Apple PowerBooks get improved displays, battery life, DVD burning

- Gary Thayer, Editor

October 20, 2005 -- (MobileVillage) -- Apple today released updated versions of its PowerBook G4 line of notebook computers, which feature higher-resolution displays and up to one hour more battery life on the 15- and 17-inch models. Each new PowerBook also now includes a DVD burning 'SuperDrive'.

The new higher-resolution PowerBooks provide much more screen real estate than the previous generation. The 17-inch PowerBook offers a 1680-by-1050 pixel resolution -- 36 percent more than the previous model, while the 15-inch offers a 1440-by-960 pixel resolution -- 26 percent more than the previous generation.

The new 15- and 17-inch PowerBooks also provide brighter displays, at up to 46 percent brighter on the 17-inch model, according to Apple. The 15- and 17-inch models also promise up to an additional hour of battery life, depending on use.

The PowerBook line includes three models: the 1.5 GHz 12-inch PowerBook with an 8X SuperDrive and the new 1.67 GHz 15- and 17-inch PowerBooks with an 8X SuperDrive with double-layer support. Both the 15- and 17-inch PowerBooks include ATI Mobility Radeon 9700 graphics with 128MB DDR dedicated video memory and now feature built-in Dual Link support to drive Apple's 30-inch Cinema HD Display as an external monitor.

Every PowerBook includes Mac OS X version 10.4 "Tiger," the fifth major release of Apple's operating system and iLife '05, Apple's suite of digital applications.

The 1.5 GHz, 12-inch PowerBook G4 (US $1,499) includes:

• 512MB of PC2700 333 MHz DDR SDRAM, expandable up to 1.25GB;
  
• slot-load 8X SuperDrive (DVD+/-RW/CD-RW) optical drive;
  
• 80GB Ultra ATA/100 (5400 rpm) hard drive with Sudden Motion Sensor;
  
• AirPort Extreme 54 Mbps 802.11g WiFi wireless networking and internal Bluetooth 2.0+EDR;
  
• DVI, VGA, S-video and composite video support;
  
• two USB 2.0 ports and FireWire 400;
  
• audio line in and headphone out;
  
• scrolling TrackPad.

The 1.67 GHz, 15-inch PowerBook G4 (US $1,999) includes:

• slot-load 8x SuperDrive with double-layer support (DVD+R DL/DVD+/-RW/CD-RW);
  
• 512MB of PC2-4200 DDR2 SDRAM running at 333 MHz, expandable up to 2GB;
  
• 80GB Ultra ATA/100 (5400 rpm) hard drive with Sudden Motion Sensor;
  
• AirPort Extreme wireless networking & Bluetooth 2.0+EDR;
  
• DVI (Dual Link for 30-inch Cinema HD Display support), VGA, S-video and composite video support;
  
• Gigabit Ethernet (10/100/1000BASE-T);
  
• two USB 2.0 ports, FireWire 400 and 800;
  
• analog and optical digital audio input and output;
  
• illuminated keyboard with ambient light sensor; and
  
• scrolling TrackPad.

The 1.67 GHz, 17-inch PowerBook G4 (US $2,499) includes:

• slot-load 8x SuperDrive with double-layer support
  (DVD+R DL/DVD+/-RW/CD-RW);
  
• 512MB of PC2-4200 DDR2 SDRAM running at 333 MHz, expandable up to 2GB;
  
• 120GB Ultra ATA/100 (5400 rpm) hard drive with Sudden Motion Sensor;
  
• AirPort Extreme wireless networking & Bluetooth 2.0+EDR;
  
• DVI (Dual Link for 30-inch Cinema HD Display support), VGA, S-video and composite video support;
  
• Gigabit Ethernet (10/100/1000BASE-T);
  
• two USB 2.0 ports, FireWire 400 and 800;
  
• analog and optical digital audio input and output;
  
• illuminated keyboard with ambient light sensor; and
  
• scrolling TrackPad.

Additional build-to-order options for the 12-inch PowerBook include the ability to upgrade to 100GB (5400 rpm) hard drive, up to 1.25GB DDR SDRAM, a slot-load Combo (DVD-ROM/CD-RW) optical drive, and the AppleCare Protection Plan.

Additional build-to-order options for the new 15- and 17-inch PowerBooks include the ability to upgrade up to 2GB DDR2 SDRAM, a slot-load Combo (DVD- ROM/CD-RW) optical drive, and the AppleCare Protection Plan. The new 15-inch PowerBook also offers a 100GB or 120GB (5400 rpm) hard drive as a build-to-order option.

The 12-inch and new 15- and 17-inch PowerBooks are available now at apple.com, Apple's retail stores and Apple resellers.

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