Is the 17" MBP better than the 15"?

[JoeSoftwareOps]

This seems like a silly question, but I like my 15 just fine.  But if I use my ADC discount, I can regain the full $500 price tag for ADC membership in the 17" discount.  One of the goals of getting an ADC membership is to get it back in the discount.

So are the 17" MPB too big?

Sincerely,

Joe Michels

Software Ops LLC

j...@softwareops.com

www.softwareops.com

iPhone 602-758-0650

[Jiva DeVoe]

I went from a Titanium 15in powerbook to a 17in aluminum powerbook when they first came out. I'm now back to the 15in aluminum.

The 17inch is too heavy and too big for real portability. It makes a good "Desktop Replacement" if you only use it in hotels and an office/home, but if you, like me, use yours in a lot of other places and tote it around a lot, it quickly becomes unwieldy.

--
Jiva DeVoe
http://www.random-ideas.net
iZen Garden & Edibles - iPhone software for your mind and body.

[Brent Rowland]

I'll admit that my 17" got a bit heavy when I was schlepping it around Asia, but since I use it as a desktop replacement, I am glad I went for the bigger screen.

Brent

On Nov 23, 2009, at 3:07 PM, JoeSoftwareOps wrote:

[Brad Miller]

On Nov 23, 2009, at 3:07 PM, JoeSoftwareOps wrote:

> This seems like a silly question, but I like my 15 just fine. But if I use my ADC discount, I can regain the full $500 price tag for ADC membership in the 17" discount. One of the goals of getting an ADC membership is to get it back in the discount.
>
> So are the 17" MPB too big?
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Joe Michels
>

To me, the 17" is too big to lug around and forget Airplane use unless you're flying 1st class. I really don't use my MacBook for anything other then mobile use (around town and around the house). So I'm almost always using it on my legs, restaurant table, etc. and portability is a big factor.

Unless you really need something in the 17", my suggestion would be the 15" + an external monitor. You can get an ACD discounted if you buy it with the MBP to help work the discount.

Also, I'd hold off buying unless you have to (taxes or discount expiring). We're about at EOL for the current models and signs point to updates using the i3, i5, or i7 early into the new year. I've been holding off getting one until that happens, especially after seeing how the new iMacs are benchmarking with them.

Brad Miller
br...@cynicalpeak.com
http://cynicalpeak.com/

[Seth Kromholz]

Is that the new Apple Roll-It-Up(TM) external monitor for travelers?

[Bradley S. O'Hearne]

Joe, 

I've had a 17" MPB for 2 years. I've had that desire for a 15" MPB only when walking through airport security. But then again, airport security makes me wish I was wearing flip-flops too. Other than that, in my estimation, screen real estate is king, which is why I'm currently working on two 30" cinema displays at my office, and there's a huge productivity drop whenever I'm off of them, as they make a huge difference. That said, I am often mobile working on my MPB, and I already feel like I'm looking through a submarine porthole, and I cannot imagine what losing another 2" of screen real estate would be like. The 17" is no chore at all to carry around, considering the benefit of screen size. 

Brad

On Nov 23, 2009, at 3:07 PM, JoeSoftwareOps wrote:

[Saul Mora]

So, to quote The Sheriff of Rottingham:

"It's not the size that counts, it's how you use it"

Jiva sneered at me the other day for using Spaces on my 15" MBP. And while I think an extra 2" and more importantly, a higher screen resolution would help in development, I currently have many spaces (currently 12) set up to help with the lack of multiple monitors. I have a space set up for Interface Builder, XCode, etc, and it does work quite well for me. While it's certainly no replacement for a larger external monitor, I'm on the go so often, this is by far the best solution for portability. 15" may be the right screen size, if they would up the resolution just a tad to fit more of those large IB windows on a single screen at once, that would go a long way for me.

That said, I still plan on getting a new larger external monitor soon as well as upgrade my 15" MBP to the newer unibody style if they have a quad-core option. I have been drooling at the 17" MBPs lately, but I think I'll stick to the 15" model next time and max out the options as much as I can. A top of the line 15" model is the same as the 17", save for the screen, according to the specs I saw today on the Apple Online Store.

My 2 cents,

Saul

[Stephen Sviatko]

I had a 17" MBP and loved it to pieces.. literally. One day I picked it up by one of it's corners (like you would carry a pizza box) and the case flexed, cracking the mainboard. When it came back from the shop it never worked right and I eventually sold it on ebay, replacing it with a 13" white macbook, which I have used every day for the 2 years since. The smaller notebooks are tighter and more well-built IMHO... and I wouldn't feel as bad if a $999 macbook got lost/broken/stolen versus a $3000 loaded MBP.

I had a similar experience with a 17" Sony that weighed a metric ton..  replaced that $2100 bad boy with a $400 special from Best Buy and have never looked back.

Spend crazy-money on your desktop, but go cheap on your laptop. Laptops are throways...

Steve

--

---
Stephen Sviatko
ssvi...@gmail.com

[CactusPenguin]

I think the 17" are perfect.

I am unable to use my work laptop for personal use...so I often lug
around two 17" MBPs - one work, and one personal.
These are still lighter than the Alienware I used to carry around!

I enjoy the extra screen space - especially during debugging. And it
makes for better gaming. :-)

Think of the extra weight as building arm strength ;-)

But it is definitely a matter of personal taste ...

BTW - I also prefer glossy over matte. I originally paid extra for
the matte display and ended up returning it. Glossy just seemed so
much brighter to me.

I also agree with your ADC discount logic - I am in the same bought
and need to use it soon - just don't know what to get...

[Kent]

I have a 17" and I love it. I've taken it one a few trips, and I
haven't had any issues with the size or weight. Maybe I'm just used to
it.

I take it to the office everyday, as it's my desktop replacement. I
loved my 15", but I couldn't go back.

On Nov 23, 3:07 pm, JoeSoftwareOps <j...@softwareops.com> wrote:

[Bradley S. O'Hearne]

Now you have touched on my real MBP-buying dilemma: glossy or matte screen. I'd love to hear comments on this. From a past life doing professional photography, and also using a matte film on my iPhone which makes a huge difference in bright light situations, I'm apt to go the matte route. I'm a big fan of true calibrated color and glare-cutting displays. All of the work I've done on my notebook in coffee shops and restaurants with varied lighting conditions turns those glossy screens into more of a rear-view mirror than a display. But they are brilliant, and very color saturated, so I'd love to hear more from those who have used the matte screens....thumbs up or down?

Thanks,

Brad

[Kent]

I made the switch to glossy back on my 15", and when I got my 17", I
went for the glossy. When I originally made the decision to glossy, I
agonized over it for weeks. I've really been happy with my decision.
Now when I look at someone's screen with the matte finish, it just
doesn't seem the same.

On Nov 24, 7:41 am, "Bradley S. O'Hearne" <br...@bighillsoftware.com>
wrote:

[Stephen Sviatko]

Glossy, definitely.

I have preferred glossy ever since the 80's, when I would seek out monitors using Trinitron tubes (Sony and other manufacturers licensing this technology) over other monitors.

Matte just looks... fake.

Steve

[Ian Baird]

On Nov 24, 2009, at 5:50 PM, Stephen Sviatko wrote:

> Glossy, definitely.
>
> I have preferred glossy ever since the 80's, when I would seek out monitors using Trinitron tubes (Sony and other manufacturers licensing this technology) over other monitors.
>
> Matte just looks... fake.
>
> Steve

I love my 17" MBP (apple-issued of course) and the glossy screen has grown on me. However, I now have a serious case of techno-lust for the i7 iMac. *drool*

My advice? If you're using Xcode, get as much RAM as your budget can handle. It's all about memory per core in 10.6.

- Ian