PowerBook G4
Encyclopedia
The PowerBook G4 are a series of notebook computers that were manufactured, marketed, and sold by Apple, Inc. (then Apple Computer, Inc) between 2001 and 2006 as part of its PowerBook
line. It uses the PowerPC G4
processor
, initially produced by Motorola
and later by Freescale, after Motorola spun off its semiconductor
business under that name in 2004. The PowerBook G4 had two different designs: one enclosed in a titanium
body with a translucent black keyboard and a 15" screen; and another in an aluminium
body with an aluminium-colored keyboard, in 12", 15", and 17" sizes.
Between 2001 and 2003, Apple produced the Titanium PowerBook G4; between 2003 and 2006, the Aluminium models were produced. Both models were hailed for their modern design, long battery life, and processing power. When the Aluminium PowerBook G4s were first released in January 2003, however, only 12 and 17-inch models were available. The 15-inch retained the titanium body until September 2003 when a new aluminium 15-inch PowerBook was released. In addition to the change from titanium to aluminium, the new 15-inch model featured a FireWire 800 port, which had been included with the 17-inch model since its debut nine months earlier.
The PowerBook G4 line was the last generation of the PowerBook
series, and was succeeded by the Intel-powered MacBook Pro
line in the first half of 2006.
' keynote
at MacWorld Expo in January 2001. They featured a PowerPC G4 processor running at either 400 or 500 MHz. They were just 1 inch
(25 mm) deep, 0.7 inches (18 mm) shallower than their predecessor, the PowerBook G3
. They were among the first laptops to use a widescreen aspect ratio
. The PowerBook G4 Titanium also featured a front-mounted slot-loading optical drive. The notebook was given the nickname "TiBook", a blend of the words titanium
, the material used for the computer's case, and the brand name PowerBook
, the name of the computer
.
Quanta also helped in the design. The new machine was a sharp departure from the black plastic, curvilinear PowerBook G3 models that preceded it. The orientation of the Apple logo on the computer's lid was switched so it would 'read' correctly to onlookers when the computer was in use. PowerBook G3 and prior models presented it right side up to the computer's owner when the lid was opened. Apple's industrial design
team, headed by British designer Jonathan Ive
, was to continue toward minimalistic designs—the Titanium G4's design language laid the groundwork for the Aluminium PowerBook G4, the MacBook Pro
, the Power Mac G5
, the flat-screen iMac
, the Xserve
, and the Mac mini
.
and the subsequent MacBook
and MacBook Pro
redesigns in October. The 15" titanium model was still available until September 16, 2003, when the Aluminium model replaced it. Notably, the 12" model brought a welcome return to the Apple subnotebook
configuration, conspicuously lacking in their product line since the discontinuation of the PowerBook 2400 in 1998. While the titanium PowerBook G4s were capable of running Mac OS 9
or Mac OS X
operating systems, the aluminium PowerBook G4s could only boot in Mac OS X from startup. Both series of machines could run Mac OS 9 in Classic
mode from within Mac OS X.
, and used a radically different design from the preceding titanium models. The most obvious change was the use of aluminium, not titanium, to manufacture the body. The keyboard, which was originally black, was changed to match the color of the body. Additionally, the aluminium keyboard was backlit on the 17" model and on one of the 15" models. The design was considered superior to most other notebooks when it debuted in 2003, and consequently, it made the PowerBook G4 one of the most desirable notebooks on the market. The external design of Apple's professional laptops continued to remain similar to the aluminium Powerbook G4 until the Spotlight on Notebooks event on October 14, 2008.
Apple previously had a Repair Extension Program to fix the "white spot" issue on its 15" PowerBook displays.
There has also been a rash of reports concerning sudden and pervasive sleeping of 1.5 and 1.67 GHz models known as Narcoleptic Aluminium Powerbook Syndrome. Symptoms include the PowerBook suddenly entering sleep mode, no matter what the battery level is or if it is plugged in. One cause is the ambient light sensing, and associated instruction set coding, with possible keyboard backlight and sleep light issues accompanying the so-called "narcolepsy". Another cause is the trackpad heat sensor monitoring the trackpad; system logs report "Power Management received emergency overtemp signal. Going to sleep.".
To correct this, service groups will often replace the logic board or power converter, but the actual fix (depending on the model) for the first cause is to replace or remove the left or right ambient light sensors; and for the second cause, disconnect, remove, or replace the heat sensor, or the entire top case which holds the trackpad heat sensor. Alternatively, there are reports which detail success in removing certain sensor kernel extensions or rebuilding the kernel using the Darwin Open Source project after commenting out the relevant
The 1.67 GHz model may suffer from manufacturing or design defects in its display. Initial reports pointed to this only being a problem with type M9689 17" PowerBooks introduced in Q2 2005, but then this problem was also seen in displays replaced by Apple Service Providers in this period (e.g. because of the bright spots issue). The devices were the last 17" models shipped with the matte 1440×900 pixel low resolution display. After many months of usage, the displays may show permanently shining lines of various colors stretching vertically across the LCD. Often this will start with 1-pixel wide vertical lines being "stuck" in an "always-on" mode. Various sites have been set up documenting this issue. and a campaign seeks to get Apple to acknowledge that a defect exists. Posts regarding this in Apple forums have been heavily censored. There has been no official word from Apple on the issue.
, which powers Apple's now-discontinued Power Mac G5
and iMac G5
computers, proved to be too power-hungry and heat-intensive to use in laptops. This, along with the stalling development of the G5, is said to be one of the main reasons for Apple's transition from PowerPC
to Intel processors. On January 10, 2006, Apple released its first Intel-based laptop, the 15" MacBook Pro
. A 17" version of the MacBook Pro followed on April 24, 2006. The 12" PowerBook G4 and the G4 iBook
were discontinued and replaced by the 13.3" MacBook
on May 16, 2006, ending the whole PowerBook line. However, a replacement for the 12" subnotebook form factor was not immediately forthcoming; the MacBook Air
, released in 2008, served as an indirect replacement while the 13" MacBook Pro released in 2009 is the direct replacement for the 12" PowerBook G4.
Apple CEO Steve Jobs noted during the introduction of the MacBook Pro that Apple wants the word "Mac" in the name of all its Mac hardware products. Subsequently, the trademark name "PowerBook" was retired in early 2006 despite the G4 version still on support.
As of August 28, 2009, the PowerBook G4 stopped supporting the latest version of Mac OS X. Snow Leopard (10.6) requires an Intel processor, meaning that Mac OS X Leopard (10.5) is the highest version of Mac OS X that can be installed on the PowerBook G4.
PowerBook
The PowerBook was a line of Macintosh laptop computers that was designed, manufactured and sold by Apple Computer, Inc. from 1991 to 2006. During its lifetime, the PowerBook went through several major revisions and redesigns, often being the first to incorporate features that would later become...
line. It uses the PowerPC G4
PowerPC G4
PowerPC G4 is a designation used by Apple Computer to describe a fourth generation of 32-bit PowerPC microprocessors. Apple has applied this name to various processor models from Freescale, a former part of Motorola....
processor
Central processing unit
The central processing unit is the portion of a computer system that carries out the instructions of a computer program, to perform the basic arithmetical, logical, and input/output operations of the system. The CPU plays a role somewhat analogous to the brain in the computer. The term has been in...
, initially produced by Motorola
Motorola
Motorola, Inc. was an American multinational telecommunications company based in Schaumburg, Illinois, which was eventually divided into two independent public companies, Motorola Mobility and Motorola Solutions on January 4, 2011, after losing $4.3 billion from 2007 to 2009...
and later by Freescale, after Motorola spun off its semiconductor
Semiconductor
A semiconductor is a material with electrical conductivity due to electron flow intermediate in magnitude between that of a conductor and an insulator. This means a conductivity roughly in the range of 103 to 10−8 siemens per centimeter...
business under that name in 2004. The PowerBook G4 had two different designs: one enclosed in a titanium
Titanium
Titanium is a chemical element with the symbol Ti and atomic number 22. It has a low density and is a strong, lustrous, corrosion-resistant transition metal with a silver color....
body with a translucent black keyboard and a 15" screen; and another in an aluminium
Aluminium
Aluminium or aluminum is a silvery white member of the boron group of chemical elements. It has the symbol Al, and its atomic number is 13. It is not soluble in water under normal circumstances....
body with an aluminium-colored keyboard, in 12", 15", and 17" sizes.
Between 2001 and 2003, Apple produced the Titanium PowerBook G4; between 2003 and 2006, the Aluminium models were produced. Both models were hailed for their modern design, long battery life, and processing power. When the Aluminium PowerBook G4s were first released in January 2003, however, only 12 and 17-inch models were available. The 15-inch retained the titanium body until September 2003 when a new aluminium 15-inch PowerBook was released. In addition to the change from titanium to aluminium, the new 15-inch model featured a FireWire 800 port, which had been included with the 17-inch model since its debut nine months earlier.
The PowerBook G4 line was the last generation of the PowerBook
PowerBook
The PowerBook was a line of Macintosh laptop computers that was designed, manufactured and sold by Apple Computer, Inc. from 1991 to 2006. During its lifetime, the PowerBook went through several major revisions and redesigns, often being the first to incorporate features that would later become...
series, and was succeeded by the Intel-powered MacBook Pro
MacBook Pro
The MacBook Pro is a line of Macintosh portable computers introduced in January 2006 by Apple. It replaced the PowerBook G4 and was the second model, after the iMac, to be announced in the Apple–Intel transition...
line in the first half of 2006.
Titanium PowerBook G4
The first generations of the PowerBook G4 were announced at Steve JobsSteve Jobs
Steven Paul Jobs was an American businessman and inventor widely recognized as a charismatic pioneer of the personal computer revolution. He was co-founder, chairman, and chief executive officer of Apple Inc...
' keynote
Keynote
A keynote in literature, music, or public speaking establishes the principal underlying theme. In corporate or commercial settings, greater importance is attached to the delivery of a keynote speech or keynote address...
at MacWorld Expo in January 2001. They featured a PowerPC G4 processor running at either 400 or 500 MHz. They were just 1 inch
Inch
An inch is the name of a unit of length in a number of different systems, including Imperial units, and United States customary units. There are 36 inches in a yard and 12 inches in a foot...
(25 mm) deep, 0.7 inches (18 mm) shallower than their predecessor, the PowerBook G3
PowerBook G3
The PowerBook G3 is a line of laptop Macintosh computers made by Apple Computer between 1997 and 2000. It was the first laptop to use the PowerPC G3 series of microprocessors...
. They were among the first laptops to use a widescreen aspect ratio
Aspect ratio
The aspect ratio of a shape is the ratio of its longer dimension to its shorter dimension. It may be applied to two characteristic dimensions of a three-dimensional shape, such as the ratio of the longest and shortest axis, or for symmetrical objects that are described by just two measurements,...
. The PowerBook G4 Titanium also featured a front-mounted slot-loading optical drive. The notebook was given the nickname "TiBook", a blend of the words titanium
Titanium
Titanium is a chemical element with the symbol Ti and atomic number 22. It has a low density and is a strong, lustrous, corrosion-resistant transition metal with a silver color....
, the material used for the computer's case, and the brand name PowerBook
PowerBook
The PowerBook was a line of Macintosh laptop computers that was designed, manufactured and sold by Apple Computer, Inc. from 1991 to 2006. During its lifetime, the PowerBook went through several major revisions and redesigns, often being the first to incorporate features that would later become...
, the name of the computer
Computer
A computer is a programmable machine designed to sequentially and automatically carry out a sequence of arithmetic or logical operations. The particular sequence of operations can be changed readily, allowing the computer to solve more than one kind of problem...
.
Industrial design
The initial design of the PowerBook G4s was developed by Apple hardware designers Jory Bell, Nick Merz, and Danny Delulis. The ODMOriginal Design Manufacturer
An original design manufacturer is a company which designs and manufactures a product which is specified and eventually branded by another firm for sale. Such companies allow the brand firm to produce without having to engage in the organization or running of a factory...
Quanta also helped in the design. The new machine was a sharp departure from the black plastic, curvilinear PowerBook G3 models that preceded it. The orientation of the Apple logo on the computer's lid was switched so it would 'read' correctly to onlookers when the computer was in use. PowerBook G3 and prior models presented it right side up to the computer's owner when the lid was opened. Apple's industrial design
Industrial design
Industrial design is the use of a combination of applied art and applied science to improve the aesthetics, ergonomics, and usability of a product, but it may also be used to improve the product's marketability and production...
team, headed by British designer Jonathan Ive
Jonathan Ive
Jonathan "Jony" Ive, CBE is an English designer and the Senior Vice President of Industrial Design at Apple Inc. He is the leading designer and conceptual mind behind the iMac, titanium and aluminum PowerBook G4, G4 Cube, MacBook, unibody MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, iPod, iPhone, and iPad.- Early...
, was to continue toward minimalistic designs—the Titanium G4's design language laid the groundwork for the Aluminium PowerBook G4, the MacBook Pro
MacBook Pro
The MacBook Pro is a line of Macintosh portable computers introduced in January 2006 by Apple. It replaced the PowerBook G4 and was the second model, after the iMac, to be announced in the Apple–Intel transition...
, the Power Mac G5
Power Mac G5
The Power Mac G5 is Apple's marketing name for models of the Power Macintosh that contains the IBM PowerPC G5 CPU. The professional-grade computer was the most powerful in Apple's lineup when it was introduced, widely hailed as the first 64-bit PC, and was touted by Apple as the fastest personal...
, the flat-screen iMac
IMac
The iMac is a range of all-in-one Macintosh desktop computers built by Apple. It has been the primary part of Apple's consumer desktop offerings since its introduction in 1998, and has evolved through five distinct forms....
, the Xserve
Xserve
Xserve was a line of rack unit computers designed by Apple Inc. for use as servers. When the Xserve was introduced in 2002, it was Apple's first designated server hardware design since the Apple Network Server in 1996...
, and the Mac mini
Mac Mini
The Mac Mini is a small form factor desktop computer manufactured by Apple Inc. Like earlier mini-ITX PC designs, it is uncommonly small for a desktop computer: 7.7 inches square and 1.4 inches tall. It weighs 2.7 pounds...
.
Quality issues
The hinges on the Titanium PowerBook display are notorious for breaking under typical use. Usually the hinge (which is shaped like an L) will break just to the left of where it attaches to the lower case on the right hinge, and just to the right on the left hinge (where the right hinge is on the right side of the computer when the optical drive is facing you). When the 667 MHz and 800 MHz "DVI" Powerbooks were introduced, Apple changed the hinge design slightly to strengthen it. At least one manufacturer began producing sturdier replacement hinges to address this problem, though actually performing the repair is difficult as the display bezel is glued together. In addition some discolouration, bubbling or peeling of paint on the outer bezel occurred, notably around the area where the palm would rest whiles using the trackpad. This appeared on early models but not on later Titanium PowerBooks.Display issues
The video cable is routed around the left side hinge. With heavy use this will cause the cable to weaken. Many owners on the internet have reported display problems such as random lines or a jumbled screen. Few have replaced just the video cable to successfully resolve this problem. There is also a backlight cable that might fail. Tinkerers would try replacing either or both cables before buying expensive LCDs.Models
| Component | PowerBook G4 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Model | Jan 7, 2001 (Mercury) | Oct 16, 2001 (Onyx) | April 29, 2002 (Ivory) | Nov 6, 2002 (Antimony) |
| Display Display device A display device is an output device for presentation of information in visual or tactile form... (widescreen) |
15.2" TFT matte LCD display, 1152×768 | 15.2" TFT matte LCD display, 1280×854 | ||
| Processor Central processing unit The central processing unit is the portion of a computer system that carries out the instructions of a computer program, to perform the basic arithmetical, logical, and input/output operations of the system. The CPU plays a role somewhat analogous to the brain in the computer. The term has been in... |
400 MHz or 500 MHz PowerPC G4 with 1 MB backside L2 cache | 550 MHz or 667 MHz PowerPC G4 with 256 KB backside L2 cache | 667 MHz or 800 MHz PowerPC G4 with 256 KB backside L2 cache and 1 MB backside L3 cache | 867 MHz or 1 GHz PowerPC G4 with 256 KB backside L2 cache and 1 MB backside L3 cache |
| Graphics Computer graphics Computer graphics are graphics created using computers and, more generally, the representation and manipulation of image data by a computer with help from specialized software and hardware.... |
ATI Rage Mobility 128 with 8 MB of SDRAM, AGP 2× | ATI Mobility Radeon with 16 MB of SDRAM, AGP 4× | ATI Mobility Radeon 7500 with 32 MB of DDR SDRAM | ATI Mobility Radeon 9000 with 32 MB or 64 MB of DDR SDRAM |
| Hard drive1 | 10 GB or 20 GB Ultra ATA/66 Optional 30 GB |
20 GB or 30 GB Ultra ATA/66 Optional 48 GB |
30 GB or 40 GB Ultra ATA/66 at 4200-rpm Optional 60 GB at 5400-rpm |
40 GB or 60 GB Ultra ATA/66 at 4200-rpm |
| Memory Ram -Animals:*Ram, an uncastrated male sheep*Ram cichlid, a species of freshwater fish endemic to Colombia and Venezuela-Military:*Battering ram*Ramming, a military tactic in which one vehicle runs into another... |
128 MB (two 64 MB) or 256 MB (two 128 MB) of PC100 SDRAM | 128 MB (two 64 MB) or 256 MB (two 128 MB) of PC133 SDRAM | 256 MB (two 128 MB) or 512 MB (two 256 MB) of PC133 SDRAM | |
| AirPort | Optional | Optional or Integrated 802.11b IEEE 802.11 IEEE 802.11 is a set of standards for implementing wireless local area network computer communication in the 2.4, 3.6 and 5 GHz frequency bands. They are created and maintained by the IEEE LAN/MAN Standards Committee . The base version of the standard IEEE 802.11-2007 has had subsequent... |
||
| Internal Slot-Loading Drive3 | 2x DVD-ROM | 2x DVD-ROM Optional 24x CD-ROM read, 8x CD-R write, 8x CD-RW write |
8x DVD read, 8x CD-R write, 24x CD-R read | 8x DVD read, 8x CD-R write, 24x CD-R read or 1x DVD-R write, 6x DVD read, 8x CD-R write, 24x CD read |
| Connections | 2 x USB 1.1 | |||
| VGA | DVI | |||
| 1 x FireWire 400 | ||||
| 1/8" audio output | 1/8" audio output/input | |||
| 10/100 Fast Ethernet Fast Ethernet In computer networking, Fast Ethernet is a collective term for a number of Ethernet standards that carry traffic at the nominal rate of 100 Mbit/s, against the original Ethernet speed of 10 Mbit/s. Of the fast Ethernet standards 100BASE-TX is by far the most common and is supported by the... |
Gigabit Ethernet Gigabit Ethernet Gigabit Ethernet is a term describing various technologies for transmitting Ethernet frames at a rate of a gigabit per second , as defined by the IEEE 802.3-2008 standard. It came into use beginning in 1999, gradually supplanting Fast Ethernet in wired local networks where it performed... |
|||
| Maximum Operating System Operating system An operating system is a set of programs that manage computer hardware resources and provide common services for application software. The operating system is the most important type of system software in a computer system... |
Mac OS X 10.4.11 "Tiger" and Mac OS 9.2.2 Mac OS 9 Mac OS 9 is the final major release of Apple's Mac OS before the launch of Mac OS X. Introduced on October 23, 1999, Apple positioned it as "The Best Internet Operating System Ever," highlighting Sherlock 2's Internet search capabilities, integration with Apple's free online services known as... |
Mac OS X 10.4.11 "Tiger" on 667 MHz and 800 MHz, Mac OS X 10.5.8 "Leopard" on 867 MHz and 1 GHz; both also Mac OS 9.2.2 Mac OS 9 Mac OS 9 is the final major release of Apple's Mac OS before the launch of Mac OS X. Introduced on October 23, 1999, Apple positioned it as "The Best Internet Operating System Ever," highlighting Sherlock 2's Internet search capabilities, integration with Apple's free online services known as... |
||
Aluminium PowerBook G4
In 2003 Apple introduced a new line of PowerBook G4s with 12, 15, and 17-inch screens and aluminium cases (prompting the new moniker "AlBook"). The new notebooks not only brought a different design to the PowerBook G4 line but also laid down the foundation for Apple’s notebook design for the next five years, replaced initially in January 2008 by the MacBook AirMacBook Air
The MacBook Air family is a line of Apple ultraportable Macintosh notebook computers.The first-generation MacBook Air was a 13.3"-only model, previously promoted as the World's Thinnest Notebook, introduced at the Macworld Conference & Expo on January 15, 2008. It featured a custom Intel Merom CPU...
and the subsequent MacBook
MacBook
The MacBook was a brand of Macintosh notebook computers built by Apple Inc. First introduced in May 2006, it replaced the iBook and 12-inch PowerBook series of notebooks as a part of the Apple–Intel transition. Positioned as the low end of the MacBook family, the Apple MacBook was aimed at the...
and MacBook Pro
MacBook Pro
The MacBook Pro is a line of Macintosh portable computers introduced in January 2006 by Apple. It replaced the PowerBook G4 and was the second model, after the iMac, to be announced in the Apple–Intel transition...
redesigns in October. The 15" titanium model was still available until September 16, 2003, when the Aluminium model replaced it. Notably, the 12" model brought a welcome return to the Apple subnotebook
Subnotebook
A subnotebook is a class of laptop computers that are smaller and lighter than a typical laptop....
configuration, conspicuously lacking in their product line since the discontinuation of the PowerBook 2400 in 1998. While the titanium PowerBook G4s were capable of running Mac OS 9
Mac OS 9
Mac OS 9 is the final major release of Apple's Mac OS before the launch of Mac OS X. Introduced on October 23, 1999, Apple positioned it as "The Best Internet Operating System Ever," highlighting Sherlock 2's Internet search capabilities, integration with Apple's free online services known as...
or Mac OS X
Mac OS X
Mac OS X is a series of Unix-based operating systems and graphical user interfaces developed, marketed, and sold by Apple Inc. Since 2002, has been included with all new Macintosh computer systems...
operating systems, the aluminium PowerBook G4s could only boot in Mac OS X from startup. Both series of machines could run Mac OS 9 in Classic
Classic (Mac OS X)
Classic, or Classic Environment, was a hardware and software abstraction layer in Mac OS X that allowed applications compatible with Mac OS 9 to run on the Mac OS X operating system...
mode from within Mac OS X.
Industrial design
The aluminium PowerBook G4 was designed by Apple's Vice President of Industrial Design, Jonathan IveJonathan Ive
Jonathan "Jony" Ive, CBE is an English designer and the Senior Vice President of Industrial Design at Apple Inc. He is the leading designer and conceptual mind behind the iMac, titanium and aluminum PowerBook G4, G4 Cube, MacBook, unibody MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, iPod, iPhone, and iPad.- Early...
, and used a radically different design from the preceding titanium models. The most obvious change was the use of aluminium, not titanium, to manufacture the body. The keyboard, which was originally black, was changed to match the color of the body. Additionally, the aluminium keyboard was backlit on the 17" model and on one of the 15" models. The design was considered superior to most other notebooks when it debuted in 2003, and consequently, it made the PowerBook G4 one of the most desirable notebooks on the market. The external design of Apple's professional laptops continued to remain similar to the aluminium Powerbook G4 until the Spotlight on Notebooks event on October 14, 2008.
Quality issues
Some owners have experienced failure of the lower memory slot, with the typical repair being the replacement of the logic board. Apple had started a Repair Extension Program concerning the issue, but it has been noted that some models displaying the issue have not been included. This leaves certain PowerBook G4 owners with only a maximum of 1 GB of RAM to use instead of a full 2 GB.Apple previously had a Repair Extension Program to fix the "white spot" issue on its 15" PowerBook displays.
There has also been a rash of reports concerning sudden and pervasive sleeping of 1.5 and 1.67 GHz models known as Narcoleptic Aluminium Powerbook Syndrome. Symptoms include the PowerBook suddenly entering sleep mode, no matter what the battery level is or if it is plugged in. One cause is the ambient light sensing, and associated instruction set coding, with possible keyboard backlight and sleep light issues accompanying the so-called "narcolepsy". Another cause is the trackpad heat sensor monitoring the trackpad; system logs report "Power Management received emergency overtemp signal. Going to sleep.".
To correct this, service groups will often replace the logic board or power converter, but the actual fix (depending on the model) for the first cause is to replace or remove the left or right ambient light sensors; and for the second cause, disconnect, remove, or replace the heat sensor, or the entire top case which holds the trackpad heat sensor. Alternatively, there are reports which detail success in removing certain sensor kernel extensions or rebuilding the kernel using the Darwin Open Source project after commenting out the relevant
sleepSystem call; though permanent solution of the sleep issue in this manner is little documented.The 1.67 GHz model may suffer from manufacturing or design defects in its display. Initial reports pointed to this only being a problem with type M9689 17" PowerBooks introduced in Q2 2005, but then this problem was also seen in displays replaced by Apple Service Providers in this period (e.g. because of the bright spots issue). The devices were the last 17" models shipped with the matte 1440×900 pixel low resolution display. After many months of usage, the displays may show permanently shining lines of various colors stretching vertically across the LCD. Often this will start with 1-pixel wide vertical lines being "stuck" in an "always-on" mode. Various sites have been set up documenting this issue. and a campaign seeks to get Apple to acknowledge that a defect exists. Posts regarding this in Apple forums have been heavily censored. There has been no official word from Apple on the issue.
Models
| Component | PowerBook G4 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Model | Jan 7, 2003 (Rev A) | Sept 16, 2003 (Rev B) | April 19, 2004 (Rev C) | Jan 31, 2005 (Rev D) | Oct 19, 2005 (Rev E) |
| Model #s | M8760LL/A, M8793LL/A | M9007LL/A, M9008LL/A, M8980LL/A, M8981LL/A, M9110LL/A | M9183LL/A, M9184LL/A, M9421LL/A, M9422LL/A, M9462LL/A | M9690LL/A, M9691LL/A, M9676LL/A, M9677LL/A, M9689LL/A | M9691LL/A, M9969LL/A, M9970LL/A |
| Display Display device A display device is an output device for presentation of information in visual or tactile form... (15" and 17" widescreen) (all matte) |
12.1", TFT LCD display, 1024×768 | ||||
| 15.2", TFT LCD display, 1280×854 | 15.2", TFT LCD display, 1440×960 | ||||
| 17", TFT LCD display, 1440×900 | 17", TFT LCD display, 1680×1050 | ||||
| Processor Central processing unit The central processing unit is the portion of a computer system that carries out the instructions of a computer program, to perform the basic arithmetical, logical, and input/output operations of the system. The CPU plays a role somewhat analogous to the brain in the computer. The term has been in... |
867 MHz PowerPC G4 with 256KB of L2 backside cache or 1 GHz PowerPC G4 with 1 MB of L3 backside cache | 1 GHz, 1.25 GHz, or 1.33 GHz PowerPC G4 with 512 KB of L2 backside cache | 1.33 GHz or 1.5 GHz PowerPC G4 with 512 KB of L2 backside cache | 1.5 GHz or 1.67 GHz PowerPC G4 with 512 KB of L2 backside cache 1.67 GHz PowerPC G4 only on 15" and 17" models |
|
| Graphics Computer graphics Computer graphics are graphics created using computers and, more generally, the representation and manipulation of image data by a computer with help from specialized software and hardware.... |
NVIDIA GeForce4 Go 420 with 32 MB of DDR SDRAM or NVIDIA GeForce4 Go 440 with 64 MB of DDR SDRAM | NVIDIA GeForce FX Go5200 with 32 MB of DDR SDRAM or ATI Mobility Radeon 9600 with 64 MB of DDR SDRAM | NVIDIA GeForce FX Go5200 with 64 MB of DDR SDRAM or ATI Mobility Radeon 9700 with 64 MB of DDR SDRAM Optional ATI Mobility Radeon 9700 with 128 MB of DDR SDRAM |
NVIDIA GeForce FX Go5200 with 64 MB of DDR SDRAM or ATI Mobility Radeon 9700 with 64 MB or 128 MB of DDR SDRAM | NVIDIA GeForce FX Go5200 with 64 MB of DDR SDRAM or ATI Mobility Radeon 9700 with 128 MB of DDR SDRAM |
| Hard drive1 | 40 GB or 60 GB Ultra ATA/100 at 4200-rpm | 40 GB Ultra ATA/100 at 4200-rpm or 60 GB or 80 GB Ultra ATA/100 at 5400-rpm | 60 GB, 80 GB, or 100 GB Ultra ATA/100 at 5400-rpm | 80 GB, 100 GB or 120 GB Ultra ATA/100 at 5400-rpm |
|
| Memory Ram -Animals:*Ram, an uncastrated male sheep*Ram cichlid, a species of freshwater fish endemic to Colombia and Venezuela-Military:*Battering ram*Ramming, a military tactic in which one vehicle runs into another... |
256 MB (two 128 MB) of 266 MHz PC-2100 DDR SO-DIMM SDRAM or 512 MB (two 256 MB) of 333 MHz PC-2700 DDR SO-DIMM SDRAM | 256 MB (two 128 MB) of 266 MHz PC-2100 DDR SO-DIMM SDRAM or 256 MB (two 128 MB) or 512 MB (two 256 MB) of 333 MHz PC-2700 SO-DIMM DDR SDRAM | 256 MB (two 128 MB) or 512 MB (two 256 MB) of 333 MHz PC-2700 DDR SO-DIMM SDRAM | 512 MB (two 256 MB) of 333 MHz PC-2700 DDR SO-DIMM SDRAM | 512 MB (two 256 MB) of 333 MHz PC-2700 DDR or 533 MHz PC2-4200 DDR2 SO-DIMM SDRAM (two SO-DIMM slots support up to 2GB) |
| AirPort Extreme | Optional or Integrated 802.11b/g IEEE 802.11 IEEE 802.11 is a set of standards for implementing wireless local area network computer communication in the 2.4, 3.6 and 5 GHz frequency bands. They are created and maintained by the IEEE LAN/MAN Standards Committee . The base version of the standard IEEE 802.11-2007 has had subsequent... |
Integrated 802.11b/g IEEE 802.11 IEEE 802.11 is a set of standards for implementing wireless local area network computer communication in the 2.4, 3.6 and 5 GHz frequency bands. They are created and maintained by the IEEE LAN/MAN Standards Committee . The base version of the standard IEEE 802.11-2007 has had subsequent... |
|||
| Internal Slot-Loading Combo drive Combo Drive A Combo drive is a type of optical drive that combines CD-R/CD-RW recording capability with the ability to read DVD media. The term is used almost exclusively by Apple Inc. as a name for the low-end substitute for their high-end SuperDrive, which was designed to both read and write DVD and DVD... |
8× DVD read, 24× CD-R, and 10× CD-RW recording (12" model only) |
8× DVD read, 24× CD-R, and 10× CD-RW recording (12" and 15" models only) |
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| Internal Slot-Loading SuperDrive SuperDrive SuperDrive is a trademark used by Apple Inc. for two different storage drives: from 1988–99 to refer to a high-density floppy disk drive capable of reading all major 3.5" disk formats; and from 2001 onwards to refer to a combined CD/DVD reader/writer.... 3 |
2× DVD-R write, 6× DVD read, 8× CD-R write, 4× CD-RW write | 2× DVD-R write, 8× DVD read, 16× CD-R write, 4× CD-RW write | 4× DVD-R write, 8× DVD read, 16× CD-R write, 4× CD-RW write | 8× DVD±R (Dual Layer) write, 4× DVD±RW write, 6× DVD± read, 24× CD-R write, 10× CD-RW write | |
| Connections | 2 USB 1.1 | 2 USB 2.0 | |||
| Mini-VGA Mini-VGA Mini-VGA connectors are used on some laptops and other systems in place of the standard VGA connector, although most laptops use a standard VGA connector. Apple and HP have separate implementations using the same name... or DVI |
Mini-DVI Mini-DVI The Mini-Dvi connector is used on certain Apple computers as a digital alternative to the Mini-VGA connector. Its size is between the full-sized DVI and the tiny Micro-DVI... or DVI |
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| 1 FireWire 400 (plus 1 FireWire 800 on 15" and 17") | |||||
| Bluetooth 1.1 | Bluetooth 2.0 | ||||
| Maximum Operating System Operating system An operating system is a set of programs that manage computer hardware resources and provide common services for application software. The operating system is the most important type of system software in a computer system... |
Mac OS X 10.5.8 "Leopard" | ||||
Discontinuation
The PowerPC G5PowerPC 970
The PowerPC 970, PowerPC 970FX, PowerPC 970GX, and PowerPC 970MP, are 64-bit Power Architecture processors from IBM introduced in 2002. When used in Apple Inc. machines, they were dubbed the PowerPC G5....
, which powers Apple's now-discontinued Power Mac G5
Power Mac G5
The Power Mac G5 is Apple's marketing name for models of the Power Macintosh that contains the IBM PowerPC G5 CPU. The professional-grade computer was the most powerful in Apple's lineup when it was introduced, widely hailed as the first 64-bit PC, and was touted by Apple as the fastest personal...
and iMac G5
IMac
The iMac is a range of all-in-one Macintosh desktop computers built by Apple. It has been the primary part of Apple's consumer desktop offerings since its introduction in 1998, and has evolved through five distinct forms....
computers, proved to be too power-hungry and heat-intensive to use in laptops. This, along with the stalling development of the G5, is said to be one of the main reasons for Apple's transition from PowerPC
PowerPC
PowerPC is a RISC architecture created by the 1991 Apple–IBM–Motorola alliance, known as AIM...
to Intel processors. On January 10, 2006, Apple released its first Intel-based laptop, the 15" MacBook Pro
MacBook Pro
The MacBook Pro is a line of Macintosh portable computers introduced in January 2006 by Apple. It replaced the PowerBook G4 and was the second model, after the iMac, to be announced in the Apple–Intel transition...
. A 17" version of the MacBook Pro followed on April 24, 2006. The 12" PowerBook G4 and the G4 iBook
IBook
The iBook was a line of laptop computers sold by Apple Computer from 1999 to 2006. The line targeted the consumer and education markets, with lower specifications and prices than the PowerBook, Apple's higher-end line of laptop computers....
were discontinued and replaced by the 13.3" MacBook
MacBook
The MacBook was a brand of Macintosh notebook computers built by Apple Inc. First introduced in May 2006, it replaced the iBook and 12-inch PowerBook series of notebooks as a part of the Apple–Intel transition. Positioned as the low end of the MacBook family, the Apple MacBook was aimed at the...
on May 16, 2006, ending the whole PowerBook line. However, a replacement for the 12" subnotebook form factor was not immediately forthcoming; the MacBook Air
MacBook Air
The MacBook Air family is a line of Apple ultraportable Macintosh notebook computers.The first-generation MacBook Air was a 13.3"-only model, previously promoted as the World's Thinnest Notebook, introduced at the Macworld Conference & Expo on January 15, 2008. It featured a custom Intel Merom CPU...
, released in 2008, served as an indirect replacement while the 13" MacBook Pro released in 2009 is the direct replacement for the 12" PowerBook G4.
Apple CEO Steve Jobs noted during the introduction of the MacBook Pro that Apple wants the word "Mac" in the name of all its Mac hardware products. Subsequently, the trademark name "PowerBook" was retired in early 2006 despite the G4 version still on support.
As of August 28, 2009, the PowerBook G4 stopped supporting the latest version of Mac OS X. Snow Leopard (10.6) requires an Intel processor, meaning that Mac OS X Leopard (10.5) is the highest version of Mac OS X that can be installed on the PowerBook G4.