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Apple Unveils New PowerBook G4s

Apple today, in yet another press conference focused on new products, unveiled updates to their PowerBook G4 line of notebook computers. Three models – a 12” screen ($1,499), a 15” screen ($1,999) and a 17” screen ($2,499) – are available now through Apple’s website, Apple stores and resellers.

Chief among the features on these new PowerBook G4s are higher resolution displays and longer battery life. The 17-inch PowerBook comes with a 1680-by-1050 pixel resolution — 36 percent more than the previous generation — and the 15-inch PowerBook with a 1440-by-960 pixel resolution — 26 percent more than the previous generation. The 15 and 17 inch models also have brighter displays. The 17 inch for example, said Apple, is up to 46 percent brighter then previous models.

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As far as battery life goes, Apple said the 15 and 17 inch PowerBooks each provide up to an additional hour of rechargeable battery life. Other features include ATI Mobility Radeon 9700 graphics with 128MB DDR dedicated video memory (15 and 17 inch models), built-in Bluetooth 2.0+EDR (Enhanced Data Rate), integrated 802.11g WiFi wireless networking, a scrolling track pad, Mac OS X version 10.4 “Tiger” and iLife ’05, a suite of digital lifestyle applications.

“The Apple PowerBook continues to deliver the ultimate in portability, performance and innovative features,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. “Our mobile customers are going to love working on the new high-resolution PowerBook displays and appreciate the added productivity that one more hour of battery life delivers.”

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