Photo: Tokumeigakarinoaoshima / CC0 / Wikimedia Commons · source
PowerBook G4 (Titanium)
A wide-screen laptop in a titanium shell, only an inch thick.
Overview
Revealed at Macworld Expo 2001, the PowerBook G4 combined a PowerPC G4 processor at 400 or 500 MHz with a wide 15.2-inch screen at 1152 by 768 pixels. The titanium body measured just one inch deep, a very slim profile for a laptop of that era.
The design also introduced a slot-loading DVD-ROM drive, a built-in AirPort antenna and ports for FireWire and USB. Later revisions in 2001 and 2002 kept the same shape but upgraded graphics, processors, drive options and a DVI port.
Some owners found the paint chipped and the hinges prone to wear, yet the machine became a cultural icon, appearing in countless films and on countless desks.
Why it mattered
The thin titanium design that made the PowerBook an icon of the early 2000s and a template for later Apple laptops.
At a glance
- Announced
- January 9, 2001
- Released
- January 9, 2001
- Discontinued
- October 16, 2001
- Launch price
- $2,599
- Chip / processor
- PowerPC G4 (7410), 400 or 500 MHz
- Display
- 15.2"
- Storage
- 10 GB to 30 GB
- Status
- Vintage
Highlights
- Titanium case, 1 inch thick
- 15.2-inch widescreen
- G4 at 400 or 500 MHz
- Slot-loading DVD-ROM
- Later revisions up to 1 GHz
Tech specs
Specifications as published at launch. Some values (like battery life) are manufacturer estimates.
Display
- Size
- 15.2-inch
- Type
- Active-matrix color TFT
- Resolution
- 1152 x 768
Chip
- Chip
- PowerPC G4 (7410), 400 or 500 MHz
Memory
- RAM
- 128 MB, expandable to 1 GB
- Storage options
- 10 GB, optional 30 GB
Battery
- Battery life
- Up to 5 hours claimed
Ports
- Ports
- FireWire, USB, Ethernet, modem, video out
Connectivity
- Wi-Fi
- Optional AirPort card (802.11b)
Design
- Dimensions
- About 25 mm thick
Software
- Launch OS
- Mac OS 9.1
