Apple introduces new 15" PowerBook, upgraded 17", 12" models

Apple has introduced a new 15" PowerBook G4 that gains the backlit keyboard functionality of its 17" cousin. The company also introduced revised 12" and 17" models.

The new 15-inch runs at up to 1.25 GHz with 512KB on-chip level 2 cache, an ATI Mobility Radeon 9600 with 64MB DDR RAM, support for up to 2GB of DDR 333 MHz SDRAM and a 60 or 80GB Ultra ATA/100 hard drive. The 'book also sports Bluetooth, AirPort Extreme, Gigabit Ethernet (10/100/1000BASE-T), USB 2.0 and FireWire 800.

The new 17-inch PowerBook G4 now starts at $2,999 and features a 1.33 GHz PowerPC G4 processor; and otherwise similar specs to the 15" model.

The new 12-inch PowerBook G4 weighs 4.6 and now includes a 1 GHz PowerPC G4 processor; the NVIDIA GeForce FX Go 5200 graphics processor and 32MB of DDR SDRAM; support for up to 1.25GB of DDR 266 MHz SDRAM; and support for digital and analog video out with DVI, VGA, S-video and composite video.

All new PowerBooks include Mac OS X 10.2.7.

The 1.0 GHz, 15-inch PowerBook G4 at US$1999 includes:

• Combo (DVD-ROM/CD-RW) optical drive;
• 256MB DDR SDRAM; and
• 60GB Ultra ATA/100 hard drive.

The 1.25 GHz, 15-inch PowerBook G4 at US $2599 includes:

• SuperDrive (DVD-R/CD-RW) optical drive;
• 512MB DDR SDRAM;
• 80GB Ultra ATA/100 hard drive;
• AirPort Extreme 54Mbps wireless networking; and
• Backlit keyboard with ambient light sensor.

The 1.33 GHz, 17-inch PowerBook G4 at US$2999 includes:

• SuperDrive (DVD-R/CD-RW) optical drive;
• 512MB DDR SDRAM;
• 80GB Ultra ATA/100 hard drive;
• AirPort Extreme 54Mbps wireless networking; and
• Backlit keyboard with ambient light sensor.

The 1.0 GHz, 12-inch PowerBook G4 at US$1599 includes:

• Combo (DVD-ROM/CD-RW) optical drive;
• 256MB DDR SDRAM; and
• 40GB Ultra ATA/100 hard drive.

The 1.0 GHz, 12-inch PowerBook G4 at US$1799 includes:

• SuperDrive (DVD-R/CD-RW) optical drive;
• 256MB DDR SDRAM; and
• 40GB Ultra ATA/100 hard drive.

If you are a reseller or new purchaser with any comments on the new models, please drop us a line at late-breakers@macfixit.com.

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