High-res PowerBook G4s (#2): Full new feature list; Why is battery life longer?
High-res PowerBook G4s (#2): Full new feature list; Why is battery life longer?
New battery? Why is battery life longer? Several users are wondering why the new PowerBooks have a longer battery life than previous models -- is a new battery delivering extra capacity, or are components drawing less power extending operating time?
As noted below in the full feature listing for the new PowerBooks, the 15-inch model still users a battery with a life of 50Wh -- unchanged from the previous model.
This doesn't necessarily mean that the battery isn't new, however. Batteries with the 50 Wh capacities sold by other vendors are purported to have longer running capacity than Apple-supplied batteries with the same capacities.
Of interesting note is that Apple specifies the extended battery life of the new 15" model in its developer documentation (a purported increase to 5.5 hours operation from 4.5 hours operation), but does not specify any change in battery life for the 17" model, which uses a different, 65 Wh battery.
User comments on brighter screens A number of users have commented on the brighter screen used on the new PowerBooks, reporting more vivid colors and expanded angular visibility.
Developer Notes: Full new feature list Apple has posted developer notes for both new high-res PowerBook G4 models (15-inch and 17-inch):
Among the more interesting tidbits:
The full new feature list for the 17-inch PowerBook is as follows:
- 120 GB 5400 rpm. BTO: 100 GB 7200 rpm hard drives vs. 100 GB 5400 rpm standard for the previous model
- 512 MB PC2-4200 DDR2 SDRAM SO-DIMMs running at 333 MHz with 2 GB expansion capacity vs. 512 MB PC2700 DDR SDRAM SO-DIMMs running at 333 MHz with 2 GB expansion capacity for the previous model
- AirPort Extreme and Bluetooth 2.0 EDR combined into a single module vs. AirPort Extreme and fully-integrated Bluetooth 2.0 EDR for the previous model
- Double-layer burning 8x SuperDrive vs. 8x SuperDrive in the previous model
- The display is a 117 dpi, 17 inch wide-screen, active matrix TFT with a resolution of 1680x1050.
- The ATI Mobility Radeon 9700 graphics controller operates on the AGP-4x bus with 128 MB of video RAM and dual link DVI functionality.
The full new feature list for the 15-inch PowerBook is as follows:
- 1.67 GHz processor standard vs. 1.5 GHz or 1.67 GHz for the previous model
- 128 MB DDR with dual link DVI ATI Mobility Radeon 9700 graphics controller standard vs. 64 MB of DDR; BTO: 128 MB with dual link DVI on the previous model
- 80 GB 5400 rpm. BTO: 100 GB or 120 GB 5400 rpm; 100 GB 7200 rpm hard drives vs. 80 GB 5400 rpm. BTO: 100 GB 5400 rpm on the previous model
- Double-layer burning 8x SuperDrive. BTO: Combo drive vs. Combo drive or 8x SuperDrive on the previous model
- Combined audio line-in and optical digital audio input port, combined headphone output and optical digital audio output port, microphone, and stereo speakers vs. audio line in, headphone out, microphone, and stereo speakers on the previous model
- 512 MB PC2-4200 DDR2 SDRAM SO-DIMMs running at 333 MHz with 2 GB expansion capacity vs. 512 MB PC2700 DDR SDRAM SO-DIMMs running at 333 MHz with 2 GB expansion capacity on the previous model
- AirPort Extreme and Bluetooth 2.0 EDR combined into a single module vs. AirPort Extreme and fully-integrated Bluetooth 2.0 EDR on the previous model
- 50 watt-hours battery with up to 5.5 hours operation vs. 50 watt-hours battery with up to 4.5 hours operation
Feedback? Late-breakers@macfixit.com.
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