Its finally happened, an updated line-up of PowerBook G4s have taken their place in the notebook market. Sporting faster processors, better graphics cards, more RAM, hard drive space and the latest technology, Scrolling Trackpad, Sudden Motion Sensor, Bluetooth 2.0 (Enhanced Data Rate) and integrated 54Mbps 802.11g WiFi wireless networking.
The only bit missing is Mac OS X 10.4, Tiger,… all prices quoted here are in USD.
New Technology
Designed for the creative and business professionals Apple has introduced Scrolling TrackPad, that works across applications and documents enabling horizontal and vertical scrolling at the touch of two fingers on the TrackPad.
Something every road warrior’s going to love in the new PowerBooks is Apple’s Sudden Motion Sensor, a tri-axis accelerometer that helps protect a spinning hard drive if the notebook is accidentally dropped.
Apple has always been the premier company when it comes to integrating new technology into their hardware. From the days of SCSI hard drives to FireWire ports, Bluetooth 2.0 (EDR) is no different. Working three times faster than currently widely available Bluetooth 1.1/1.2, Bluetooth 2.0 supports up to 3Mbps wireless connectivity and is backward compatible to Bluetooth 1.1./1.2.
Dual Link support to drive Apple’s breakthrough 30-inch Cinema HD Display is now available as a factory standard install on all 17″ PowerBooks and a Custom To Order upgrade option on the 1.67GHz 15″ PowerBook G4.
A faster 8x SuperDrive has also become available as a standard feature on most of the PowerBook line.
Apple’s supa trick backlit keyboard with ambient light sensors is now also factory standard kit on all 15-inch and 17-inch PowerBook models and if that doesn’t get your toungue out panting, its now ten times brighter than before!
Other minor upgrades, fall mainly in the integrated WiFi in the line-up and slight increases in processor speeds, factory standard kit RAM and hard drive capacity.
Some Specs
The 1.67 GHz, 17-inch PowerBook, for a suggested retail price of $2,699 (US), includes:
- 512MB of 333 MHz DDR SDRAM, with one open slot, expandable up to 2GB;
- a 100GB (5400 rpm) Ultra ATA/100 hard drive and Sudden Motion Sensor;
- a slot-load 8X SuperDrive (DVD±RW/CD-RW) optical drive;
- ATI Mobility Radeon 9700 graphics with 128MB video memory;
- DVI (Dual Link for 30-inch support), VGA, S-video and composite video support;
- AirPort Extreme 54 Mbps 802.11g WiFi fast wireless networking and internal Bluetooth 2.0+EDR;
- Gigabit Ethernet (10/100/1000BASE-T) and 56K V.92 modem;
- two USB 2.0 ports, FireWire® 400 and 800;
- optical digital audio input and output;
- a scrolling TrackPad; and
- illuminated keyboard with ambient light sensor.
The 1.67 GHz, 15-inch PowerBook, for a suggested retail price of $2,299 (US), includes:
- 512MB of 333 MHz DDR SDRAM, with one open slot, expandable up to 2GB;
- an 80GB (5400 rpm) Ultra ATA/100 hard drive and Sudden Motion Sensor;
- a slot-load 8X SuperDrive (DVD±RW/CD-RW) optical drive;
- ATI Mobility Radeon 9700 graphics with 64MB video memory with Dual Link DVI functionality;
- DVI, VGA, S-video and composite video support;
- AirPort Extreme 54 Mbps 802.11g WiFi fast wireless networking and internal Bluetooth 2.0+EDR;
- Gigabit Ethernet (10/100/1000BASE-T) and 56K V.92 modem;
- two USB 2.0 ports, FireWire 400 and 800;
- a scrolling TrackPad; and
- illuminated keyboard with ambient light sensor.
The 1.5 GHz, 15-inch PowerBook, for a suggested retail price of $1,999 (US), includes:
- 512MB of 333 MHz DDR SDRAM, with one open memory slot, expandable up to 2GB;
- an 80GB (5400 rpm) Ultra ATA/100 hard drive with Sudden Motion Sensor;
- a slot-load Combo (DVD-ROM/CD-RW) optical drive;
- ATI Mobility Radeon 9700 graphics with 64MB video memory;
- DVI, VGA, S-video and composite video support;
- AirPort Extreme 54 Mbps 802.11g WiFi fast wireless networking and internal Bluetooth 2.0+EDR;
- Gigabit Ethernet (10/100/1000BASE-T) and 56K V.92 modem;
- two USB 2.0 ports, FireWire 400 and 800;
- a scrolling TrackPad; and
- illuminated keyboard with ambient light sensor.
The 1.5 GHz, 12-inch PowerBook, for a suggested retail price of $1,699 (US), includes:
- 512MB of 333 MHz DDR SDRAM, expandable up to 1.25GB;
- an 80GB (5400 rpm) Ultra ATA/100 hard drive with Sudden Motion Sensor;
- a slot-load 8X SuperDrive (DVD±RW/CD-RW) optical drive;
- NVIDIA GeForce FX Go5200 graphics with 64MB of video memory;
- DVI, VGA, S-video and composite video support;
- AirPort Extreme 54 Mbps 802.11g WiFi fast wireless networking and internal Bluetooth 2.0+EDR;
- Ethernet 10/100BASE-T and 56K V.92 modem;
- two USB 2.0 ports and Firewire 400; and
- a scrolling TrackPad.
The 1.5 GHz, 12-inch PowerBook, for a suggested retail price of $1,499 (US), includes:
- 512MB of 333 MHz DDR SDRAM, expandable up to 1.25GB;
- a 60GB (5400 rpm) Ultra ATA/100 hard drive with Sudden Motion Sensor;
- a slot-load Combo (DVD-ROM/CD-RW) optical drive;
- NVIDIA GeForce FX Go5200 graphics with 64MB of video memory;
- DVI, VGA, S-video and composite video support;
- AirPort Extreme 54 Mbps 802.11g WiFi fast wireless networking and internal Bluetooth 2.0+EDR;
- Ethernet 10/100BASE-T and 56K V.92 modem;
- two USB 2.0 ports and Firewire 400; and
- a scrolling TrackPad.