Apple PowerBook G4 (17-inch, Double-Layer SD) vs Apple PowerBook G4 (Original 2001)

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

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PowerBook G4 (17-inch, Double-Layer SD) compared with PowerBook G4 (Original 2001)
ApplePowerBook G4 (17-inch, Double-Layer SD)ApplePowerBook G4 (Original 2001)
Overview
ReleasedOctober 2005January 2001
Display
Screen size17″15.2″
Resolution1680 × 1050 (better)1152 × 768
TouchscreenNoNo
Display type17-inch TFT widescreen; panel technology, absolute brightness and refresh rate unpublished on maker sheet15.2-inch TFT widescreen active-matrix display. Exact panel technology, brightness and built-in refresh unpublished.
Display featuresMillions of colours at native resolution; maker UK launch claims up to 46% brighter than preceding 17-inch model–
Performance
ProcessorPowerPC G4 1.67 GHz (PowerBook 17-inch Late 2005)PowerPC G4 400 MHz (PowerBook Original 2001) or PowerPC G4 500 MHz (PowerBook Original 2001)
CPU cores11
GraphicsATI Mobility Radeon 9700 (128 MB DDR)ATI Rage Mobility 128 (8 MB SDRAM)
Memory512 MB, 1 GB or 2 GB (better)128 MB, 256 MB or 1 GB
Storage100 GB to 120 GB (better)10 GB to 30 GB
CPU1.67 GHz PowerPC G4 with Velocity Engine, 512 KB on-chip L2 SRAM and 167 MHz system bus; exact silicon supplier/process omitted400 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 AGP 4× support, 128 MB DDR video memory and dual-link DVIATI Rage Mobility 128 with 8 MB SDRAM and AGP 2 ×.
Memory type512 MB PC2-4200 DDR2 SDRAM running at 333 MHz standard in one SO-DIMM; two slots, maximum 2 GB, with 512 MB and 1 GB module options128 MB stock at 400 MHz or 256 MB at 500 MHz; two PC100 SO-DIMM slots support up to 1 GB.
Storage type120 GB 5400 rpm Ultra ATA/100 standard or 100 GB 7200 rpm build-to-order, with Sudden Motion Sensor. Slot-loading 8× DVD±R SuperDrive supports 2.4× double-layer DVD+R, 4× DVD±RW, 24× CD-R and 16× CD-RW; optional DVD-ROM/CD-RW Combo drive400 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 5.5 hoursUp to 5 hours
Battery capacity58 Wh (better)50 Wh
Weight3.1 kg2.4 kg (better)
Thickness26 mm26 mm
Width × depth392 × 259 mm341 × 241 mm
Battery life detail58 Wh lithium-ion with charge indicator LEDs; maker up to 5.5 hours depends on configuration and use. Maker reference 3.1 kg includes battery and optical drive and varies by configuration/manufacturing. Metric dimensions are maker centimetres expressed in millimetres50 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 with cable management system–
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 at up to 480 Mbps, FireWire 800 and 400, Gigabit Ethernet, 56K V.92 modem, DVI, S-video and Type I/II PC Card slot; combined optical-digital/analogue input and output minijacks; Kensington lock slotTwo 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 displaysSimultaneous native 1680 × 1050 internal and up to 2560 × 1600 external display with millions of colours; dual-link DVI, including 30-inch Cinema HD display; mirroring, VGA with included DVI adapter, composite with included S-video adapterVGA 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; 78 US or 79 ISO keys, 12 function keys, inverted-T arrows and embedded keypad77 US or 78 ISO keys; 12 function keys, four arrows and embedded numeric keypad.
TrackpadSolid-state trackpad with tap, double-tap, drag and scrolling supportTap, double-tap and drag support
SpeakersTwo built-in stereo speakersTwo built-in stereo speakers
MicrophonesInternal omnidirectional microphoneInternal omnidirectional microphone
In the boxPower adapter, AC wall plug, power cord, lithium-ion battery, modem cable, DVI-to-VGA and S-video-to-composite adapters; Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger and iLife ’05 supplied. Apple UK confirms immediate availability on 19 October 2005Power 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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