Apple offers revised Powerbooks

The updated 15- and 17-inch versions offer new, higher-resolution displays and up to one hour of additional battery life.

All new PowerBooks now include a DVD-burning SuperDrive, with prices unchanged from before. The PowerBook systems start at $1,499 for a 12-in. model. That model saw no major changes.

The 15-in. PowerBook features a higher 1,440-by-960-pixel resolution, 26% more than previous 15-in. systems. The 17-in. PowerBook now features 1,680-by-1,050-pixel resolution, 36% more than before.

All PowerBooks include built-in Bluetooth 2.0+EDR (Enhanced Data Rate), integrated AirPort Extreme (802.11g-based wireless networking), a scrolling TrackPad and Apple’s Sudden Motion Sensor technology.

The 12-in. model is clocked at 1.5 GHz and includes 512MB of PC2700 33-MHz DDR SDRAM, an 8x SuperDrive, 80GB hard disk drive, DVI, VGA, S-Video and composite video support, two USB 2.0 ports and FireWire 400.

The $1,999 15-in. PowerBook features a processor clocked at 1.67 GHz; an 8x SuperDrive with double-layer support; 512MB of PC2-4200 DDR2 SDRAM running at 333 MHz expandable to 2GB; an 80GB hard drive; analog and optical digital audio input and output; Gigabit Ethernet; an illuminated keyboard; and an ATI Radeon Mobility 9700 graphics with 128MB DDR video memory and dual-link DVI support for Apple’s 30-in. Cinema HD Display.