13" or 15" Macbook Pro

[EndlessMac]

my fiance has acquired it and left me with a £400 Dell laptop.

(hands off woman! lol)

Along with your computer choice you should also think about getting a taser gun to keep her from taking your new computer.

I have used all three 13", 15", 17" but only own the 15" MBP. The thing is that everyone's opinion is going to be biased and it does depend on what you are doing on your computer and what's more important to you; the portability, screen size, matte screen, faster performance, etc.

Since you do have a 13" in the house, see if you can borrow (regain) the use of it for awhile so that you can test out how the 13" will hold up when you use it for your most frequent computer tasks. That would be the best way to know for sure. When I used the 13" and 17" I knew they weren't for me.

 

[jedivulcan]

I own both the mid-2009 13" and 15" MBP models. My 15" never leaves my desk (in fact, never really gave it much testing on the level of portability. I have it hooked up to a 22" external monitor via DVI and use the 15" as my desktop with a bluetooth keyboard and mouse).

I use my 13" MacBook Pro on the go and traveling (whether on a family road trip or class). It's the system I carry around every day. It's small and light.. use it on the couch and around the house.

I'm thinking about alternating between the 13" and 15" for kicks to see how it goes but I at least like one at safety of the office desk 100% of the time. I use laptops as desktops because of mobility (if I move in and out of my parent's house) and power redundancy (I won't lose all my work at the cost of not having a dedicated backup power source or something else).

I've used a 15" SR MBP (Mid-2007) and always envied my 13" MB counterparts for their screen size and portability. I thought 15" was too heavy and bulky (I'm a 130lbs guy). I got a 12" PB G4 to alleviate that problem quickly thereafter (which I sold away and replaced with a 13" MBP). The SR system got replaced with a mid-2009 model.

13" = Portable

15" = Desktop Replacement / Mobile Workstation

 

[5630745]

Pretty sure I would. I'm a small (120pound) guy, and I shuttle my laptop between home, work and cafe etc. I'm also fairly ugly, so I don't want to see my face the *whole* time I'm using the laptop monitor

Currently using a 4:3 format Thinkpad T60, and I'd prefer not to go any larger than that (weight is about the same for the Matte MBP15 as for the T60).

Can I pick the MBP15 up one handed with the lid open (holding at the palm rest)? The MBP13 felt more solid in that configuration - Ive heard a lot of horror stories about bent macbooks - at least the older models...

Thanks much for the reply.

 

[entatlrg]

My octo-core Mac Pro. (But to be fair, I do not have an iMac or a Mac mini.)

If I'm working on something that demands resolution like Photoshop, Premiere, After Effects, or Visio (I know, evil) and I'm portable - then I prefer the 17.

I just got the 13 but so far it's turning into my favorite couch potatoe surfing machine since it's light and cool in the lap. The 17 gets very warm in my lap; that sucker will sterilize a fellow! I think I'll tend to prefer the 13 as my travel machine as well. I'm loving the battery life on the 13 so far too.

Here's a photo of the 13 sitting on top of the 17 to give an idea of size. My 17 is an early 2008 model and my 13 and 15 and current unibody models.

Sam

I would of guessed you where going to say the 15" was your favorite, power/portability.

But, it sounds like you prefer the 13" overall as far as notebooks are concerned?

 

[th0ma]

The screen on the 13" isn't that much smaller then the 15. 1280x800 vs 1440x900 is only 160x100 difference. Now if you go to the 17 yeah that is a big difference 1920x1200.

Owning both the 13'' and the 15'' i absolutely agree. I find myself using the 13'' more, even when i'm at home.

 

[Azathoth]

The screen on the 13" isn't that much smaller then the 15. 1280x800 vs 1440x900 is only 160x100 difference.

No, that's disingenuous - it's a 27% difference in screen area (multiplications is not associative over addition or something like that) - so it's a significant difference.

 

[Davidkoh]

Yeah, the screen real estate (pixels) is the same as the 15" I'm using at the moment, but is there anyone here that struggles using the 13" (and willing to admit it)?

Not struggeling really. Sometime when I have gamed on it playing games like "Ultima Online" for fun an hour or so I sometimes had to move up close once or twice when I was trying to read some really small text in the game. Apart from that I use it in my lap at a comfortable distance.

 

[Demosthenes X]

The 13" screen size is fine for word processing, web browsing, email, even light design in Photoshop. Where you want more real estate are things like coding, video editing, and data analysis (big spreadsheets on a small screen are a PITA).

I bought a cheap 22" monitor for my desk. When I need the real estate, I've got it. And I've still got an infinitely portable machine.

 

[lilskaterpunk]

Great comments guys, this is helping me out on my decision lots! So far 13.3'' MBP 2.53Ghz sounds like the one
I don't do hardcore video/photo editing, gaming, just email, music, chat, learning new stuff on internet lol and constantly moving around the house and places.

The 13" screen size is fine for word processing, web browsing, email, even light design in Photoshop. Where you want more real estate are things like coding, video editing, and data analysis (big spreadsheets on a small screen are a PITA).

I bought a cheap 22" monitor for my desk. When I need the real estate, I've got it. And I've still got an infinitely portable machine.

Ya, great idea. I think ill just use my larer HDMI TV if ever need to hook up for a larger screen.

How would u say the DVI output is for larger monitors? Im so use to my PC and HDMI to HDMI (Sound and video) but is DVI still same quality for picture? (Then sound if needed is using headphone jack output)

 

[dagamer34]

Great comments guys, this is helping me out on my decision lots! So far 13.3'' MBP 2.53Ghz sounds like the one
I don't do hardcore video/photo editing, gaming, just email, music, chat, learning new stuff on internet lol and constantly moving around the house and places.


Ya, great idea. I think ill just use my larer HDMI TV if ever need to hook up for a larger screen.

How would u say the DVI output is for larger monitors? Im so use to my PC and HDMI to HDMI (Sound and video) but is DVI still same quality for picture? (Then sound if needed is using headphone jack output)

I think that's really the best solution. I've had a 15" MacBook Pro for 2.5 years and I feel it's just gotten too big for me to use anymore. I'm really hoping that the next revision comes with a sharper 16:9 13" screen (like 1366x768) so I don't have to make any compromises.

 

[mhdena]

If you are going to be portable at all you will appreciate the 13" size.

I have a 20 " imac and a 13" (black) macbook, I've had and still use occasionally a 14" & 15" dell laptop but only on a desk.

I use my macbook the most, on the couch, in bed, backyard, on the go

there is a reason that netbooks are so popular

 

[lilskaterpunk]

I'm really hoping that the next revision comes with a sharper 16:9 13" screen (like 1366x768) so I don't have to make any compromises.

That would be sweet, but I don't see that happening for a while since the MBP 13.3'' are fairly new and upgrades will come for the 15'' and 17'' first.

 

[smchan]

I would of guessed you where going to say the 15" was your favorite, power/portability.

But, it sounds like you prefer the 13" overall as far as notebooks are concerned?

Power wise - my 13 and 15 are equal. Both have 2.53GHz processors, both have 4G memory and both have the same GPU. I am really enjoying how cool (as in doesn't burn my lap) and portable the 13" MBP is. I just got it and haven't taken a flight with it yet - but if I'm able to reasonably work in a coach seat with it, it'll definitely be my favorite.

I'm going to try to go without using my 17" for a couple weeks to see if I can just use the 13 as my only notebook.

Sam

 

[mikey28]

I have an iMac. I love it.

So when it comes to laptops, I think 13" is just fine; it' great for sitting around on the couch, and also traveling.

I would consider the 15" or, 17" if that was going to be my PRIMARY computer.

 

[mrsir2009]

I have an iMac. I love it.

So when it comes to laptops, I think 13" is just fine; it' great for sitting around on the couch, and also traveling.

I would consider the 15" or, 17" if that was going to be my PRIMARY computer.

My 15" is going to be my main, so I'm getting that. If it was not my main I would think about the 13"...

 

[MrBrekke]

For me the 15 was a must because I couldn't stand a smaller screen. It wasn't about pixels or resolution just pure real estate. I don't even run it at full resolution because it's too small and sharp for me at that setting. I think if someone is going for the 13 simply because it's cheaper but really want the larger screen in their gut then they will regret it later. It's pretty easy to look at them both in a shop and see which your eyes prefers.

I went from a 17" to a 13" MBP.
Nothing to do with money but all about portability.
if it is needed get a 24" or 30" ACD then the screen real estate should not be a issue at all.

But this is different from person to person. all about personal preferences.

To OP:

Go see them in real life and and decide what you like the best.
And good luck with your new Mac.