As with the 17-inch iMac G5 before it, Apple’s 15-inch PowerBook G4 has quietly disappeared from Apple’s online store. The 15-inch PowerBook has been replaced with Apple’s Intel-based 15-inch MacBook Pro, which began shipping last week.
The Apple Store continues to accept orders for the 12-inch and 17-inch PowerBook G4, which it says ship within 24 hours of an order and are available with free shipping. Apple has not yet announced Intel-based replacements for those machines.
The MacBook Pro is Apple’s first Intel-based laptop computer, powered by a Core Duo processor. It was introduced during Macworld Expo in San Francisco in January, and recently began shipping. In a surprise move, Apple shipped the units with faster processors than expected, at the same price — users who pre-ordered a 1.83GHz system receive 2.0GHz systems instead; users who pre-ordered a 1.67GHz system got a 1.83GHz model. A 2.16GHz processor is also available as a build-to-order option.
The MacBook Pro is only available in one screen size — a 15.4-inch TFT LCD display that features a 1440 x 900 pixel resolution.
Apple continued to accept orders for the 15-inch PowerBook G4 while supplies lasted — a strategy they used on the 17-inch iMac G5, until their stock ran out. Apple continues to offer the 20-inch iMac G5 for $1,499 — $200 less than its previous price — while supplies last.