I think many of us are worried about this equation:
UltraThin = Less Power
As a PRO user, I'm quite happy with my 15" MBP and I also think the 17" MBPs are just as sweet.
I am not trying to sound arrogant or superior but I use my MBP for my job which includes teaching, programming, database design, graphics work, network design, lecturing, and many other tasks.
Given that I am interested in:
-Always more powerful CPUs with more cores (I use VMs a bunch)
-More memory - I am shocked that Apple still sells PRO computers with only 4 GB of memory. Luckily, 8GB is cheap but it is sad that PRO PC notebooks are shipping with 16GB now.
-More powerful GPU and more memory - 1 GB is adequate but many PC portables have more GPU memory and that would really help me in Photoshop with TIFF images.
-USB 3 support as TB has become a disaster
-More battery life
-You can remove the OD as long as I can plug it in via USB.
-Finally, I'm quite happy with my 1" thick MBP.
I DO NOT want to trade any of the above so I can slide my MBP into a paper envelope.
I am concerned that an ultra 15" and/or ultra 17" will retard Apple's ability to go with better/faster CPUs, GPUS, and memory for each.
I understand some people really want that and I'm happy for them. I am skeptical that moving the entire line to this form factor would be advantageous.
Watching this post be modded down in 3...2...1...
-P