Apple · PowerBook
PowerBook G3 (Bronze Keyboard)
A thinner PowerBook G3 with a 14.1-inch screen, bronze translucent keyboard and built-in USB.
- Size
- 14.1″
- Display
- –
- Processor
- PowerPC G3 333 MHz (PowerBook Bronze Keyboard) or PowerPC G3 400 MHz (PowerBook Bronze Keyboard)
- Memory
- 64 MB
- Weight
- 2.676 kg
- Battery
- 5 h
What reviewers say
Macworld and MacPrices found the lighter chassis, speed and DVD playback useful upgrades. Macworld measured about three hours on the 400 MHz model at full speed and noted early USB sleep instability; MacPrices reported a mostly quiet machine but disliked the softer keyboard and stiff trackpad button.
From macworld.com and macprices.net
Specifications
Report a wrong or missing specDisplay
- Screen size
- 14.1″
- Resolution
- 1024 × 768
- Touchscreen
- No
- Display type
- 14.1-inch TFT active-matrix colour LCD. The maker does not publish IPS/TN subtype, brightness or refresh rate.
- Display features
- 1024 × 768 native resolution with millions of colours; 640 × 480 and 800 × 600 scaled modes. Simultaneous internal and external extended desktop.
Performance
- Processor
- PowerPC G3 333 MHz (PowerBook Bronze Keyboard) or PowerPC G3 400 MHz (PowerBook Bronze Keyboard)
- CPU cores
- 1
- Graphics
- ATI RAGE LT Pro (8 MB video SDRAM)
- Memory
- 64 MB
- Storage
- 4 GB to 6 GB
- CPU
- 333 MHz PowerPC G3 with 512 KB backside L2 cache or 400 MHz with 1 MB; maker support table lists 66/83 MHz data-path clocks. Exact fitted silicon supplier and process not assigned.
- GPU
- ATI RAGE LT Pro controller with 8 MB video SDRAM; accelerated 2D/3D graphics.
- Memory type
- 64 MB SDRAM factory fitted; two SO-DIMM slots, maker maximum 384 MB. EDO memory is incompatible according to Apple Service Source.
- Storage type
- Original factory pairs: 333 MHz/64 MB/4 GB IDE/24× CD-ROM (M7304) and 400 MHz/64 MB/6 GB IDE/2× DVD-ROM with MPEG-2 decode (M7308). Apple lists 10 GB hard drive, more memory and DVD on the 333 MHz as build-to-order options without a complete factory pairing; they are not multiplied into speculative configurations.
Battery and size
- Battery life (maker's claim)
- Up to 5 hours
- Battery capacity
- 50 Wh
- Weight
- 2.6761963 kg
- Thickness
- 43.18 mm
- Width × depth
- 322.58 × 264.16 mm
- Battery life detail
- 50 Wh lithium-ion battery; maker claims up to five hours on one battery and ten with two. A second battery can occupy the optical expansion bay. Macworld obtained around three hours at full processor speed on the 400 MHz model.
- Charger
- 45 W maximum AC power, 100–240 V, 50–60 Hz.
Connections
- Ports
- 2 × USB-A, Ethernet, headphone jack
- Operating system
- macOS
- Port detail
- Two 12 Mbps USB ports, HDI-30 SCSI, VGA, S-video, 10/100BASE-T Ethernet, RJ-11 56K V.90 modem, 4 Mbps IrDA, stereo line input and headphone output. One Type II CardBus/PC Card slot with Zoomed Video support; no ADB or built-in FireWire. Apple current support table lists one USB, but its 1999 announcement and exact Service Source both document two.
- External displays
- Built-in 1024 × 768 screen and external VGA monitor can form an extended desktop or mirror each other; S-video drives PAL or NTSC television.
- Keyboard
- Full-size 76-key US or 77-key ISO bronze translucent keyboard, inverted-T arrow keys and embedded numeric keypad; keyboard lifts for memory and hard-drive access.
- Trackpad
- Built-in trackpad supports tap, double-tap and drag.
- Speakers
- Built-in stereo speakers, 16-bit CD-quality audio.
- Microphones
- Built-in microphone and line input.
- In the box
- Original Mac OS 8.6. Apple’s May 1999 announcement says both base configurations were available from authorised dealers; no first-delivery day is established. Current support page mislabels the axes of its 12.7 × 10.4 × 1.7-inch dimensions; the contemporary Apple technical information identifies width, depth and thickness respectively. Current support also lists only 6/10 GB, while maker launch and Service Source establish the original 4 GB 333 MHz configuration.
Configurations
| Processor | Memory | Storage | Graphics |
|---|---|---|---|
| PowerPC G3 333 MHz (PowerBook Bronze Keyboard) | 64 MB | 4 GB | ATI RAGE LT Pro (8 MB video SDRAM) |
| PowerPC G3 400 MHz (PowerBook Bronze Keyboard) | 64 MB | 6 GB | ATI RAGE LT Pro (8 MB video SDRAM) |
Pros and cons
Pros
- 5.9 lb maker weight with battery and optical drive
- Two built-in USB ports and 10/100 Ethernet
- Hot-swappable optical drive or second battery
Cons
- No built-in FireWire
- Single PC Card slot
- Earlier PowerBook expansion-bay devices are incompatible
Closest rivals
Model | Size | Display | Processor | Memory | Weight | Battery | Released |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14.1″ | – | PowerPC G3 600 MHz (iBook14 Early2002) | 256 MB – 640 MB | 2.7 kg | 6 h | Jan 2002 | |
| 14.1″ | – | PowerPC G3 900 MHz (iBook Early 2003) | 256 MB – 640 MB | 2.7 kg | 6 h | Apr 2003 | |
| 14.1″ | – | PowerPC G3 800 MHz (iBook Late 2002) | 256 MB – 640 MB | 2.7 kg | 6 h | Nov 2002 |
Newer model: PowerBook (FireWire).