What are the key difference between an Apple's iBook and an Apple Powerbook?

Okay, I know one is sheathed in aluminum and the other in plastic. And
I'm guessing they come loaded with different default hardware extras.
But what are the _key_ differences here, and can't you make them all up
by getting your iBook more fully loaded?

Or is the difference mostly cosmetic externals and then small
differences in CPU? Weight? Reliability? Expandability?

I'm especially interested in comparing the 14" iBook and the 15"
Powerbook. I am also interested in using the laptop to drive an
external display if possible, hopefully a display of higher resolution
than the laptop's built-in display (e.g., at least 1280x1024 on the
external), so that I can use it as a desktop system.

I'd love an answer that came in before 28 Feb 05, that synthesized the
key differences listed in the official Apple publicity, but that also
had well-judged advice based on unofficial and informal knowledge.

http://www.creativepro.com/story/review/15588.html

sorry, didnt read your question thoroughly

http://www.macreviewzone.com/html/reviews/guides/individual/04/mixed/ibk-1ghz-vs-pwb-1ghz-15.shtml

The link am77 pointed you to would be great if it was comparing the
current ibook and powerbook- nut it gives you an idea on what to hone
in on.

You ask :"But what are the _key_ differences here, and can't you make them all up
by getting your iBook more fully loaded?"

Let me answer the second part of your question first- No- you can't
load an ibook up and make it the equivalent of a powerbook.  You may
decide that for your purposes the differences are negligible.

Key differences:
Processor Speeds- Apple recently upgraded the processore speed of both
lines of laptops to 1.33 ghz for the ibook and 1.5 and 1.67 for the
15" Powerbook.  That's up to a 25% increase in processor speed for the
Powerbook.

RAM- the ibook comes with 256MB of DDR266 SDRAM upgradeable to 1.25 GB
of SDRAM for $500.  Would at have to take you machine to at least
512MB -an extra $75 to amke you machine operate tolerably.  Powerbook
comes with 512MB DDR333 SDRAM and is upgradeable to 2GB SDRAM.

Hard Drives- ibook comes with 60GB ULTRA ATA drive -can upgrade to
80GB.  the powerbook comes with an 80GB Ultra ATAdrive at 5400/RPM
that can be upgraded to 100GB.

VIdeo Card:

Here's a list of what you get with a Powerbook that you CAN"T get with an ibook:
Firewire 800 port
Backlit keyboard
Scrolling feature for the trackpad
SMS- Super Motion Sensor- protects your hard drive from crashing during drops
Super Drive with 8X DVD write capability
DVI and S-Video ports built in
ATI Mobility Radeon 9700 (64 MB DDR) - upgradeably to 128MB DDR to
power apple's 30" display

I think what it boils down to is how price sensitive are you?
an ibook with 512k RAM, an 80MB hard drive and bluetooth added with
applecare comes to $1923.
A similarly loaded 1.5 ghz 15" powerbook comes to $2,348- This machine
will be faster than the ibook.  for a couple hundred more it will be
even faster.

Is speed that important to you?  it will be if you are doing anything
with intensive graphics or music.

Is having the external video ports buit in in the powerbook so nice
that it beats having to use the adapter that comes with the ibook? 
might be?

One last thought- the Apple rumor mills are predicting a soon to be
announced update to the screen technology of the laptop line- Check
AppleInsider.coom or AppleRumors.com.  I personally would be surprised
they would do two updates -first processor speed- and then the screens
so close to each other- unless they make it an option you can
choose-who knows.  However, lately the rumor mills for apple have been
surprisingly right on.

I know this isn't exhaustive- but it may give you some food for
thought. I think for $3-600 you are paying for the faster processor
the Powerbook is worth it.  (and I don't work for Apple- but i do own
a 17" 1.33 GHZ Powerbook- and I love it)

Thanks dancingbear-ga. This is extremely useful and gives me a sense
of what I needed to know.

From what you've said, I think the difference in the video cards is
the biggest factor for me, since I'd hope to use this machine to drive
a large monitor when I was working at my desktop.

I'm a bit new to google answers, so I'm not sure how I would go about
paying for the answer given that it's registered as a comment. I'm
going to go read the FAQ now.