Apple PowerBook G4 (15-inch, SuperDrive) review

Performance
In our iTunes tests, the 15-inch PowerBook G4 matched the performance of its 17-inch sibling, which has the same-speed processor and RAM. It ran only 11 per cent slower than a PowerMac G4 desktop with a 1.25GHz processor and a faster 7,200rpm hard drive. However, the 15-inch laptop lagged behind both systems when it came to graphics tasks in our Photoshop CS tests and our Unreal Tournament 2004 game test. The 15-inch PowerBook's battery lasted only 2 hours, 42 minutes, or 12 minutes less than that of the 17-inch PowerBook G4, which has a larger, battery-draining screen. Neither model could match the 14.1-inch iBook's 3 hours, 24 minutes -- if you're looking to work away from a plug socket for extended periods, the iBook may be the better buy.

iTunes MP3 conversion
(Shorter bars indicate faster performance)

In seconds

PowerMac G4-1.25GHz

27

PowerBook G4-1.67GHz 17-inch

30

PowerBook G4-1.67GHz 15-inch

30

iBook G4-1.33GHz 14.1-inch

37

Photoshop CS
(Shorter bars indicate better performance)

In minutes

PowerMac G4-1.25GHz

7.75

PowerBook G4-1.67GHz 17-inch

8.83

PowerBook G4-1.67GHz 15-inch

11.35

iBook G4-1.33GHz 14.1-inch

28.31

Unreal Tournament 2004
(Longer bars indicate better performance)

In frames per second

PowerMac G4-1.25GHz

22.49

PowerBook G4-1.67GHz 17-inch

22.13

PowerBook G4-1.67GHz 15-inch

18.8

iBook G4-1.33GHz 14.1-inch

12.78

DVD movie battery-drain test
(Longer bars indicate better performance)

In hours

PowerBook G4-1.67GHz 15-inch

2.7

iBook G4-1.33GHz 14.1-inch

3.9

PowerBook G4-1.67GHz 17-inch

2.9

Edited by Michelle Thatcher
Additional editing by Nick Hide