17" i5 or i7 for college?

[alphaod]

If you want the screen real estate, go for the 17"; for portability, choose the 15"; in terms of performance, the i5 and i7 aren't that different; just a few numbers. When I had a 17" it was too big for most desks, never fit on an airplane (in coach at least). 15" is a good size and now with the higher resolution displays it's a great choice.

Go Big or Go Home.

Get the i7. You cant just upgrade it later like you can Ram or a Hard Drive.

Also with the i7, you get 512MB of Video Memory as oppose to 256MB.

Think of it as future-proofing your purchase.

I hope you know the OP is asking if the choice should be a 15" i7 or a 17" i5…

 

[iBunny]

If you want the screen real estate, go for the 17"; for portability, choose the 15"; in terms of performance, the i5 and i7 aren't that different; just a few numbers. When I had a 17" it was too big for most desks, never fit on an airplane (in coach at least). 15" is a good size and now with the higher resolution displays it's a great choice.



I hope you know the OP is asking if the choice should be a 15" i7 or a 17" i5…

Sure do. And Im telling him get a 15" i7

 

[brentsg]

I wouldn't even want the 15 for college really. I'd go with a 13 in that environment.

 

[LSXL]

ya wait until late may early june for the back to school deal. Then get a 15" i5 2.4ghz.

+1

Future proofing doesn't make sense. You spend a couple hundred to upgrade the processor hoping to get a year or two more when the reality is that you could save the money now and upgrade earlier. You'd get a better machine a couple years down the road and if you sold your current one the depreciation of two years versus three years will also result in a lot of money saved.

For example, if you would have bought a 15" MacBook Pro roughly three years ago:
Santa Rosa 2.2Ghz $1999
Santa Rosa 2.4Ghz $2499

Chose the first one and upgrade now, versus waiting another year with the 2.4Ghz because you don't have that extra $500. Also, the difference in price of a used 2.2Ghz vs. a 2.4Ghz is going to be I'd imagine somewhere close to 1/10th of that $500 that was paid.

Now over the last three years is there anything the 2.4Ghz could do that the 2.2Ghz can't?

Golden words.

I'm 6'2" and I love big screens. hahaha

I also love big screens (though being just 6'1") and wanted to get 17" MBP, but went with 15" due to size and footprint. Apart from documents and internet I'm recording/composing music, so I just opted for external monitor when I'm at home.
If big screen is what you are seeking - get 17" i5 (less heat, more battery and yet with 512MB graphics card). Otherwise get high-resolution version of 15" 2.4 GHz i5 and put money towards external display, better storage, accessories.

 

[Pavia]

Unless you are some kind of semi-hardcore gamer, go with i5. The 200$ or whatever to pay for the i7, is better off used on some hot chick.

 

[LSXL]

lol

 

[underblu]

Honestly my 17" i7 MBP is not much more bulkier or heavier than the 15" MBP it replaced. However, some lecture halls have those tiny "half" desks that are probably small for a 17" or even a 15" for that matter.

Other than the actual size, I have found the less than a pound difference between the two (I have a 17" with the lighter anti-glare screen) is negligible.

 

[shoppy]

Sure do. And Im telling him get a 15" i7

I think he was referring to the fact that both 15" i7 and 17" i5 both have 512mb of graphics.

Personally I have the 15" i5 and an i7 on the way, the i5 is fast enough for me, I just want the extra screen. As for travelling I use my 17" every where in the past, till selling recently.

I have just ordered a new 17"and will cancel my 15" i7. I prefer the extra screen real estate.

 

[sweetice2007]

You won't see a difference between i5 and i7 using it for everyday use. I went for i5 17" mbp waiting on delivery, changed display to antiglare and drive to 7200. Will be using it for raw photo editing and manipulating plus graphic design and web building and developing