price and product comparisons power shopper book zone
.....
Books & Buyer's Guides



Information Hubs



Other Product Information


Site Supporters

send this page

Send to a friend

News Feed





14 Inch G4 iBook Or 12 Inch PowerBook? Which One Is faster And Has Better Features?

Posted 2/21/04

Specially prepared for Ray ... Request your own Custom Comparison

Introduction

This Buyer's Guide compares the 14 Inch G4/1GHz MHz iBook which has the Combo optical drive, to the 12 Inch G4/1 GHz PowerBook.

Below you will find specifications and features, performance, and price comparisons. We also provide further links where you can do additional research, should you so wish.

How could this Guide be improved? ... Give us your feedback. Tell your friends about our service!


Specifications & Features

Model/Mhz

iBook G4/1GHz/1GH/256K
Release Date: October, 2003

14.1" Screen

Combination Drive
(#M9165LL/A )

5.9 pounds

Battery Life: 61-watt 6 Hours

PowerBook G4/1GHz/1GHz/512K
Release Date: September 2003

12.1" Screen

SuperDrive (#M9008LL/A)
Combination Drive (#M9007LL/A )

4.6 pounds

Battery Life: 47-watt 5 Hours

Price Information

MSRP: $1,499
DealZone

MSRP: $1,599 or $1,799
DealZone

Bus Speed
(Mhz)

133 MHz
133 MHz

RAM
(MAX)

256MB of PC2100 (266MHz) DDR SDRAM
(640 MB max)
256MB PC2100 (266MHz) DDR SDRAM
(1.25 GB max)

Graphics Support

ATI Mobility Radeon 9200
32MB of DDR SDRAM
4x AGP
NVIDIA GeForce FX Go5200
32MB of DDR SDRAM
4x AGP

Expansion
Slots

AirPort Extreme Ready
AirPort Extreme Ready

Hard Drive

60 GB Ultra ATA
40GB Ultra ATA/100
4200rpm

Optical Drive

Combination Drive (slot loading)

Writes CD-R at 24x
Writes CD-RW at 10x
Reads DVD-ROM at 8x
Reads CD-ROM at 24x

Combination drive
CD R - 24x
CD-RW write - 10x
DVD-ROM - 8x
CD -ROM - 24x
or
" SuperDrive"
CD-R write - 16x
CD-RW write - 4x
DVD-ROM - 8x
CD read - 24x
DVD write 2x

Connectivity & Communication

56k V.92 modem
Optional 54-Mbps AirPort Extreme Card (based on 802.11g standard; 802.11b Wi-Fi certified)

10/100 BT Ethernet

2 USB 2.0 Ports (480 Mbps)
1 FireWire Port (400 Mbps)

Optional internal Bluetooth

56k V.92 modem
Optional 54-Mbps AirPort Extreme Card (based on 802.11g standard; 802.11b Wi-Fi certified)


10/100 BT Ethernet

2 USB 2.0 Ports (480 Mbps)
1 FireWire Port (400 Mbps)

Bluetooth 1.1 built in

Video

14.1-inch (diagonal) TFT XGA active-matrix
1024x768
800x600
640x480
resolutions with millions of colors

Video Mirroring

Included Apple VGA Display Adapter.

S-video and composite video output to TV or projector (requires Apple Video Adapter, sold separately)

12.1-inch (diagonal) TFT XGA active-matrix
1024x768
800x600
640x480
resolutions with millions of colors

Dual display and video mirroring

Mini-DVI to DVI adapter, mini-DVI to VGA adapter


S-video and composite video output using mini-DVI to video adapter (sold separately)

Specification Notes

 

Has third speaker for midrange
Audio line in
Performance
Machine
iBook G4/1GHz/1GH/256K
PowerBook G4/1GHz/1GHz/512K
Processor
54.20 seconds
52.70 seconds - - Same (within the margin of error)
Graphics
217 Points
477 Points - - 120% Faster
Graphics Gaming
15 frames per second
14.5 frames per second - - Same (Within the margin of error
Drive
250.13 seconds
214.63 seconds - - 14% Faster
General - Interface
41.99 seconds
25.17 seconds - - 40% Faster
Notes

In the General Interface test, the PowerBook is helped by the larger L2 cache (512K compared to 256k on the iBook). This will give a boost to on-screen performance and light duty computer work

Graphics test is based on CineBench 2003.

The PowerBook has a better card for graphics intensive rendering, but in 3-D gaming both machines have similar performance

For more detailed performance results see this page

Links To Further Information
Machine
iBook G4/1GHz/1GH/256K
PowerBook G4/1GHz/1GHz/512K
Reviews
Links to additional information

Additional Resources:
iBook Buyer's Guide
iBook InfoZone
iBook Performance
iBook Performance vs Others
iBook Specs and Features
iBook Discussion Forum
Apple's iBook Web Pages

Additional Resources:
PowerBook Buyer's Guide
PowerBook Info Zone
PowerBook Performance
PowerBook Performance vs Others
PowerBook Specs & Features
PowerBook Discussion Forum
Apple's PowerBook Web Pages

Price & Bundle Comparisons

Note

We receive a small commission on computers purchased using the links below. Though this adds no cost to your purchase price, it does help us defray the cost of running MacReviewZone and MacSpeedZone. Your support is appreciated! As always check your tax status at these merchants so that you don't get a nasty shock at checkout time.

For Latest up-to-date prices check the online Buyer's Guides

iBook G4/1 GHz 14.1" Screen, Combination Drive #M9165LL/A
Store

Apple Store

Price & Shipping*

$1,499
Free shipping

Sales Tax

All states with sales tax.

Deals & Bundles

available - Available

unknown/delay - Unknown/Delay

unavailable - Unavailable

Apple Promotions and:

delay Base Machine
delay Epson Stylus Color C84 Inkjet Printer, free after mail-in rebate ($99 up front)
delay Epson Stylus CX5400 All-in-One, $50 after mail-in rebate ($149 up front)
delay Epson Stylus CX6400 All-in-One, $100 after mail-in rebate ($199 up front)
delay Epson Stylus Photo 1280 Inkjet Printer, $300 after mail-in rebate ($399 up front)
available Epson Stylus Photo 2200 Color Inkjet Printer, $600 after mail-in rebate ($699 up front)

 
Store

ClubMac  ... Best Buy  

Price & Shipping*

$1,494
Shipping $28 (free after mail-in rebate)

Sales Tax

CA, TN, WI

Deals & Bundles

available - Available

unknown/delay - Unknown/Delay

unavailable - Unavailable

Apple Promotions and any/all of the following:

available Base Machine
available Upgrade to 640MB RAM, free after rebate, $40 install
available Free case after mail-in rebate
available Epson Stylus C84 Printer, free after rebate
availableEpson CX5400 multi-function printer for $30 after mail-in rebates ($149 up front)
available Epson CX6400 multi-function printer for $100 after mail-in rebate ($199 up front)
available MYOB FirstEdge for $10

 
Store

MacConnection

Price & Shipping*

$1,494
$13 shipping

Sales Tax

MA, NC, OH, TN

Deals & Bundles

available - Available

unknown/delay - Unknown/Delay

unavailable - Unavailable

Apple Promotions and:

available Base Machine
available 512MB, free after $100 mail-in rebate

available Free Macally "DotMouse"
available Epson Stylus Color C84 Inkjet Printer, free after mail-in rebates ($99 up front)
available Lexmark Z705, free after mail-in rebate ($50 up front)
available Free case after mail in rebate ($70 up front)

 
Store

MacMall ... Best Buy  

Price & Shipping*

$1,494
Shipping $25 (free after mail-in rebate)

Sales Tax

CA, TN, WI

Deals & Bundles

available - Available

unknown/delay - Unknown/Delay

unavailable - Unavailable

Apple Promotions and any/all of the following:

available Base Machine
available Upgrade to 640MB RAM, free after rebate, $40 install
available Free case after mail-in rebate
available Epson Stylus C84 Printer, free after rebate
availableEpson CX5400 multi-function printer for $30 after mail-in rebates ($149 up front)
available Epson CX6400 multi-function printer for $100 after mail-in rebate ($199 up front)
available MYOB FirstEdge for $10

 
Store

MacZone

Price & Shipping*

$1,495
Free shipping for a "limited time"

Sales Tax

CA, IL, MO, NV, OH, TN, WA

Deals & Bundles

available - Available

unknown/delay - Unknown/Delay

unavailable - Unavailable

Apple Promotions and:

available Base Machine
available Upgrade to 640MB RAM, free after mail-in rebate ($40 installation fee)


12.1" PowerBook G4/1GHz Combo Drive #M9007LL/A
Store

Apple Store

Price & Shipping*

$1,599
Free Shipping

Sales Tax

All states with sales tax.

Deals & Bundles

available - Available

unknown - Unknown/Delay

unavailable - Unavailable

Apple Promotions and:

available Base Machine
available $300 (total) rebate on Final Cut Pro and DVD Studio
delay Epson Stylus Color C84 Inkjet Printer, free after mail-in rebate ($99 up front)
delay Epson Stylus CX5400 All-in-One, $50 after mail-in rebate ($149 up front)
delay Epson Stylus CX6400 All-in-One, $100 after mail-in rebate ($199 up front)
delay Epson Stylus Photo 1280 Inkjet Printer, $300 after mail-in rebate ($399 up front)
available Epson Stylus Photo 2200 Color Inkjet Printer, $600 after mail-in rebate ($699 up front)

 
Store

ClubMac ... Best Buy

Price & Shipping*

$1,594
Shipping $28 (free after mail-in rebate)

Sales Tax

CA, TN, WI

Deals & Bundles

available - Available

unknown - Unknown/Delay

unavailable - Unavailable

Apple Promotions and any/all of the following:

available Base Machine
available Epson Stylus C84 Printer, free after mail-in rebate ($99 up front)
available Epson CX5400 multi-function printer for $30 after mail-in rebates ($149 up front)
available Epson CX6400 multi-function printer for $100 after mail-in rebate ($199 up front)
available Lexmark Z705 printer for $29 after mail-in rebate
available Lexmark P707 free after mail-in rebates
available Lexmark X1150 multi-function printer free after mail-in rebates
available Free 512 MB of RAM after mail-in rebate ($40 installation fee applies)
available Free case after mail-in rebate (a $30 value)
available MYOB FirstEdge for $10

 
Store

MacConnection

Price & Shipping*

$1,594
$14 shipping

Sales Tax

MA, NC, OH, TN

Deals & Bundles

available - Available

unknown - Unknown/Delay

unavailable - Unavailable

Apple Promotions and one of the following:

available Base Machine
available 512MB, free after mail-in rebate
available Epson Stylus Color C84 Inkjet Printer, free after mail-in rebates ($99 up front)
available Lexmark Z705, free after mail-in rebate ($50 up front)

 
Store

MacMall ... Best Buy

Price & Shipping*

$1,594
$24 shipping charge. Free after mail-in rebate.

Sales Tax

CA, TN, WI

Deals & Bundles

available - Available

unknown - Unknown/Delay

unavailable - Unavailable

Apple Promotions and any/all of the following:

available Base Machine
available Epson Stylus C84 Printer, free after mail-in rebate ($99 up front)
available Epson CX5400 multi-function printer for $30 after mail-in rebates ($149 up front)
available Epson CX6400 multi-function printer for $100 after mail-in rebate ($199 up front)
available Lexmark Z705 printer for $29 after mail-in rebate
available Lexmark P707 free after mail-in rebates
available Lexmark X1150 multi-function printer free after mail-in rebates
available Free 512 MB of RAM after mail-in rebate ($40 installation fee applies)
available Free case after mail-in rebate (a $30 value)
available MYOB FirstEdge for $10

 
Store

MacZone

Price & Shipping*

$1,595
Free shipping for a "limited time"

Sales Tax

CA, IL, MO, NV, OH, TN, WA

available - Available

unknown - Unknown/Delay

unavailable - Unavailable

Apple Promotions and:

available Base machine
available Free AirPort Card and Case ($40 installation fee)

12.1" PowerBook G4/1 GHz SuperDrive #M9008LL/A
Store

Apple Store

Price & Shipping*

$1,799
Free shipping

Sales Tax

All states with sales tax.

Deals & Bundles

available - Available

unknown - Unknown/Delay

unavailable - Unavailable

Apple Promotions and:

available Base Machine
available $300 (total) rebate on Final Cut Pro and DVD Studio
delay Epson Stylus Color C84 Inkjet Printer, free after mail-in rebate ($99 up front)
delay Epson Stylus CX5400 All-in-One, $50 after mail-in rebate ($149 up front)
delay Epson Stylus CX6400 All-in-One, $100 after mail-in rebate ($199 up front)
delay Epson Stylus Photo 1280 Inkjet Printer, $300 after mail-in rebate ($399 up front)
available Epson Stylus Photo 2200 Color Inkjet Printer, $600 after mail-in rebate ($699 up front)

 
Store

ClubMac ... Best Buy

Price & Shipping*

$1,794
Shipping $28 (free after mail in rebate)

Sales Tax

CA, TN, WI

Deals & Bundles

available - Available

unknown - Unknown/Delay

unavailable - Unavailable

Apple Promotions and any/all of the following:

available Base Machine
available Epson Stylus C84 Printer, free after mail-in rebate ($99 up front)
available Epson CX5400 multi-function printer for $30 after mail-in rebates ($149 up front)
available Epson CX6400 multi-function printer for $100 after mail-in rebate ($199 up front)
available Lexmark Z705 printer for $29 after mail-in rebate
available Lexmark P707 free after mail-in rebates
available Lexmark X1150 multi-function printer free after mail-in rebates
available Free 512 MB of RAM after mail-in rebate ($40 installation fee applies)
available Free case after mail-in rebate (a $30 value)
available MYOB FirstEdge for $10

 
Store

MacConnection

Price & Shipping*

$1,794
$13 shipping

Sales Tax

MA, NC, OH, TN

Deals & Bundles

available - Available

unknown - Unknown/Delay

unavailable - Unavailable

Apple Promotions and one of the following:

available Base Machine
available 512MB RAM, free after mail-in rebate
available Epson Stylus Color C84 Inkjet Printer, free after mail-in rebates ($99 up front)
available Lexmark Z705, free after mail-in rebate ($50 up front)

 
Store

MacMall ... Best Buy

Price & Shipping*

$1,794
$24 shipping charge (free after mail-in rebate)

Sales Tax

CA, TN, WI

Deals & Bundles

available - Available

unknown - Unknown/Delay

unavailable - Unavailable

Apple Promotions and any/all of the following:

available Base Machine
available Epson Stylus C84 Printer, free after mail-in rebate ($99 up front)
available Epson CX5400 multi-function printer for $30 after mail-in rebates ($149 up front)
available Epson CX6400 multi-function printer for $100 after mail-in rebate ($199 up front)
available Lexmark Z705 printer for $29 after mail-in rebate
available Lexmark P707 free after mail-in rebates
available Lexmark X1150 multi-function printer free after mail-in rebates
available Free 512 MB of RAM after mail-in rebate ($40 installation fee applies)
available Free case after mail-in rebate (a $30 value)
available MYOB FirstEdge for $10

 
Store

MacZone

Price & Shipping*

$1,795
Free shipping for a "limited time"

Sales Tax

CA, IL, MO, NV, OH, TN, WA

available - Available

unknown - Unknown/Delay

unavailable - Unavailable

Apple Promotions and:

available Base machine
available Free AirPort Card and Case ($40 installation fee)

Shipping charges are to California - your mileage may vary. Also prices quoted are for the bare machine and do not reflect RAM installation charges (usually $40), nor the in-store prices of add-on products for which there is a rebate. Shipping charges (if any) for bundled products , also are not reflected in the prices above.

Weekly Buyer's Guides

G4 PowerBook Buyers Guide eMac Buyer's Guide iMac Buyer's Guide iBook Buyers Guide Power Mac Buyers Guide

 

Home Reviews Opinions & Articles Buyer's Guides MacSpeedZone

Copyright 1996-2007 by Cider Press Publishing LLC all rights reserved. MacReviewZone is not authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Apple Computer. Apple, the Apple logo, Macintosh, iPod, iBook, iMac, eMac, and PowerBook are registered trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc. Additional company and product names may be trademarks or registered trademarks and are hereby acknowledged.

| Top of page | Mail this page to a friend |