Apple PowerBook G4 (15-inch FW800) vs Apple PowerBook G4 (15-inch, Double-Layer SD)

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

Better figure, where one is clearly better

PowerBook G4 (15-inch FW800) compared with PowerBook G4 (15-inch, Double-Layer SD)
ApplePowerBook G4 (15-inch FW800)ApplePowerBook G4 (15-inch, Double-Layer SD)
Overview
ReleasedSeptember 2003October 2005
Display
Screen size15.2″15.2″
Resolution1280 × 8541440 × 960 (better)
TouchscreenNoNo
Display type15.2-inch TFT widescreen; panel technology and refresh unpublished.15.2-inch TFT widescreen, 1440 × 960; panel technology and refresh unpublished.
Performance
ProcessorPowerPC G4 1 GHz (PowerBook 15-inch FW800) or PowerPC G4 1.25 GHz (PowerBook 15-inch FW800)PowerPC G4 1.67 GHz (PowerBook 15-inch Late 2005)
CPU cores11
GraphicsATI Mobility Radeon 9600 (64 MB DDR)ATI Mobility Radeon 9700 (128 MB DDR)
Memory256 MB, 512 MB or 2 GB512 MB or 2 GB
Storage60 GB to 80 GB80 GB to 120 GB (better)
CPU1 or 1.25 GHz PowerPC G4 with 512 KB on-chip L2 cache and 167 MHz system bus. Exact silicon supplier omitted.1.67 GHz PowerPC G4 with 512 KB on-chip L2 and 167 MHz system bus. Exact silicon supplier omitted.
GPUATI Mobility Radeon 9600, 64 MB DDR video memory, AGP 4×.ATI Mobility Radeon 9700 with 128 MB DDR and dual-link DVI standard
Memory typeTwo PC2700 DDR333 SO-DIMM slots; base 256 MB at 1 GHz or 512 MB at 1.25 GHz; maximum 2 GB.512 MB PC2-4200 DDR2 running at 333 MHz; two SO-DIMM slots support up to 2 GB.
Storage type60 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.80 GB 5400 rpm Ultra ATA/100 standard with Sudden Motion Sensor. Build-to-order: 100 GB 5400 or 7200 rpm, or 120 GB 5400 rpm. 8× SuperDrive with 2.4× double-layer DVD+R support; optional Combo drive. Speed/optical alternatives retained here rather than duplicate capacity rows.
Battery and size
Battery life (maker's claim)Up to 4.5 hoursUp to 5.5 hours
Battery capacity46 Wh–
Weight2.5 kg–
Battery life detail46 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.Up to 5.5 hours, dependent on configuration and use. Retained maker family sheet publishes 15-inch reference weight 5.6 pounds, footprint 13.7 × 9.5 inches and thickness 1.1 inches; no calculated metric main values. Its detailed 58 Wh battery section is explicitly 17-inch and is not borrowed.
Charger65 W power adapterPower adapter included; wattage not established for this exact generation in the read family sheet.
MaterialsAluminium enclosureAluminium enclosure
Connections
Ports2 × USB-A, Ethernet, headphone jack2 × USB-A, Ethernet, headphone jack
Wi-FiAirPort Extreme 802.11g/b; optional at 1 GHz, standard at 1.25 GHzAirPort Extreme 802.11g/b
Bluetooth1.12.0 + 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 USB 2.0 ports, FireWire 400 and 800, Gigabit Ethernet, 56K V.92 modem, DVI, S-video and Type I/II PC Card slot. Combined analogue/optical digital input and output.
External displaysDual display/mirroring; external resolution up to 2048 × 1536. DVI-to-VGA and S-video-to-composite adapters included; ADC adapter separate.Dual-link DVI supports 30-inch Cinema HD display; DVI-to-VGA and S-video-to-composite adapters included.
KeyboardFull-size keyboard; fibre-optic backlight and ambient light sensor included at 1.25 GHz, build-to-order at 1 GHz.Full-size illuminated keyboard with ambient light sensor
TrackpadTap, double-tap and drag supportTwo-finger scrolling/panning, tap, double-tap and drag support
SpeakersStereo speakers with midrange-enhancing third speakerStereo speakers
MicrophonesInternal omnidirectional microphoneInternal omnidirectional microphone
In the boxApple UK states immediate 15-inch availability on 16 September 2003. Launch Mac OS X 10.2.7; current retained sheet lists later Panther software.Apple UK confirms immediate availability on 19 October 2005. Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger and iLife ’05 supplied. The retained sheet’s configuration table covers all sizes but its detailed specification section describes the 17-inch; only the 15-inch table and explicit build-to-order fields are used here.

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