Apple Unveils Speedier Notebooks

Apple Computer on Tuesday made weeks of rumors official when it announced upgraded versions of its mobile computers, the high-end PowerBook G4 and the consumer-oriented iBook.

The new PowerBook G4 comes in two models, built around 550-MHz and 667-MHz PowerPC G4 processors. The speedier model offers a new system bus (the path by which data is routed around the motherboard) running at 133 MHz, while the 550-MHz system uses a 100-MHz bus.

Upgrades to both models include a 4X AGP video system and a Gigabit Ethernet port. Each system comes with a slot-loading DVD drive, a 15.2-inch screen, a 56-kilobits-per-second modem, Universal Serial Bus and FireWire ports, and weighs 5.3 pounds.

A slot-loading CD-RW drive is available as an add-on, marking the first time a slot-loading CD-RW has been available for the PowerBook G4.

The 550-MHz model comes standard with 128MB of RAM, a 20GB hard disk, and an integrated antenna for Apple's AirPort 802.11b wireless Ethernet system. The 667-MHz system offers 256MB of RAM, a 30GB hard disk, and comes equipped with an AirPort card and antenna.

Both systems can be expanded up to 1GB of RAM and can be customized with a 48GB hard disk. Each system comes preloaded with both MacOS 9.2.1 and MacOS X 10.1. The 550-MHz model costs $2199 while the 667-MHz model runs in at $2999. Both are available immediately.

The new iBook line comes in three models, built around a 500-MHz or 600-MHz PowerPC G3 processor. All models offer a new 100-MHz system bus and 128MB of RAM standard.

The portables also include a 12.1 inch screen, an ATI Technologies Rage Mobility 128 Graphics chip with 8MB of RAM, a 56-kbps modem, on-board Ethernet, USB and FireWire ports, and an integrated AirPort antenna (though the AirPort networking is not included). All systems are preloaded with MacOS 9.2.1 and MacOS X 10.1.

The low-end 500-MHz model offers a 15GB hard disk and costs $1299. The midrange 600-MHz model comes with a 15GB hard disk and a DVD-ROM drive for $1499. The high-end system, sporting a 20GB drive and a combination DVD-ROM and CD-RW drive, retails for $1699. All models are available immediately.