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Overview of iBook Computer
The iBook computer is a portable computer for the consumer and education markets. This chapter lists the computer’s features, with emphasis on the changes from the previous models.
New Features
The features that have changed are listed here along with references to the sections that describe them.
Processor speed The clock speed of the Power PC G3 microprocessor is 700 or 800 MHz. See Power PC G3 Microprocessor.
Graphics IC The display controller is an ATI Mobility Radeon 7500 and includes 16 or 32 MB of graphics DDR SDRAM. See Graphics IC.
All Features
Here is a list of the features of the iBook computer. Each feature is described in a later chapter, as indicated in the list.
Processor speed The clock speed of the Power PC G3 microprocessor is 700 or 800 MHz. See Power PC G3 Microprocessor.
Processor L2 cache The L2 cache size is 512 KB. See L2 Cache.
Power Stepping This feature slows down the processor to conserve battery power when the computer is idle. For more information, see Power Stepping.
Cache The microprocessor has a built-in L2 cache consisting of 512 KB of fast static RAM. The clock speed for the backside cache is the same as the clock speed of the microprocessor. See L2 Cache.
System RAM The computer comes with 128 or 256 MB of RAM. The second 128 MB occupies the expansion slot. For more information, see RAM Expansion.
Hard disk storage The computer has a hard disk drive with a storage capacity of 20 or 30 GB (and CTO 40 GB). For more information and developer guidelines for alternative hard drives, see Hard Disk Drive.
CD-ROM drive One configuration of the 12.1-inch model has a built-in 24x-speed CD-ROM drive. See CD-ROM Drive.
Combination DVD-ROM/CD-RW drive Two configurations have a combination DVD-ROM/CD-RW drive. For more information, see DVD-ROM/CD-RW Combo Drive.
Display Two TFT display sizes are available: a 12.1-inch and a 14.1-inch. Both displays have XGA (1024 by 768) resolution. See Flat Panel Display.
External display connector The external display connector supports VGA, composite, and S-video monitors and projectors. See External Display Port.
Graphics IC The display controller is an ATI Mobility Radeon 7500 and includes 16 or 32 MB of graphics DDR SDRAM. See Graphics IC.
Microphone The computer has a built-in microphone. See Sound System.
Battery The computer has one battery bay. The battery in the 12.1-inch display models uses six lithium ion cells and provides over 5 hours of operation under normal use. The battery in the 14.1-inch display model uses eight lithium ion cells and provides up to 6 hours of operation under normal use.
USB ports The computer has two external USB ports. See USB Ports.
FireWire port The computer has an IEEE-1394 FireWire high-speed serial port. See FireWire Port.
Target disk mode The computer can act like a FireWire storage device connected to another computer. See Target Disk Mode.
Modem The computer has a built-in modem that supports 56 Kbps data rate with V.92 modem standards. See Internal Modem.
Ethernet The computer has a built in Ethernet port for 10Base-T and 100Base-T operation. See Ethernet Port.
AirPort Card An AirPort Card is available as a build-to-order option or as a user-installable upgrade. See AirPort Card.
Sound The computer has a built-in microphone and stereo speakers; it provides stereo output signals on the audio minijack. See Sound System.
Keyboard The keyboard has function keys and inverted-T arrow keys. Some of the function keys are used to control the brightness and sound and to eject a disk. The keyboard also includes an embedded numeric keypad. See Keyboard.
Trackpad The integrated trackpad includes tap/double tap and drag features. See Trackpad.
Weight With the battery installed, the 12.1-inch display models weigh approximately 2.2 kg (4.9 pounds) and the 14-1-inch display model weighs approximately 2.6 kg (5.9 pounds). The exact weight depends on the configuration.
Size The 12.1-inch display models are 28.50 cm (11.2 inches) wide, depth 23.03 cm (9.06 inches) deep, and 3.42 cm (1.35 inches) thick. The 14.1-inch display model is 32.3 cm (12.7 inches) wide, 25.8 cm (10.2 inches) deep, and 3.42 cm (1.35 inches) thick.
Security slot The iBook computer has a slot for attaching a Kensington security cable.
Peripheral Devices
In addition to the devices that are included with the computer, several peripheral devices are available separately:
The AirPort Card wireless LAN module is available separately as a user-installable option.
The battery is available separately as an additional or replacement battery.
The power adapter, which comes with the computer, is also available separately. The adapter can recharge the internal battery in less than six hours while the computer is running or in three and a half hours while the computer is shut down or in sleep mode.
A power cable for use on airliners is also available. The airline power cable should have a sense resistor of 24.3K ohms connected between the power plug's shell and ground. See also Power Control IC.
A video adapter with composite and S-video connectors is available separately.
A video adapter with a 15-pin VGA connector, included with the computer, is also available separately.
Additional Apple Memory Module SO-DIMM SDRAM memory cards are available.
System Software
The iBook computer comes with both Mac OS X v. 10.2 and Mac OS 9.2.2 installed. Mac OS X is the default system. The Mac OS 9.2.2 software contains additional drivers for the graphics controller and CD-RW/Combo optical drives.
For more information about Mac OS X, see the reference listed in Mac OS X. For the latest information about Mac OS 9.2, see the references listed in Mac OS 9.2.2.
Here are a few items of interest about the system software on the iBook computer.
Machine Identification
Current and recent Macintosh ROMs share the same BoxFlag. The intent is for applications to use properties in the Open Firmware device tree rather than checking BoxFlag to find out the features of the machine. On all these machines, a call to gestaltMachineType returns the value 406 ($196).
Asset management software that reports the kind of machine it is run on can obtain the value of the property at Devices:device-tree:compatible in the name registry. The model string is the first program-usable string in the array of C strings in the compatible field. For the iBook computer, the model property value is PowerBook4,3.
The string obtained from the compatible property cannot be displayed to the computer user. If available, use the result from calling Gestalt ('mnam', &result), where result is a string pointer. This call returns a Pascal style string that can be displayed to the user.
Applications should not use either of these results to infer the presence of certain features; instead, applications should use Gestalt calls to test for the features they require.
Power Stepping
To conserve power when operating on battery power, the iBook computer supports two methods of power stepping to slow down the processor clock. One method is an inherent feature of the PowerPC G3 chip, called Dynamic Power Stepping (DPS) and cannot be adjusted by the user. DPS is controlled automatically by the system, stepping up the processor speed for performance-intensive applications and stepping down the processor speed for energy-efficient applications.
Under Mac OS X, users can manually step down the processor by adjusting the Energy Saving Settings, which are located under the Energy Saver panel of System Preferences. Users can select from preconfigured profiles including Automatic, Highest Performance, Longest Battery Life, DVD Playback, and Presentations, or customize their own energy settings. Highest Performance and Longest Battery Life profiles override the DPS feature. Highest Performance maintains the highest processor speed while Longest Battery Life caps the processor speed at 400MHz.
Under Mac OS 9, the user can manually step down the processor in the Energy Saver control panel, which is also accessible via the control strip. In the Energy Saver control panel, the user can check a check box labeled Reduce Processor Speed in the Advanced Settings panel. In the Energy Saver control strip, the user can select Faster Processor Speed or Slower Processor Speed.
Target Disk Mode
The user has the option at boot time to put the iBook computer into a mode of operation called target disk mode (TDM). When the iBook computer is in target disk mode and connected to another Macintosh computer by a FireWire cable, the iBook computer operates like a FireWire mass storage device with the SBP-2 (Serial Bus Protocol) standard. Target disk mode has two primary uses:
data transfer between computers
diagnosis and repair of a corrupted internal hard drive
The iBook computer can operate in target disk mode as long as the other computer has a FireWire port and either Mac OS X (any version) or Mac OS 9 with FireWire software version 2.3.3 or later.
To put the iBook computer into target disk mode, restart the computer and hold down the T key until the FireWire icon appears on the display. Then connect a FireWire cable from the iBook computer to the other computer. When the other computer completes the FireWire connection, a hard disk icon appears on its desktop.
If the iBook computer is turned off or the FireWire cable is disconnected while in target disk mode, an alert appears on the other computer. Disconnecting while the disk is in use can cause loss of data on the disk.
To take the iBook computer out of target disk mode, drag the hard disk icon on the other computer to the trash, then press the power button on the computer.
For more information about target disk mode, see the section “Target Mode” in Technical Note TN1189, The Monster Disk Driver. For information about obtaining the technical note, see Apple Technical Notes.
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