Powerbook model type confusion

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Arild P. - 29 Mar 2006 12:11 GMT

I need to buy a protective sleeve for my 15" G4 Powerbook, but I've
gathered that there's a bunch of different Powerbooks that are called
"15" G4 Powerbooks", so which one is mine?

I keep coming across the terms "TI Powerbook" and "AL Powerbook", and I
also believe my Powerbook might be a little wider (15.2"?) than
previous G4 Powerbook models (15"?), but there's still just a 15"
option when I go to the ordering pages for protective sleeves and so
on, so perhaps the "AL" and "TI" defines the sizes....

I bought my 15" Powerbook G4 (1.67 GHz, 1440x960 resolution, lit
keyboard, optical audio in/outputs etc.) around November 2005. It's the
very latest (non-Intel) 15" Powerbook available (well, I've noticed
that Apple recently stopped selling them at their website, even though
they still have the 12" and 17" versions).
My "System profiler" tells me that it's a "Powerbook 5.8", so is this
an "AL" or "TI" Powerbook, and should I be looking for sleeves that are
for 15" Powerbooks, or will they be too small?

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David Empson - 29 Mar 2006 12:58 GMT

> I need to buy a protective sleeve for my 15" G4 Powerbook, but I've
> gathered that there's a bunch of different Powerbooks that are called
> "15" G4 Powerbooks", so which one is mine?
>
> I keep coming across the terms "TI Powerbook" and "AL Powerbook"

These refer to the metal of which the case is made: Titanium or
Aluminium (or Aluminum if you speak American English).

The older 15" PowerBook G4 models (January 2001 to September 2003) are
Titanium. They range in speed from 400 MHz up to 1 GHz, and have most of
the peripheral connectors along the back, behind a hinged door. They all
have Firewire 400 but none have Firewire 800.

The newer 15" PowerBook G4 models (September 2003 to now) are Aluminium.
They range in speed from 1 GHz up to 1.67 GHz and have most of the
peripheral connectors along the left and right sides. They all have both
Firewire 400 and Firewire 800.

The exact dimensions of the two types differ slightly:

The Titanium models are 13.4 inches wide, 9.49 inches deep and 1.04
inches thick (when closed).

The Aluminium models are 13.7 inches wide, 9.5 inches deep and 1.1
inches thick (when closed).

> and I also believe my Powerbook might be a little wider (15.2"?) than
> previous G4 Powerbook models (15"?), but there's still just a 15"
> option when I go to the ordering pages for protective sleeves and so
> on,

The 15" dimension refers to the approximate diagonal measurement of the
screen. The actual measurement is close to 15.2" for all so-called 15
inch PowerBook G4 models (both Titanium and Aluminium). The Aluminium
models have slightly more metal around the edge of the screen.

> so perhaps the "AL" and "TI" defines the sizes....

Indirectly, yes, because the Aluminium models are slightly larger than
the Titanium models.

> I bought my 15" Powerbook G4 (1.67 GHz, 1440x960 resolution, lit
> keyboard, optical audio in/outputs etc.) around November 2005. It's the
> very latest (non-Intel) 15" Powerbook available (well, I've noticed
> that Apple recently stopped selling them at their website, even though
> they still have the 12" and 17" versions).

The last 15" PowerBook G4 models have a higher resolution screen but
this was achieved by making the pixels smaller. The case and screen are
the same physical size as earlier 15" Aluminium PowerBook G4 models.

> My "System profiler" tells me that it's a "Powerbook 5.8", so is this
> an "AL" or "TI" Powerbook, and should I be looking for sleeves that are
> for 15" Powerbooks, or will they be too small?

If they say they will fit a 15" AL PowerBook then you are fine. If they
don't specify whether it is for a TI or AL then it probably fits both,
unless it is a particularly old product, which might only fit TI.

Signature

David Empson
dempson@actrix.gen.nz

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Arild P. - 30 Mar 2006 08:20 GMT

David Empson skrev:

> > I need to buy a protective sleeve for my 15" G4 Powerbook, but I've
> > gathered that there's a bunch of different Powerbooks that are called
> > "15" G4 Powerbooks", so which one is mine?

> The older 15" PowerBook G4 models (January 2001 to September 2003) are
> Titanium.

(...............)

> The newer 15" PowerBook G4 models (September 2003 to now) are Aluminium.

(...........)

Thanks for clearing up my confusion.
I definitely have a 15" aluminum PowerBook then.

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JohnB - 30 Mar 2006 18:57 GMT

> David Empson skrev:
>
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
> Thanks for clearing up my confusion.
> I definitely have a 15" aluminum PowerBook then.

For future reference try

www.apple-history.com

--
JohnB

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Mac Forum / General / Portable Macs / March 2006

Powerbook model type confusion