15 vs. 13 rMBP dilemma

[Breedlove]

After coming across a sudden windfall, I am now faced with a dilemma and was hoping to get some advice from you all.

Here are the two machines that I am now deciding between:

13" rMBP
i7-2.8GHz Haswell
16GB RAM
512GB SSD

15" rMBP
i7-2.3GHz Haswell
16GB RAM
512GB SSD
nVIDIA 750M dGPU

Here are my intended uses:

• Light coding (occasional work with VMs), video editing (FCP), photo editing (Lightroom and PS), web design.
• HEAVY research. I do a lot of multi tasking. I go through tons of PDFs (probably close to 30 open at any given time), Evernote, Word, etc.
• Music editing (girlfriend is a violinist and I help her with recording and post-production)
• Occasional gaming session to blow off some steam (used to gaming on a desktop rig but that is now in storage and I do not see myself setting it back up in the foreseeable future).
• -HD Video

My Considerations:

• Cost is not a huge factor as the difference in price between the two machines for me would be ~$230 and I will not be replacing this machine for years to come.
• Portability is somewhat of a concern to me as I commute with my laptop stowed away on a daily basis. The 13" seems to be the ultimate in portability but I'd have to sacrifice quite a bit to make the switch, coming from a 17" MBP. I've grown used to the size and weight of my 17" and going down to the 15" rMBP is already a huge jump.
• Screen-size is of utmost importance to me. I do have my computer hooked up to a 25" LCD at home but I spend most of my time at the library. I need the screen real estate to have Preview or Safari open side-by-side with Word or Evernote.

Which machine should I go with?

 

[ano0oj]

screen-size is of utmost importance to me. I do have my computer hooked up to a 25" lcd at home but i spend most of my time at the library. I need the screen real estate to have preview or safari open side-by-side with word or evernote.

15"

 

[nathairtras]

Which machine should I go with?

Screen-size is of utmost importance to me.

If it really is of the utmost importance, get the 15".

 

[doubleaa]

I've ordered the same spec 13" to replace my 2007 15". Already thinking about returning for the same 15" you listed.

I don't carry my laptop enough to sacrifice power for size. The majority of my use is hooked up to a display. I carry a work Windows machine daily so my MBP rarely leaves the house these days. Also, I'll use this MBP for 5+ years so more power down the road is always a good thing.

 

[nathairtras]

I carry a work Windows machine daily so my MBP rarely leaves the house these days.

You know, that's exactly why I chose the 13". Almost always on my home wifi, so I can have other resources on the network to pick up the slack if my 13" is lacking a few years from now. The size means I can be comfortable in any room of the house.

Had a 15" PB years ago, loved it until I got a 12" PB to fill in while it was stuck in repair limbo.