Just two months after Apple boosted the 15.2″ PowerBook to 1 GHz, they surprised a lot of people by rolling out both the largest and the smallest PowerBooks ever.
The 12″ PowerBook G4 is the first PowerBook in years without a PC Card slot. It’s also the only current model without DVI support and an official ceiling of 640 MB of memory. It supports 10 and 100 Mbps ethernet, but not gigabit ethernet. In some respects, it’s more like an aluminum-clad 12″ iBook with a G4 than a low-end PowerBook.
The PowerBook G4/867 12″ (Al) features an 867 MHz PowerPC 7455 (G4) processor with the AltiVec “Velocity Engine” vector processing unit and 256k on chip level 2 cache, 256 MB of PC2100 DDR SDRAM, a 40 GB Ultra ATA/100 hard drive (4200 RPM), a slot-loading 8X “Combo” drive, built-in Bluetooth 1.1 (AirPort Extreme capable with optional upgrade), and NVIDIA GeForce4 420 Go (4X AGP) graphics with 32 MB of DDR SDRAM in an attractive aluminum alloy case with a 12.1″ TFT XGA display (1024×768 native resolution). Custom configurations also were available.
Compared to earlier PowerBook G4 models, the PowerBook G4 12″ uses a new logic board design with faster memory, graphics, internal Bluetooth 1.1, and support for internal AirPort Extreme (802.11g).
| Introduction Date: |
January 7, 2003 |
Discontinued Date: |
September 16, 2003 |
| Processor Speed: |
867 MHz |
Processor Type: |
PowerPC 7455 (G4) |
| Details: |
The PowerPC G4 includes the AltiVec “Velocity Engine” vector processor. |
| Processors: |
1 |
Geekbench: |
441 |
| Processor Upgrade: |
Soldered |
FPU: |
Integrated |
| System Bus Speed: |
133 MHz |
Cache Bus Speed: |
867 MHz (Built-in) |
| ROM/Firmware Type: |
Open Firmware |
ROM/Firmware Size: |
1 MB |
| Details: |
The Boot ROM is roughly 1 MB, other instructions are loaded into RAM. |
| L1 Cache: |
64k |
L2/L3 Cache: |
256k (on chip) |
| Details: |
Includes a 256k “on chip” level 2 cache that runs at processor speed. |
| RAM Type: |
PC2100 DDR SDRAM |
Min. RAM Speed: |
266 MHz |
| Details: |
Supports a single 200-pin PC2100 DDR SDRAM SO-DIMM memory module. |
| Standard RAM: |
256 MB |
Maximum RAM: |
1152 MB* |
| Details: |
*Apple officially reports that the maximum memory capacity of this system is 640 MB with 128 MB of onboard memory and a single 512 MB memory module. However, third-parties have been able to upgrade the RAM to 1152 MB with a single 1.0 GB memory module. |
| Motherboard RAM: |
128 MB |
RAM Slots: |
1 |
| Details: |
128 MB onboard, single SO-DIMM slot. |
| Video Card: |
GeForce4 420 Go |
VRAM Type: |
DDR SDRAM |
| Details: |
NVIDIA GeForce4 420 Go (4X AGP) with 32 MB of DDR SDRAM. |
| Standard VRAM: |
32 MB |
Maximum VRAM: |
32 MB |
| Details: |
The video cannot be upgraded. |
| Built-in Display: |
12.1″ TFT XGA |
Native Resolution: |
1024×768 |
| Details: |
12.1″ TFT XGA active-matrix display with a 1024 by 768 native resolution. Apple reports that it also supports “800 by 600 [and] 640 by 480″ when scaled. |
| 2nd Display Support: |
Dual/Mirroring |
2nd Max. Resolution: |
1600×1200 |
| Details: |
The maximum resolution supported on an external display is 1600×1200 at millions of colors. |
| Standard Hard Drive: |
40 GB (4200 RPM) |
Int. HD Interface: |
Ultra ATA/100 |
| Details: |
Also see: How do you replace or upgrade the hard drive in the PowerBook G4 models? |
| Standard Optical: |
8X “Combo Drive” |
Standard Disk: |
None |
| Details: |
Apple reports that the slot-loading DVD/CD-RW “Combo” drive is capable of reading DVD at 8X, writing CD-R at 24X, writing CD-RW at 10X, and reading CD-ROM at 24X. |
| Standard Modem: |
56k v.92 |
Standard Ethernet: |
10/100Base-T |
| Standard AirPort: |
802.11b/g (Optional) |
Standard Bluetooth: |
1.1 |
| Details: |
Internal AirPort Extreme (802.11g) was available as a build-to-order option, Bluetooth 1.1 pre-installed. |
| USB Ports: |
2 (1.1) |
Firewire Ports: |
1 (400) |
| Details: |
Two USB 1.1 ports. One Firewire “400″ port. |
| Expansion Slots: |
AirPort Extreme |
Expansion Bays: |
None |
| Details: |
This model has no expansion slots other than internal AirPort Extreme (802.11g). |
| Incl. Keyboard: |
Full-size |
Incl. Input: |
Trackpad |
| Details: |
Apple reports that the integrated keyboard has “78 (US) or 79 (ISO) keys, including 12 function keys, 4 arrow keys (inverted “T” arrangement), and [an] embedded numeric keypad.” The trackpad supports tap, double tap, and drag capabilities. |
| Case Type: |
Notebook |
Form Factor: |
PowerBook G4 12″ |
| Apple Order No: |
M8760LL/A |
Apple Subfamily: |
12-Inch |
| Details: |
The Apple order number should be unique to this system. |
| Apple Model No: |
A1010 (EMC N/A) |
Model ID: |
PowerBook6,1 |
| Battery Type: |
47 W h LiIon |
Battery Life: |
5 Hours |
| Details: |
5 hours under “normal usage conditions” as estimated by Apple. |
| Pre-Installed MacOS: |
X 10.2.4 |
Maximum MacOS: |
X 10.5.8 |
| Details: |
This system cannot run versions of MacOS X more recent than 10.5.8. |
| MacOS 9 Support: |
Classic Mode Only* |
Windows Support: |
Emulation Only |
| Details: |
*This model is capable of using MacOS 9 applications within the MacOS X “Classic” environment provided with MacOS X 10.4.11 “Tiger” and lower (“Classic” is not supported starting with MacOS X 10.5 “Leopard”). It cannot boot into MacOS 9. |
| Dimensions: |
1.18 x 10.9 x 8.6 |
Avg. Weight: |
4.6 lbs (2.1 kg) |
| Details: |
In inches while closed – height by width by depth, (3.0 cm, 27.7 cm, 21.9 cm). |
Upon its release, Apple advertised that the PowerBook G4 12″ was the “smallest notebook ever” released by the company, which is true based on volume, but compared to the long discontinued PowerBook Duo 210, the 12″ PowerBook G4 is thinner (by 0.22 inches), but it is slightly deeper (by 0.1 inch) and heavier (by 0.4 pounds).