13" screen on the MB... too small?

[sunfast]

I've always had small laptops (my MB is the biggest I've owned) so I may not be the best to comment. I think it's a great size though, I do plenty with it and don't have any problems. 🙂

 

[grafikat]

I have no problems going between my cinema display and my MBA. The transportation factor is huge to me, but I never felt like I settled on screen size.

 

[NightFlight]

Yes, it is too small.

I have used MBs extensively and I always find that the screen is too small for me. I am used to a 15.4 and I love the extra real estate that it provides. I will finally buy a MB of my own when they finally release one with a larger screen, I refuse to buy a MBP because I do not need that.

 

[applecupcakes]

I've had my (first) Macbook now for just under a month, and I can honestly say I barely notice the small screen. Before this purchase I had a 15.4" laptop, and when my boyfriend bought a 13" Macbook two years ago I thought the screen was ridiculously tiny and that it would be awful. My Macbook is my main computer, and now I just use the 15.4" Windows laptop for work, but the small screen is actually quite nice. Now when I go back to using the 15", the thing seems beastly! The quality, crispness/brightness of the Macbook is quite spectacular, making the 13" VERY bearable!

 

[m1ss1ontomars]

I'm pretty set as far as PCs for work/gaming/etc. I have a Mini that I tinker around with, nothing major. I just quit WoW (/whew), so now gaming isn't that big of a deal. I was thinking about picking up a MB and maybe start doing more work on the road. My current PC laptop is pretty old and only get about 40 minutes of battery life, so for 'mobile' computing, it's pretty useless. I heard rumors of the MB's lasting 3-4 hours which sounded pretty slick.

Who told you those were rumors? With the screen turned down to the dimmest that you can still see, I can get well over 4 hours.

 

[mckyvlle]

I was using 15'' laptops for the past six years, all running Windows. I found that the resolution of 1680x1050 is barely enough. Then I got the MacBook, despite the tiny size, the way OS X manages windows didn't make me feel that I lost 2'' of screen space.

Try out Exposé & Spaces. They are wonderful when it comes to managing windows on screen.

 

[cambridge1807]

I personally think the screen is perfect for my usage. I don't do any photoshop or video editing on my macbook, mostly email, web, MS Office. But I also pair it up with an external display when I get home. When I use it in class or on the go, I find that it's the perfect size for portability and visibility.

I guess it depends on your needs. Size and weight were a factor in opting for the Macbook instead of the MBP, and I find it to fit my needs just fine.

 

[mademan118]

Yes, it is too small.

I have used MBs extensively and I always find that the screen is too small for me. I am used to a 15.4 and I love the extra real estate that it provides. I will finally buy a MB of my own when they finally release one with a larger screen, I refuse to buy a MBP because I do not need that.

Out of curiosity, have you used a Macbook with Spaces? I honestly would rather take my Macbook with Spaces over my 30" ACD. Its like having my own 30" monitor in the size of a 13" laptop. With the way I have applications set up and my mouse configured (LG VX Nano mouse), I never have the feeling of running out of real estate.

I actually wish there was a 13" Macbook Pro. Once a powerful but extremely portable MBP comes out (15" is not extremely portable in my opinion), I will jump ship to that.

 

[kovalchuk71]

Out of curiosity, have you used a Macbook with Spaces? I honestly would rather take my Macbook with Spaces over my 30" ACD. Its like having my own 30" monitor in the size of a 13" laptop. With the way I have applications set up and my mouse configured (LG VX Nano mouse), I never have the feeling of running out of real estate.

I actually wish there was a 13" Macbook Pro. Once a powerful but extremely portable MBP comes out (15" is not extremely portable in my opinion), I will jump ship to that.

The screen size is perfect for me as well. It makes the laptop nice and portable, which is ideal for walking around campus and taking to class. 🙂

 

[Abstract]

My MacBook is great, but I still find myself lacking in space. I'd rather have a 1440 x 900 res on my MacBook though.

In fact, I wish they'd just release it soon so that when resolution independent OS X comes out (10.6? 10.7??), everything will look wonderful. 🙂

Right now, it looks like I'll buy a 15" MBP next year. Due to the wide bezel of the LCD, the MacBook isn't much smaller than a 15" MBP. The difference really seems negligible in real-world use.