The Mac Observer: AAPLTalk System Shootouts - Laptop Shootout:PowerBook G4 vs. Best Buy Matrix

by Charles Gaba

Visit Charle Gaba's new System Shootout site for the latest shootouts!

Desktop Shootouts
New!	(U.S. $):

$800
Desktops

Apple Desktop Lineup
Page 1	Page 2

Laptop Shootouts
(coming soon!)

$800
Laptops

$1,100
Laptops

$1,600
"Mini-Me's"

$2,000
Laptops

$2,600
Laptops

$3,000
"LapZillas"

Apple Laptop Lineup

Laptops: iBook vs. Lindows

Educational Desktops: $700 / $1,000

OS's: Mac OS X vs. Windows XP

Laptop Shootout:
PowerBook G4 vs. Best Buy Matrix

Systems Configured: 10/28/2002

Note: Read the AAPLTalk System Shootout FAQ before procededing!!!
All images and logos are copyright to the respective companies listed.

Company

Apple

Porsche/Best Buy

PowerBook G4
($2,339 as configured)

VPR Matrix 200A5
($2,399 as configured)

Dimensions:

127 cubic in. (1" x 13.4" x 9.5")

167 cubic in. (1.2" x13.9" x10.0")

Weight:
(all bays filled)

5.4 lbs

6.4 lbs

Battery Life:

5 hrs.

2-3 hrs. (???)

Processor:
Rating Notes

1.3 GHz
867 MHz PowerPC G4

2.0 GHz
2.0 GHz M Pentium 4

L1 Cache:

64k

32k

L2 Cache:

256K on-chip

512K on-chip

L3 Cache:

1 MB DDR

Memory Type:

SDRAM PC133

DDR PC2100

Frontside Bus:

133 MHz bus

266 MHz

Memory Amount:

512 MB (2 DIMM)

Max RAM:

1.0 GB (2 slots)

Hard Drive Capacity:

40 GB

Hard Drive Type:

Ultra ATA 66

Ultra ATA 100

Hard Drive Speed:

4200 rpm

CD-Rom:

24x CD (slot-loading)

CD-RW:

8x8x CD-RW

DVD-Rom:

8x DVD

DVD-/+RW:

Floppy Drive:

Zip/Other Drive:

PC Card Slots:

1 + 1 802.11b slot

Type of Bays:

Fixed

USB Ports:

2 USB 1.1

2 USB 2.0

Firewire Ports:

1 on-board port

2 ports

Legacy Ports:

1 Parallel Port

Graphics Card:

ATI Mobility Radeon 9000

nVIDIA GeForce4 420 Go

Video RAM:

32 MB DDR

VGA Out:

Yes

DVI Out:

Yes

S-Video Out:

Yes

Composite Out:

Yes

Display:

15.2" TFT XGA

Max. display resolution:

1280x854

Microphone/Line-in Jacks:

Built-in microphone; Line-in port

Line-in port

Headphone/Line-out Jacks:

Yes/Digital Audio

Stereo Speakers:

Yes

10/100 Ethernet?

Yes

Gigabit Ethernet?

Yes

56k Internal Modem?

Yes

802.11b Wireless Card?

optional; upgradable

Yes (non-upgradable)

Integrated 802.11b Antennae:

Yes

Hardware Extras Included:

HP DeskJet 3820 Inkjet Printer
(free after rebate)

Included OS:

Mac OS X 10.2; Mac OS 9.2;
BSD Unix; Apache Web Server

Windows XP Home Edition

Windows/DOS OS Support:

DOS/95/98/ME/2000/XP (via Virtual PC)

DOS/95/98/ME/2000/NT/XP (Native)

Mac OS Support:

Mac OS 8,9,X (Native)

Mac OS 8 only (via emulation)

Linux OS Support:

Various flavors (Native)

Unix OS Support:

Various flavors (Native)

Java 2 Support:

Native

(must be downloaded)

Rendezvous Zero-Config Networking:

Yes

Word Processor Included:

MSFT Word XP

Save-as PDF Support:

Native (any file)

(requires 3rd-party app.)

Spreadsheet Software Included:

MSFT Works

Presentation Software Included:

Database Software Included:

MSFT Works

Drawing/Painting Program Included:

Art Directors Toolkit;
Graphic Converter; PixelNhance

Handwriting Recognition:

Inkwell

Calendar/PIM Software Included:

iCal; iSync; OmniOutliner

MSFT Works

Planning/Project Software Included:

OmniGraffle

Web Browser Included:

Internet Explorer 5.2

Internet Explorer 6

E-Mail/Address Book Included:

OS X Mail (w/best-of-breed spam filter)

Outlook Express

Media Player Included:

Quicktime 6; DVD Player
Media Player 7 avail.; RealOne Player avail.

Media Player 8; DVD Player
Quicktime 6 avail.; RealOne Player avail.

Financial Software Included:

Reference Software Included:

Digital Photo Management:

iPhoto 1.1; Graphic Converter; Snapz Pro

Digital Video Editing:

iMovie 2

MSFT Movie Maker

Music Software/
CD Burning Software:

iTunes 3; Disc Burner

(Unknown ???)

Games Included:

Chess

Mine Sweeper, Asstd. classic games

Additional Software Included

PCalc; Asstd. system software

Asstd. system software

Free ISP/
Other Services

1 month EarthLink

Virus Susceptibility/
Security Issues

45 known viruses

50,000+ known viruses

Built-in Firewall?

Yes

Warranty:

1 yr. ltd./mail-in
90 days phone

1 yr. ltd./at-home
??? phone

Quality of Products & Service:
Consumer Affairs

"Good Guys"

"Rogues' Gallery"

Total Price
as configured:

$2,339
tax not included

$2,399
tax not included

The information above is as accurate as I could make it based on a reasonable time studying the respective companies' Web sites. There is no guarantee that these configurations, prices, and features are the best that one could come up with; assorted bundles, free internet access, free extra memory, and so on can most likely be found for any of the above systems. The point of this chart is to demonstrate that Apple's lineup holds its own against any brand-name computer, even in areas in which it has traditionally had resistance. In short, do not base your purchasing decisions solely on this chart or information. Neither I, nor The Mac Observer will be held responsible or liable for any purchase decisions you make based on this presentation.

Charles Gaba started the AAPLTalk System Shootouts at AAPLTalk.com, and has brought them to TMO. Charles is the creative talent behind Brainwrap Web Design.

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