Quick Overview of G4 iBooks

Apple moved the popular iBook to the G4 processor in October 2003, eliminating the last Macs with G3 processors. Although the G4 iBooks used a G4 CPU, it wasn’t initially the same one used in the PowerBook G4; instead, it was version with a smaller level 2 (L2) cache, which meant the first generation iBooks […]

iBook G4 (Mid 2005)

The iBook got a small speed boost (from 1.2 GHz to 1.33 GHz on the 12″ model and from 1.33 GHz to 1.42 GHz on the 14″, twice as much logic board memory (512 MB vs. 256 MB), added Bluetooth 2.0 as a standard feature, and received improved video with ATI Radeon 9550 graphics with […]

14″ 1.42 GHz iBook G4 (Mid 2005)

In July 2005, the 14″ iBook got a small speed boost (7% – from 1.33 GHz to 1.42 GHz), twice as much stock memory (512 MB vs. 256 MB), added Bluetooth 2.0 as a standard feature, and received improved video with ATI Radeon 9550 graphics with the same 32 MB of video RAM as the […]

12″ 1.33 GHz iBook G4 (Mid 2005)

In July 2005, the iBook got a small speed boost (11% – from 1.2 GHz to 1.33 GHz), twice as much stock memory (512 MB vs. 256 MB), added Bluetooth 2.0 as a standard feature, and received improved video with ATI Radeon 9550 graphics with the same 32 MB of video RAM as the Late […]

iBook G4 (Late 2004)

Apple simplified the iBook G4 line in October 2004 by offering two basic models: a $999 12″ iBook running at 1.2 GHz and a 14″ 1.33 GHz model available with either a Combo drive or a 4x SuperDrive.

14″ 1.33 GHz iBook G4 (Late 2004)

Apple simplified the iBook line in October 2004 with two basic models, a slower 12″ and a faster 14″. Replacing a 1.0 GHz Combo drive model and a 1.2 GHz SuperDrive model introduced just six months earlier, the 14″ 1.33 GHz iBook G4 offers 24% more power than the 1.07 GHz (nominally 1.0 GHz) model at […]

12″ 1.2 GHz iBook G4 (Late 2004)

Spec for spec, the 1.2 GHz 12″ iBook G4 matches the 1 GHz 12″ model it replaces with one change: a nominally 20% faster CPU, although in reality the Early 2004 model runs at 1.07 GHz, making the Late 2004 model only 12% faster.

iBook G4 (Early 2004)

In April 2004, the 12″ iBook jumped from 800 MHz to 1 GHz, while the 14″ iBook was available at  1.07 GHz (nominally 1.0 GHz) and 1.2 GHz speeds.

14″ iBook G4 (Early 2004)

For the first time, Apple offered a SuperDrive as an option on the iBook, making the 14″ 1.0 GHz model (actually 1.07 GHz) a very affordable, very portable way to burn DVDs.

12″ 1 GHz iBook G4 (Early 2004)

In addition to a 33% speed boost over the 800 MHz Late 2003 model, the 2004 iBook uses a 1.07 GHz G4 processor with a 512 MB level 2 cache – twice as big as on the previous iBook G4. Another improvement is 256 MB of RAM on the system board (twice as much as […]

iBook G4 (Late 2003)

With the introduction of the G4 iBooks in October 2003, Apple phased out the last Macs with G3 processors, which had been in use since November 1997. Although these G4 iBooks use a G4 CPU, it’s not the same version used in the PowerBook G4 – this version only has a 256 KB level 2 […]

14″ iBook G4 (Late 2003)

With the introduction of the G4 iBooks in October 2003, Apple phased out the last Macs with G3 processors, which had been in use since November 1997 – and brought the iBook past the 1 GHz mark. Although the G4 iBooks use a G4 CPU, it’s not the same version used in the PowerBook G4 – […]

12″ 800 MHz iBook G4 (Late 2003)

With the introduction of the G4 iBooks in October 2003, Apple phased out the last Macs with G3 processors, which had been in use since November 1997. Although the G4 iBooks use a G4 CPU, it’s not the same version used in the PowerBook G4 – this edition has only a 256 KB level 2 […]

12″ iBook G3 (Early 2003)

Apple once again improved the popular iBook by boosting CPU speeds 100 MHz. The entry-level model still has a CD-ROM drive, but it now has the same 32 MB of VRAM as the faster model. Hard drives are also larger: 30 GB for the 700 MHz iBook, 40 GB for the 800.

14″ 800 MHz iBook G3 (Late 2002)

The November 2002 14″ iBook runs at 800 MHz, 100 MHz faster than its predecessor. The new Mobility Radeon 7500 graphics offers improved video performance and has 32 MB of video memory, twice as much as the previous 14-incher.

12″ iBook G3 (Late 2002)

Apple improved the popular iBook by boosting CPU speeds another 100 MHz. The entry-level 700 MHz model has a CD-ROM drive, while the 800 MHz one includes Apple’s Combo (CD-RW/DVD) drive. The new iceBooks use ATI’s Mobility Radeon 7500 with 16 MB or 32 MB of VRAM.

14″ 700 MHz iBook G3 (Mid 2002)

Didn’t think 600 MHz was fast enough? The May 2002 14″ iBook runs at 700 MHz and has a 512 KB level 2 cache, twice as large as its 600 MHz Early 2002 ancestor. The new Mobility Radeon graphics is also up to 35% faster, according to Apple, and it also has twice as much […]

12″ iBook G3 (Mid 2002)

Apple improved the already popular Dual USB iBook by boosting CPU speed 100 MHz and using a newer version of the G3 with a twice-as-large 512 KB level 2 cache. The entry-level 600 MHz model has a CD-ROM drive, while the 700 MHz one includes Apple’s  Combo (CD-RW/DVD) drive. The new Mobility Radeon is up […]

14″ 600 MHz iBook G3 (Early 2002)

Apple addressed perhaps the biggest objection to the otherwise nearly perfect iBook by introducing one with a 14″ screen at the January 2002 Macworld Expo in San Francisco – all in a package just a pound heavier than the 12″ iBook. The larger screen doesn’t have any more pixels, but the pixels are bigger, making […]

12″ 600 MHz iBook G3 (Late 2001)

A little over five months after Apple released the first Dual USB iBook (a.k.a. iceBook), they replaced it with this 600 MHz – 20% faster – model available in DVD, CD-RW, and ComboDrive versions. Changes include a faster CPU, a faster system bus (100 MHz vs. 66 MHz) and a larger hard drive (15-20 GB, […]

12″ iBook G3 (Mid 2001)

The Dual USB iBook had been the subject of great speculation in the weeks before its introduction. Gone were the tangerine orange, key lime green, graphite gray, and indigo blue colors of the past – the new iBook is simply white. Gone are the curves – the new iBook is a white box with rounded […]

iBook SE (FireWire)

The second-generation iBook Special Edition (SE) adds key lime as an alternative to graphite. It replaces the 366 MHz G3 processor of the earlier iBook SE with the new G3e running at 466 MHz. The G3e includes an on-chip L2 cache that runs at full CPU speed for improved processor efficiency (the larger backside cache […]

iBook (FireWire)

The second-generation iBook replaces the bright blueberry and tangerine of the original iBook with a more sophisticated indigo blue and a bright key lime. New features include FireWire and video output. 

iBook SE (366 MHz)

The iBook has been the best selling portable computer since it began shipping in late September 1999. It’s also been picked on for having too little memory, too small a hard drive, and garish (some say “girlie”) colors.

Original iBook

Apple’s first consumer portable since the PowerBook 150 was discontinued at under US$1,000 in late 1995, the $1,599 iBook was available in blueberry and tangerine. Apple billed it as the world’s second fastest portable computer – only the Lombard PowerBook G3 outperforms it.