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

Apple · PowerBook

PowerBook G4 (15-inch, Double-Layer SD)

Released October 2005

The final 15-inch PowerBook G4 has a higher-resolution screen, DDR2 memory and a double-layer DVD burner.

Model history · 8 models, 2001–2005
  1. 2001PowerBook G4 (Original 2001)Compare
  2. 2001PowerBook G4 (Gigabit Ethernet)Compare
  3. 2002PowerBook G4 (DVI)Compare
  4. 2002PowerBook G4 (1GHz/867MHz)Compare
  5. 2003PowerBook G4 (15-inch FW800)Compare
  6. 2004PowerBook G4 (15-inch, 1.5/1.33GHz)Compare
  7. 2005PowerBook G4 (15-inch, 1.67/1.5GHz)Compare
  8. 2005PowerBook G4 (15-inch, Double-Layer SD)
Size
15.2″
Display
–
Processor
PowerPC G4 1.67 GHz (PowerBook 15-inch Late 2005)
Memory
512 MB – 2 GB
Weight
–
Battery
5.5 h

What reviewers say

Reviews value the extra screen workspace, keyboard and dual-link display support but find little improvement in processing speed. Macworld notes smaller text at native resolution and limited real-world battery life. Daring Fireball likes quiet operation and the keyboard, while reporting occasional trackpad and audio glitches and weaker wireless reception than an iBook.

From macworld.com and daringfireball.net

Specifications

Report a wrong or missing spec

Display

Screen size
15.2″
Resolution
1440 × 960
Touchscreen
No
Display type
15.2-inch TFT widescreen, 1440 × 960; panel technology and refresh unpublished.

Performance

Processor
PowerPC G4 1.67 GHz (PowerBook 15-inch Late 2005)
CPU cores
1
Graphics
ATI Mobility Radeon 9700 (128 MB DDR)
Memory
512 MB or 2 GB
Storage
80 GB to 120 GB
CPU
1.67 GHz PowerPC G4 with 512 KB on-chip L2 and 167 MHz system bus. Exact silicon supplier omitted.
GPU
ATI Mobility Radeon 9700 with 128 MB DDR and dual-link DVI standard
Memory type
512 MB PC2-4200 DDR2 running at 333 MHz; two SO-DIMM slots support up to 2 GB.
Storage type
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 5.5 hours
Battery life detail
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.
Charger
Power adapter included; wattage not established for this exact generation in the read family sheet.
Materials
Aluminium enclosure

Connections

Ports
2 × USB-A, Ethernet, headphone jack
Wi-Fi
AirPort Extreme 802.11g/b
Bluetooth
2.0 + EDR
Operating system
macOS
Port detail
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 displays
Dual-link DVI supports 30-inch Cinema HD display; DVI-to-VGA and S-video-to-composite adapters included.
Keyboard
Full-size illuminated keyboard with ambient light sensor
Trackpad
Two-finger scrolling/panning, tap, double-tap and drag support
Speakers
Stereo speakers
Microphones
Internal omnidirectional microphone
In the box
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.

Configurations

ProcessorMemoryStorageGraphics
PowerPC G4 1.67 GHz (PowerBook 15-inch Late 2005)512 MB80 GBATI Mobility Radeon 9700 (128 MB DDR)
PowerPC G4 1.67 GHz (PowerBook 15-inch Late 2005)2 GB80 GBATI Mobility Radeon 9700 (128 MB DDR)
PowerPC G4 1.67 GHz (PowerBook 15-inch Late 2005)512 MB100 GBATI Mobility Radeon 9700 (128 MB DDR)
PowerPC G4 1.67 GHz (PowerBook 15-inch Late 2005)2 GB100 GBATI Mobility Radeon 9700 (128 MB DDR)
PowerPC G4 1.67 GHz (PowerBook 15-inch Late 2005)512 MB120 GBATI Mobility Radeon 9700 (128 MB DDR)
PowerPC G4 1.67 GHz (PowerBook 15-inch Late 2005)2 GB120 GBATI Mobility Radeon 9700 (128 MB DDR)

Pros and cons

Pros

  • 1440 × 960 display
  • 128 MB graphics and dual-link DVI standard
  • Double-layer DVD recording

Cons

  • Maximum memory 2 GB
  • USB limited to 480 Mbps
  • Single-core G4 processor

Closest rivals

Model
SizeDisplayProcessorMemoryWeightBatteryReleased
ApplePowerBook G4 (15-inch, 1.5/1.33GHz)
15.2″–PowerPC G4 1.33 GHz (PowerBook 15-inch 2004) or PowerPC G4 1.5 GHz (PowerBook 15-inch 2004)256 MB – 2 GB2.6 kg4.5 hApr 2004
ApplePowerBook G4 (15-inch, 1.67/1.5GHz)
15.2″–PowerPC G4 1.5 GHz (PowerBook 15-inch Early 2005) or PowerPC G4 1.67 GHz (PowerBook 15-inch Early 2005)512 MB – 2 GB2.5 kg4.5 hFeb 2005
ApplePowerBook G4 (15-inch FW800)
15.2″–PowerPC G4 1 GHz (PowerBook 15-inch FW800) or PowerPC G4 1.25 GHz (PowerBook 15-inch FW800)256 MB – 2 GB2.5 kg4.5 hSept 2003

Previous model: PowerBook G4 (15-inch, 1.67/1.5GHz). Newer model: MacBook Pro (15-inch, Early 2006).

Sources

  1. support.apple.com/en-gb/112490
  2. apple.com/uk/newsroom/2005/10/19Apple-Enhances-PowerBooks-with-Higher-Resolutio…

Photo: Apple Support generic 15-inch aluminium PowerBook family asset; low-resolution front pose with later desktop artwork, not launch-specific.

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