The MacComparisonZone: 15" PowerBook G4/800MHz vs 14" iBook G4/1GHz - What Are The Performance, Feature And Price Differences
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Updated: 6/19/04
Introduction
This Buyer's Guide compares the 15" PowerBook G4/800MHz, which has a Combo optical drive, to the 14" iBook G4/1GHz , which also has a Combo optical drive.
The 15" PowerBook G4/800 was released in April of 2002. The G4/800 was the high-end laptop, out of a family of two, which also included a G4/667MHz machine.
The 14" iBook G4/1GHz, was released 24 months later, in April, 2004. It was the middle model of a family of three, which included a 12 inch 1GHz machine at the low-end, and a 14 inch 1.2GHz iBook at the high-end.
Major Technological Differences:
Processor Speed
Cache Speed/Size/Type
Weight
Battery Life
Current Price Difference: $230
RAM: Amount/Max/Type Graphics Card
Expansion Slots
Hard Drive Type
Optical Drive Speed
Wireless Networking Installation/Speed
USB Port Speed
Audio In
Screen Size/Resolution
External Video Support
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.
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Unfortunately, because of the time distance between when we tested these two machines, we are not able to provide a very detailed performance comparison.
The processor score difference, seems high to us, however it appears to be confirmed by other results we have for this particular test. In applications that are processor intensive, we would not be surprised to see a smaller performance gap between this PowerBook and iBook.
In the General Interface Test, we believe that the PowerBook is helped out by its more developed caching scheme, and the fact the graphics card in the iBook is not a top tier one.
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G4 PowerBooks 15 Inch
Titanium PowerBook G4/400 ... Original price: $2,599
Titanium PowerBook G4/500 ... Original price: $3,499 PowerMax - Used $1,499 .... 90 day warranty .... Shipping $19. Tax: None ...Trade-in ProgramSmall Dog - Used $769 to $829 ... 90 day warranty ... Shipping $25. Tax: VT
Titanium PowerBook G4/550 ... Original price: $2,199 PowerMax - Used $1,588 to $1,649 .... 90 day warranty .... Shipping $19. Tax: None ...Trade-in ProgramSmall Dog - Used $849 to $949 ... 90 day warranty ... Shipping $25. Tax: VT
PowerBook 15in G4/667 ... Original price: $2,499
Small Dog - Used $899 to $1,099 ... 90 day warranty ... Shipping $25. Tax: VT
Titanium PowerBook G4/800 ... Original price: $3,199
PowerMax - Used... $1,788 .... 90 day warranty .... Shipping $19. Tax: None ...Trade-in ProgramSmall Dog - Used $1,069 to $1,189 ... 90 day warranty ... Shipping $25. Tax: VT
PowerBook 15in G4/867/60/combo ... Original price: $2,299
Small Dog - Used $1,089 to $1,269 ... 90 day warranty ... Shipping $25. Tax: VT
PowerBook G4 1GHz/256MB/60GB/Combo/GigE/15"TFT ... Original price: $1,999
Apple Store - New $1,799 .... one year warranty.... Shipping Free. Tax: All states with sales tax
ClubMac - New $1,794 .... one year warranty .... Shipping Free. Tax: CA, TN, WI ... Extras
MacConnection - (search for item M8980LL ) ... Refurbished $1,599 ... 90 day warranty .... Shipping Free Tax: MA, NC, OH, TN ... Extras
MacConnection - (search for item M8980LL ) ... New $1,794 ... one year warranty .... Shipping Free Tax: MA, NC, OH, TN ... Extras
MacMall - New $1,794 .... one year warranty.... Shipping Free. Tax: CA, TN, WI ... Extras
MacZone - New $1,795 .... one year warranty.... Shipping Free. Tax: CA, IL, MO, NV, OH, TN, WA ... Extras
PowerMax - New .. $1,769 to $1,788.... one year warranty .... Shipping $19. Tax: None . ...Trade-in ProgramSmall Dog - New $1,799 ... one year warranty ... Shipping $25. Tax: VT
PowerBook G4 1GHz/512MB/60GB/SuperDrive/GigE/15"TFT #M8859LL/A ... Original price: $2,599
Small Dog - Used $1,349 to $1,579 ... 90 day warranty ... Shipping $25. Tax: VT
PowerBook G4 1.25GHz/512MB/80GB/SuperDrive/AP Extreme Card/GigE/15"TFT #M8981LL/A ... Original price: $2,599
Apple Store - New $2,299 .... one year warranty.... Shipping Free. Tax: All states with sales tax
ClubMac - New $2,294 .... one year warranty .... Shipping Free. Tax: CA, TN, WI ... Extras
MacConnection - (search for item M8981LL ) ... Refurbished $1,999 ...90 day warranty .... Shipping Free Tax: MA, NC, OH, TN ... Extras
MacConnection - (search for item M8981LL/A ) ... New $2,294 ... 1 year warranty .... Shipping Free Tax: MA, NC, OH, TN ... Extras
MacMall - New $2,294 .... one year warranty.... Shipping Free. Tax: CA, TN, WI ... Extras
MacZone - New $2,295 .... one year warranty.... Shipping Free. Tax: CA, IL, MO, NV, OH, TN, WA ... Extras
PowerMax - Open Box .. $2,228.... one year warranty .... Shipping $19. Tax: None ... Extras ...Trade-in ProgramPowerMax - New .. $2,299.... one year warranty .... Shipping $19. Tax: None ... Extras ...Trade-in ProgramSmall Dog - Demo $2,199 ... one year warranty ... Shipping $25. Tax: VT
Small Dog - New $2,299 ... one year warranty ... Shipping $25. Tax: VT
Base Machine DeskJet 5850 wireless printer, $100 after rebate ($199 up front) PSC 2410 multifunction printer, $200 after rebate ($299 up front) PSC 2175 all-in-one, $100 after rebate ($199 up front) Photosmart 7660 inkjet photo printer, $50 after rebate ($149 up front) DeskJet 5150 inkjet printer, free after rebate ($99 up front) DeskJet 5650 inkjet printer, $30 after rebate ($129 up front)
The MacComparisonZone: 15" PowerBook G4/800MHz vs 14" iBook G4/1GHz - What Are The Performance, Feature And Price Differences 
Graphics Card
Titanium PowerBook G4/400 ... Original price: $2,599
- Available
- Unknown/Delay
- Unavailable
Base Machine
DeskJet 5850 wireless printer, $100 after rebate ($199 up front)
PSC 2175 all-in-one, $100 after rebate ($199 up front)