The Mac Observer

Skip navigational links

You're viewing an article in TMO's historic archive vault. Here, we've preserved the comments and how the site looked along with the article. Use this link to view the article on our current site:
What's New In The iBook? Here's A List For Easy Comparison

What's New In The iBook? Here's A List For Easy Comparison

by , 4:20 PM EDT, May 1st, 2001

With the release of the new iBook, we thought it would be a good idea to contrast the new models to the old. We are only including the main differences between the two systems.

Specification Previous Model New iBook
Processor 366 or 466 MHz 500 MHz
Maximum RAM 320MB 576 or 640MB
Supported Drives
  • 24X CD-ROM
  • 6X DVD-ROM
  • 24X CD-ROM
  • 8X DVD-ROM
  • 8x4x24 CD-RW
  • Combination DVD-ROM/CD-RW
Display (Resolution) 12.1" (800x600) 12.1" (1024x768)
USB ports 1 2
Built-in speakers 1 (mono) 2 (stereo)
Built-in microphone No Yes
Video out Composite via AV port
  • Composite via AV port
  • RGB "VGA" connector
Weight 6.6 lbs iBook
6.8 lbs iBook SE
4.9 lbs
Width 13.5 inches 11.2 inches
Depth 11.6 inches 9.1 inches
Thickness 2.06 inches (thickest pt) 1.35 inches
Color options Indigo, Graphite, Key Lime One standard color
Handle Yes No
Cable-lock Through handle Kensington-compatible slot

You can find more information about the new iBook, and see the new video, at the Apple Web site.

The Mac Observer Spin:

This new machine is almost everything the iBook could ever hope to be (for today). It's small, durable, light, has the ports and built-in speaker that people were asking for. It comes with stereo speakers, which is a big plus when selling to young people. The resolution on the display is a respectable 1024 x 768, and it comes with a VGA out. You can even have a built-in DVD/CD-RW combo drive. All of that for a starting price of US$1299. It's as if Apple took the wish list and complaints of every iBook owner on the planet and then just fixed the product (which is almost certainly what they did).

Observer Comments

Show: Subjects Only | Full Comments
Comment on this Article

Comments are currently closed. Please email the author instead.


Recent Headlines - Updated November 21st

Fri, 7:07 PM
Games - Soccer Sim Championship Manager 2010 Released for Mac
6:47 PM
Games - EA Publishes Original Monopoly for iPhone
6:15 PM
News - Original Apple I on Ebay for $50K, w/Letter from Steve Jobs
6:11 PM
Games - New iPhone Games: Secret of the Lost Cavern Ep 1, New DJ Nights, More
5:47 PM
Games - Star Trek D-A-C Game Headed to the Mac Next Month
4:57 PM
Product News - TidBITS Releases “Take Control of Syncing Data in Snow Leopard”
4:26 PM
John Martellaro's Blog - Particle Debris (week ending 11/20) Stationery Pads Go Poof
2:59 PM
Free on iTunes - Musée du Louvre, Art Lite, SketchBook Mobile X and More.
1:50 PM
Deal Brothers - Acer P215H bmid 21.5” Widescreen LCD Monitor:  $139.99
11:24 AM
TMO Appearances - Jeff Gamet Shares More Holiday Gift Ideas on MacJury
10:43 AM
Product News - Cocktail 4.5 for Leopard Adds QuickLook Cache Clearing
10:06 AM
News - Hack Enables Mac OS X 10.6.2 on Netbooks

The Mac Observer Reader Specials

  • __________
  • Buy Stuff, Support TMO!
  • Podcast: Mac Geek Gab
  • Podcast: Apple Weekly Report
  • TMO on Twitter!