/II PC Card/CardBus slot with ZoomVideo support, VGA, S-video and stereo output; no microphone input jack.
External displaysDVI 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.VGA 24-bit video output and S-video, with S-video-to-composite adapter. 8 MB video memory supports millions of colours on external monitors up to 21 inches (preserved exact maker sheet).
KeyboardFull-size illuminated fibre-optic keyboard with ambient light sensor on both processor configurations; Apple states up to ten times brighter backlighting than previous generation.77 US or 78 ISO keys; 12 function keys, four arrows and embedded numeric keypad.
TrackpadTwo-finger scrolling/panning, tap, double-tap and drag supportTap, double-tap and drag support
SpeakersStereo speakers with midrange-enhancing third speakerTwo built-in stereo speakers
MicrophonesInternal omnidirectional microphoneInternal omnidirectional microphone
In the boxApple 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.Power adapter, DVD software, iMovie 2 and iTunes. Maker promised January availability; LowEndMac reported actual retail collection on 31 January 2001. First sale day unestablished, so month retained.

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