G4 chips added to iBooks: four score.(Mac Beat)(Brief Article)

Macworld December 1, 2003 Say goodbye to the G3 chip. Now all Apple desktops and laptops run on at least a PowerPC G4, after the company added G4 processors to its iBook product line.

But the G4 processors–which range in speed from 800MHz to 1GHz–aren’t the only changes to the entry-level laptop line. The iBook also adds double data-rate memory; a faster, 133MHz system bus; a new ATI Mobility Radeon 9200 graphics processor with 32MB of video RAM; USB 2.0; support for AirPort Extreme wireless networking; and the ability to use an internal Bluetooth module for wireless peripheral connectivity. All iBooks ship with 256MB of memory and a slot-loading CD-RW/DVD-ROM Combo drive. web site ibooks for mac

There are three iBook configurations: an 800MHz model with a 12-inch display and a 30GB hard drive costs $1,099; a 933MHz model with a 14-inch display and a 40GB hard drive costs $1,299; and a 1GHz model with a 14-inch display and a 60GB hard drive costs $1,499. ibooksformacnow.com ibooks for mac

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Apple’s main challenge will be to differentiate its iBook offerings from the 1GHz 12-inch PowerBook G4. The company points out that the PowerBook has features more likely to appeal to professional users, such as its aluminum design and dual-display and DVI capabilities. The 12-inch PowerBook also has 512K of Level 2 cache (twice the amount in the iBook) and an Nvidia GeForce FX Go 5200 graphics card. And for laptop users who need to burn DVDs, a SuperDrive-equipped PowerBook is the only choice; the SuperDrive is not an option for iBook users.–MACWORLD STAFF