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PowerBook G4 Q&A - Updated February 26, 2007
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What are the differences between the 12-Inch, 15-Inch, and 17-Inch "Double Layer SuperDrive/High-Resolution" PowerBook G4 models?
Please note that the 15-Inch and 17-Inch PowerBook G4 "Double Layer SuperDrive/High Resolution" models were introduced on October 19, 2005 and the last model was discontinued May 16, 2006.
Apple formally dubbed the PowerBook G4/1.67 15" (DLSD) and PowerBook G4/1.67 17" (DLSD) the "Double Layer SuperDrive" PowerBook G4 models and continued to sell the "non-Double Layer SuperDrive" PowerBook G4/1.5 12" from the previous "1.67/1.5" series at a lower price.
The "Double Layer SuperDrive" PowerBook G4 models are quite similar to the "1.67/1.5" PowerBook G4 systems that each replaced, but are equipped with a Double Layer SuperDrive -- as the unofficial name implies -- as well as a revised logicboard that uses faster RAM and a higher-resolution display. The "Double Layer SuperDrive" models also provide an additional hour of battery life.
The major differences between the "Double Layer SuperDrive/High-Resolution" PowerBook G4 models are summarized below:
PB G4 |
|||
Processor: |
1.5 GHz |
1.67 GHz |
1.67 GHz |
System Bus: |
167 MHz |
167 MHz |
167 MHz |
On-Chip L2: |
512k |
512k |
512k |
Memory: |
PC2700 |
PC2-4200 |
PC2-4200 |
Std. RAM: |
512 MB |
512 MB |
512 MB |
Max. RAM: |
1.25 GB |
2.0 GB |
2.0 GB |
Display: |
12.1" |
15.0" |
17.0" |
Resolution: |
1024x768 |
1440x960 |
1680x1050 |
Video Card: |
Go5200† |
9700† |
9700† |
Video RAM: |
64 MB |
128 MB |
128 MB |
Hard Drive: |
80 GB |
80 GB |
120 GB |
Std. Optical††: |
8X Super |
2.4X DL Super |
2.4X DL Super |
802.11g: |
Standard |
Standard |
Standard |
Bluetooth: |
2.0+EDR |
2.0+EDR |
2.0+EDR |
PC Card: |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Ambient Light: |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Battery Life: |
5 Hours |
5.5 Hours |
5.5 Hours |
Width/Depth*: |
10.9 x 8.6 |
13.7 x 9.5 |
15.4 x 10.2 |
Height*: |
1.18 |
1.1 |
1.0 |
Weight: |
4.6 lbs. |
5.6 lbs. |
6.9 lbs. |
Model No: |
M9691LL/A |
M9969LL/A |
M9970LL/A |
Orig. Price: |
US$1499 |
US$1999 |
US$2499 |
† 12-Inch model has a NVIDIA GeForce FX Go5200 video card, the 15-Inch and 17-Inch models have an ATI Mobility Radeon 9700 video card.
†† The "SuperDrive" is capable of reading and writing DVD and CD media. The "DL SuperDrive" is capable of reading and writing dual-layer DVD media as well as DVD and CDs.
* Width x Depth x Height (while closed) is provided in inches. For dimensions in centimeters, please refer to the specs page for the model of interest.
Please refer to the Ultimate Mac Comparison feature to dynamically compare any PowerBook G4 model to any other G3 or later Mac.
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