17 inch MBP too big for college?

[Emrtr4]

Is the 17 inch MBP too big to be carrying around campus?

[shecky]

no.

[BigPrince]

I think it is and it looks stupid having it on your desk in the middle of class, if your desk is large enough. I would feel very awkward.

[iBenzin]

But it sure makes it a bigger target.

[CrzyCanuck72]

it's definitely better than some 17" PC laptops...it's very thin. But I think it's too big to be lugging around every day. You will eventually wish you had something smaller. IMHO.

[netdog]

I would only buy a 17" if I intended to use it primarily as a DTR and seldomly need to transport it.

The 15" better configuration makes for a very powerful machine that is eminently more portable, even if it too is a little large as a portable machine.

[timmillwood]

i take my 17" to uni every day, it isn't that big or heavy if you have a good bag. I have a Crumpler Base toucher!

[zim]

17" would be fine. Maybe go to the apple store, if you have one near by, and try holding it... ask one of the sales people, they will let you pick it up.

[IEatApples]

Maybe buy the 15" + a screen?

[B.A.]

I had a 17" and got tired of taking it to class. If you can afford it, get the smaller size and a seperate display as was mentioned above. If not, a 15" will work nicely in terms of portability and will be suitable for desktop duty as well.

[SpaceJello]

It really depends on what you use it for.

If that is your only computer while in college and do design work or anything that beg for screen real estate, I say go for the 17". I take mine around every day. It may look "big" compared to the macbooks but it really isn't, have you seen the 17" vaio? that thing is a monster. I have seen many people with 17". I do have to say you will have to spend a little more time finding a good bag. That's the only pet peeve I have.

[Eric1285]

I don't think your biggest problem will be the weight. It's not that heavy for a 17'' laptop. However, you may find that the 17'' model is too big to fit on many of the desks in your classrooms. Some of the older lecture halls at my university have tiny flip out desks that will barely fit a sheet of 8x11 paper. Your 17'' Macbook Pro would definitely hang over the edges and there's a very good chance that you or someone else would knock it over. Same thing goes for those desk/chair combos that the smaller classrooms have. The 15'' model would be better suited for classwork.

[mistyz23]

My 15 is almost TOO big to take to class every day. I would strongly advise against a 17 in for class. One of my class mates has a brand new HP 17 in (older lady, says she needs larger fonts and a bigger display?). She doesn't like hassling with it to take it out every day. I take mine out and put it away about 4 times on average a day for class, so portability and ease of use are key for me.

[siurpeeman]

I don't think your biggest problem will be the weight. It's not that heavy for a 17'' laptop. However, you may find that the 17'' model is too big to fit on many of the desks in your classrooms. Some of the older lecture halls at my university have tiny flip out desks that will barely fit a sheet of 8x11 paper. Your 17'' Macbook Pro would definitely hang over the edges and there's a very good chance that you or someone else would knock it over. Same thing goes for those desk/chair combos that the smaller classrooms have. The 15'' model would be better suited for classwork.

i completely agree with this statement. a 7 lb laptop isn't so bad, but the 10" by 15" footprint makes it too cumbersome to use going from class to class. and i would not want to have somebody tripping over a 17" mbp. if you're transporting it from your dorm to the library, fine, but it isn't a laptop to carry from class to class.

[stevehp]

I bring my 17 around campus everyday. I have had absolutely no problems. The size difference is negligble in your bag - weight and size. The extra screen real estate, whereever you go is well worth it in my opinion.

[amoda]

Hey,

I would recommend against a 17" for the same reasons mentioned before. The footprint is too big and just isn't worth it. In all of my classes i require the laptop, even calclulus and physics. So with the laptop, subject textbook, and some loose-leaf to workout the problems there really isn't any room to spare. And i have the 15" which is "just right", a 17" would just cause problems and slow everything down.

I recommend that you go to the school you're going to, if possible, and check out the likely places you'll study in (library, study rooms, cafe...). Check out the table sizes they have. Usually libraries have the largest tables while classes have the smallest.

Whatever you go with i recommed the following: A good case, keyboard and screen protection kits (PRICELESS) and a lock of some sort to keep it safe. The screen and keyboard protection kits are pricless since people will always be touching your screen and there are always drinks (coffee) around which can cause problems if spilled on the laptop.

[Xeem]

A 17" MBP would be very awkward on desks of most universities; even my 12" iBook can make my space a little too crowded at times in class! Another point to consider is that a 17" screen will probably distract those around you far more than even a 15" one, which can be a problem if many students and professors dislike seeing laptops being used in class.

[breakfastcrew]

If it tells you anything....I still think my 13in macbook is too big.

[Abstract]

Is the 17 inch MBP too big to be carrying around campus?

It will needs its own chair and parking space.


Nah, it's not that big, and it's not really that heavy. I don't understand the fascination of bringing your laptop to class. In Australia, I don't really see this happen very often (or pretty much never).

Personally, I'd get a 15" laptop and a 20" LCD from somewhere.

[aaronw1986]

17 is too big.

[2fives]

I say get the 15 and use the left over coin to buy a 19 or 20 inch monitor for hooking your MBP up to for dual monitors back at the dorm.

[CaptainHaddock]

Is the 17 inch MBP too big to be carrying around campus?

Honestly, I think it's too big to be called a laptop. It won't fit comfortably on small desks and tables.

[Father Jack]

Honestly, I think it's too big to be called a laptop. It won't fit comfortably on small desks and tables.

I totally agree. It is a monster :eek:

FJ

[shecky]

Honestly, I think it's too big to be called a laptop. It won't fit comfortably on small desks and tables.

these statements are getting ridiculous; i doubt any of you have actually used a 17". i have (for a couple of weeks when my 15" was dead) and the difference is noticeable, but not problematic. the footprint of a 17 vs. a 15 is about 1.3" wider and 0.8" deeper. you are telling me that the extra 1.3" and 0.8" makes the laptop not fit on small tables? please. :rolleyes:

is it heavier? yes. is it bigger? yes. is it "not portable?" no. i went to the 15 for 2 reasons: 90% was i would be using it primarily at home on a big external monitor and the size difference would not have really been a benefit for me; and 10% was that i had a hard time finding a bag for a 17 that did what i wanted it to do.

you need to go into an apple store, pick up a 17 in one hand and a 15 in the other (which are almost always next to each other) and see for yourself. then lay the closed 15 on top of the closed 17 and see how minimal the difference really is. make your own decision.

[CaptainHaddock]

these statements are getting ridiculous; i doubt any of you have actually used a 17". i have (for a couple of weeks when my 15" was dead) and the difference is noticeable, but not problematic. the footprint of a 17 vs. a 15 is about 1.3" wider and 0.8" deeper. you are telling me that the extra 1.3" and 0.8" makes the laptop not fit on small tables? please. :rolleyes:

Taking into account the need to use a mouse on my small desk, or the need to fit a coffee cup next to it at the coffee shop, yes. :) In fact, I would have gotten a 13" Macbook Pro had such a thing existed; I think 15" is still a bit large, although the screen size is very comfortable.

[NightFlight]

If I were taking it to class every day I would say 17" is too big. If you only do it occasionally it is okay. I always laugh when some kid pulls a monstrous laptop out of their bag, it looks rather rediculous.

[PDE]

these statements are getting ridiculous; i doubt any of you have actually used a 17". i have (for a couple of weeks when my 15" was dead) and the difference is noticeable, but not problematic. the footprint of a 17 vs. a 15 is about 1.3" wider and 0.8" deeper. you are telling me that the extra 1.3" and 0.8" makes the laptop not fit on small tables? please. :rolleyes:

is it heavier? yes. is it bigger? yes. is it "not portable?" no. i went to the 15 for 2 reasons: 90% was i would be using it primarily at home on a big external monitor and the size difference would not have really been a benefit for me; and 10% was that i had a hard time finding a bag for a 17 that did what i wanted it to do.


I do think that the 17" feels bigger and definitely not as portable as the 15". On many occasions when I'm sitting at one of those typical small round coffee shop tables I can't fit anything on the side of the 17". The 15" was a little better, but for size I think the 13" is the ultimate comfort portable size. You sacrifice a little screen size, a little everything, but it still feels like a good compromise that you can work with. THe 17" is a great luxury in comparison,but it really does feel awkwardly big. Objectively, it's not that much bigger than the 15", but when you're handling it and lugging it around, it feels much less manageable to me. Just my opinion.

[MaaseyRacer]

I graduated school in december. Over the 5 years I was in school, I had a 15 inch PowerBook, a 12 inch iBook, a 12 inch PowerBook, and two MacBook Pros. The 12 inch powerbook and iBook were my favorite class computers. I worked on them at school, and went home to my G5 with a 20inch display. However, when I sold the G5 I just had a 15inch MBP and my 20inch display, that combo seemed to work the best.
My recomendation is to get a 15inch MBP, and with the money saved get a 20" Apple or Samsung display. The Samsungs can be obtained inexpensivly at newegg, and look far better than a dell monitor. However, I sprung for the Apple display, it looks awesome, and it matches the computer:) .

[crazydreaming]

If your main reason for a laptop is ultimate portability, then the 17 definately is not the answer.

However, I used to have a 15" powerbook. Now I have the last rev. 17" powerbook, and I am in love with this machine. It is such a nice computer and I don't mind hauling it around at all. I live off campus and commute to school and always bring my PB with me in my backpack because I hate doing work on the school computers. I use my powerbook in 2 out of my 3 classes. All of my classes have big tables for desks for space is not an issue. I also sit in the back. I have never had a problem and don't notice much difference between my old 15".

If you can afford the 17" and you desire it, go for it I say.

[TraceyS/FL]

I have a new 17" and don't find it that big. I have only had 12" laptops before this. The size difference between the 15 & 17 isnt' that much physcially really. I have a friend that hates 17" laptops though, and just got a new 15". It seemed so small to me when i saw it!

That said, back when I was in college computers where rare... i had a MacSE and was the only one at the "upscale" off campus apartment complex i lived in. So lugging the SE to class would have been a bit much. ;)

I think 1/2 of my classes would have been fine with the 17", and 1/2 wouldn't have fit the 12".

I'd go with what you wanted - but if i was lugging it around everyday, i might be inclined to go with the 15 & a monitor. The best of both worlds - and you have more choices in bags! (which is the only hard part right now!)