Apple 17-inch PowerBook series

The Bottom Line: The 17-inch PowerBook is sexy, and it comes with great extras, but it's not much faster than the Titanium model.

Release Date: 01/06/2003

Specs: Motorola PowerPC G4 1 GHz, 512 MB / 1 GB (max), 60 GB, 17 in TFT active matrix, Apple MacOS X, CD-RW / DVD-R - Integrated, AGP 4x - NVIDIA GeForce4 440 Go, 64 MB DDR SDRAM, 6.8 lbs, L3 cache - DDR SRAM, 1 MB, EPA Energy Star

CNET editors' take

The Bottom Line: At 6.9 pounds and 1 inch thick, this PowerBook is the lightest fully loaded desktop-replacement notebook ever--certainly worth its high cost.

Release Date: 09/16/2003

Specs: Motorola, PowerPC G4 1.33 GHz, 512 MB / 2 GB (max), 80 GB, 17 in TFT active matrix, Apple MacOS X 10.3, CD-RW / DVD-R - Integrated, AGP 4x - ATI Mobility Radeon 9600, 64 MB DDR SDRAM, 6.8 lbs, L2 cache, 512 KB, EPA Energy Star

CNET editors' take

The Bottom Line: The foxy Apple 17-inch PowerBook delivers the performance and the features most users will need, but it's more expensive than a similarly outfitted Windows laptop.

Release Date: 01/31/2005

Specs: Motorola, PowerPC G4 1.67 GHz, 512 MB / 2 GB (max), 100 GB - 5400 rpm, 17 in TFT active matrix, Apple MacOS X 10.4, DVD±RW - Integrated, AGP 4x - ATI Mobility Radeon 9700, 128 MB DDR SDRAM, 6.8 lbs, L2 cache, 512 KB, EPA Energy Star

CNET editors' take

The Bottom Line: The 17-inch PowerBook G4 delivers a competitive set of features, a great software package, good battery life, and style in spades, but you can find plenty of less expensive options out there.

Release Date: 10/19/2005

Specs: PowerPC G4 1.67 GHz, 512 MB / 2 GB (max), 120 GB - 5400 rpm, 17 in TFT active matrix, Apple MacOS X 10.4, DVD±RW (+R DL) - Integrated, AGP 4x - ATI Mobility Radeon 9700, 128 MB DDR SDRAM, 6.8 lbs, L2 cache, 512 KB, EPA Energy Star