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15" MacBook Pro Owners - portability
- Thread starter entatlrg
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I loved the foot print of the 12" Powerbook I used to have, and I wish the 13" macbook pro had a higher resolution screen, it would be hard to pass up for working on a school desk or using in an airplane/train if it did.
If they bumped the 13" up to 1440x900 or similar, it would be a really hard choice between that and the base 15", probably why they haven't done it.
If they bumped the 13" up to 1440x900 or similar, it would be a really hard choice between that and the base 15", probably why they haven't done it.
The increased screen real estate and overall appearance that the 15" offers truly appealed to me (I just don't like how small the keyboard looks on the 17")...I suppose if I were a student carrying my laptop around all day the 13" would earn points for it's slightly better portability but for my "non-student" needs I WAY prefer the larger screen and of course the speed of the Core i5 and the 330M graphics card.
Its seriously the difference of getting a camera that is a few centimeters bigger than your last one. There isnt a single place that the small one can fit that the bigger one cant.
I've had all three models and LOVE the 15". Got the power and extra screen and carry it everywhere.
I've had all three models and LOVE the 15". Got the power and extra screen and carry it everywhere.
The 15" is the sweet spot between a portable 13" and a not as portable 17". But duh, you knew this already, as 15 is in between 13 and 17. What you really meant to ask was, will a 13" screen feel too cramped or will a 17" be too large to be portable? Will a 15" be both portable, and not cramped?
Well, the simple answer is not at all straight forward. The 13" screen is more than large enough for most work - non photoshop or final cut - and as it's the most portable, at first glance sounds like the right choice.
However, just because you have 13" to work with doesn't mean you have 13". On a PC, we are used to working with maximized windows. on OS X, as you may (or may not) know, the norm is to have a window that is not fully maximized, and only fills about 85% of the screen. Therefore, on OS X we can get about 13" of usable screen real-estate on the 15" MBP, and less than 12" on the 13" MBP.
I have a 15" MBP, and it's the right size. Any smaller and there wouldn't be enough screen real estate, and any larger would be too large to be easily portable. But don't think it's because 13" is too small - if you really want to use OS X in a way that it was not designed to be used, and work with the windows maximized, a 13" MBP will be plenty large enough for 99.9% of the things you do.
Well, the simple answer is not at all straight forward. The 13" screen is more than large enough for most work - non photoshop or final cut - and as it's the most portable, at first glance sounds like the right choice.
However, just because you have 13" to work with doesn't mean you have 13". On a PC, we are used to working with maximized windows. on OS X, as you may (or may not) know, the norm is to have a window that is not fully maximized, and only fills about 85% of the screen. Therefore, on OS X we can get about 13" of usable screen real-estate on the 15" MBP, and less than 12" on the 13" MBP.
I have a 15" MBP, and it's the right size. Any smaller and there wouldn't be enough screen real estate, and any larger would be too large to be easily portable. But don't think it's because 13" is too small - if you really want to use OS X in a way that it was not designed to be used, and work with the windows maximized, a 13" MBP will be plenty large enough for 99.9% of the things you do.
Seriously, the 15 is slightly bigger and slightly heavier. Imagine strapping a steak to the 13", that's how much heavier it is. The difference is really minimal. As for the increased size, that's just not an issue. If you're carrying it in a bag, it's unlikely that it being, what, 1.4 inches taller and wider is going to mean it's not going to fit. if you're just carrying it in your hand, the weight is the only difference, so unless you have a 13" case or sleeve you want to use, then it's a complete non-issue.
I had a 13" machine before this one, and now have a 15", and literally there is no way in which this machine is inferior (in my opinion). The only concern would be the weight, but due to not being frail to the point of ill health, I can deal with carrying the equivalent to 2 cans of coke in extra weight.
I had a 13" machine before this one, and now have a 15", and literally there is no way in which this machine is inferior (in my opinion). The only concern would be the weight, but due to not being frail to the point of ill health, I can deal with carrying the equivalent to 2 cans of coke in extra weight.
I just got my second 15" MBP - one that I consciously chose over the 13" (they both had enough in terms of power for me). I'm someone that regularly lugs it around uni together with more than it's weight in books and usually manage with a small shoulder bag. The weight factor is really negligible and the tradeoff you get for the slightly smaller computer you get back in terms of a massive screen resolution (I went with the new HiRes display and it is just stunning!).
I can't imagine being too productive at the minuscule res that the 13" offers and I've triedmy friend's MacBook is a pain to use because of this.
I can't imagine being too productive at the minuscule res that the 13" offers and I've triedmy friend's MacBook is a pain to use because of this.
I owned a powerbook 17" and bought a Macbook Pro 17" to replace it last year, I carry my laptop from work to home on a daily basis and I would never buy anything smaller.
I just switched from a 13" MacBook to a 15" MacBook Pro. In a word: portability sucks. The 15" is way too big. It's not only the laptop itself: I had to buy a new bag, sleeve, etc.
I really hope that next time I need a new laptop Apple will have managed to put a powerful commuter into a 13" case.
I really hope that next time I need a new laptop Apple will have managed to put a powerful commuter into a 13" case.
I have a 15" MBP and my wife the 13"... when it comes to portability, the 13" wins hands down. However, when you factor in what you actually get in terms of performance, screen real estate in addition to portability... the 15" wins. Like others have said, the 15" hits the sweet spot between portability and performance.
But if you're looking primarily at portability, get the 13".
But if you're looking primarily at portability, get the 13".
coming from a macbook Air, the Hi res 15 that I have is an absolute joy to work on. I can still carry the machine around the house with one hand (just works out my arms a little more). I take the machine with me to work every day and have not really noticed the increased weight in my bag.
whenever i pick up the air, it just feels like a useless toy to me now.
whenever i pick up the air, it just feels like a useless toy to me now.
I have owned a 13 MB, 13 MBP and 13 Air. When I went to a 15 for the power I thought whoa this thing is big. It's only about a pound heavier than the 13 MBP. My wife has the 13 now and I could never go back ... the screen is so small now that I am use to the 15.
I bring my first generation MacBook Pro and charger to school every day. It's perfectly fine; I don't feel weighed down or anything. I would not sacrifice the screen real estate for portability. If the 13" had a 1440x900 matte screen or better, then I would definitely reconsider.
I came from a 13" Macbook, currently having a 15" '10, and I can't use anything smaller now - Seriously! One of my friends has got the new 13", and when I look at it beside my new, beautiful 15" I am SO sure I chose right. The extra weight and size is of no importance.