by , 12:00 PM EDT, May 3rd, 2001

Since the release of the original iBook in 1999, the Mac faithful have been longing for the return of an ultra-compact portable machine, one along the lines of the popular but short-lived PowerBook 2400. Rumors surrounding the PowerBook G4 Titanium's release pointed to that machine fitting the bill. The new machine, while compact, is not in the "sub-notebook" class that many were hoping for.

Enter the new iBook.

One clever Observer, John Gettler, has put together a very interesting comparison between a number of Apple's portable machines, including the PowerBook G4 and new iBook. According to Mr. Gettler:

If you calculate the cubic volume of space of Apple's greatest laptops:

Titanium Powerbook G4:
1.0 x 13.4 x 9.5 = 127 cu in

New iBook:
1.35 x 11.2 x 9.1 = 137 cu in

2400c: (here is the point that will have Japanese users in a buying frenzy)
1.9 x 10.5 x 10.5 = 209 cu in

Powerbook G3 Pismo:
1.7 x 10.4 x 12.7 = 224 cu in

Old iBook: (still useful data even though the case is rounded)
1.8 x 13.5 x 11.6 = 281 cu in

The new iBook is 48% of the size of the old iBook;
The new iBook is 65% of the size of the 2400c;
The Titanium is 56% of the size of the Pismo.

Just goes to show how amazing both of Apple's new laptops are! Go Apple!

Great work guys!

This does indeed add some perspective to the amazing technological achievement of Apple's latest consumer portable.

Apple