Apple Predicted to Discontinue 17-Inch MacBook Pro

[loon3y]

That is why I keep saying that if they introduce a 1920x1200 15" and discontinue the 17", they have partly addressed the problem (except for those who absolutely want the screen size itself).

ran into ANOTHER REASON why 17" are relevant not only for coding, and comparing coding, especially if ur running virtual machines because ur using Xcode to code for apple and other SDKs on windows 7 for windows programs.



we did a software demo today for the customer, the 13" was WAY TOO SMALL for the demo, it was terrible, but u can clearly see the limitations, and the resizing of the windows and such for the demo.

and its an ERP program so there many many functions, buttons, textfields, labels, etc etc.



the fact is i don't know what type of business u do development for, but in this field, when u have to have MULTIPLE PROGRAMS OPEN, CODING IN DIFFERENT VIRTUAL MACHINES, u absolutely need a 17" and to do a clean successful demo without resizing so much.


do not tell me u can do perfectly fine with a 13" or less in those circumstances. thats just ridiculous

 

[Renzatic]

I wasn't even going for light - just not an Alienware gaming machine or the equivalent.

Gawww. I hate Alienware machines. Every time I see one, I think "HAY GUYS! LOOK! I'VE GOT GROUND EFFECTS ON MY FREAKING SWEET RIDE...I MEAN LAPTOP! YOU WANNA TOKYO DRIFT LIKE RIGHT NOW". It's so cheesy, it actually hurts.

But if you're still in the market, I hear Sager makes excellent 17 inch laptops. They're gamer machines in the sense that they all have beefy graphics cards in them, but they're sleek, professional looking machines. Not cheesed out like an Alienware.

How long have you been an Apple customer?

About a year now. I'm still getting used to it.

 

[bpaluzzi]

the fact is i don't know what type of business u do development for, but in this field, when u have to have MULTIPLE PROGRAMS OPEN, CODING IN DIFFERENT VIRTUAL MACHINES, u absolutely need a 17" and to do a clean successful demo without resizing so much.


do not tell me u can do perfectly fine with a 13" or less in those circumstances. thats just ridiculous

Sorry charlie, but a 13" is fine. Less than ideal, maybe, but fine. It's a poor carpenter that blames his tools, and so on.

 

[Renzatic]

Sorry charlie, but a 13" is fine. Less than ideal, maybe, but fine. It's a poor carpenter that blames his tools, and so on.

Oh, GAWWWD do I hate that quote.

"Life sure was easier when I had that nailgun and a drill to build these houses".

"SHUT UP AND KEEP PUSHING THOSE WOOD DOWELS IN WITH THAT SCREWDRIVER. ONLY A POOR CARPENTER BLAMES HIS TOOLS"!

 

[bpaluzzi]

Oh, GAWWWD do I hate that quote.

"Life sure was easier when I had that nailgun and a drill to build these houses".

"SHUT UP AND KEEP PUSHING THOSE WOOD DOWELS IN WITH THAT SCREWDRIVER. ONLY A POOR CARPENTER BLAMES HIS TOOLS"!

Fantastic analogy. Definitely comparable to screen size on a laptop.

 

[\-V-/]

Sorry charlie, but a 13" is fine. Less than ideal, maybe, but fine. It's a poor carpenter that blames his tools, and so on.

Screen real estate matters depending on what you're working on. 13" is hardly fine. Having a lot of screen real estate while on the go is essential. Larger screens aren't always around to plug into when extra space is needed. Saying 13" is fine over a 17" is just plain silly. I mean really... please think about that statement you made for just a moment and if you can't see the fault in that mindset it really isn't a topic worth discussing.

 

[Renzatic]

Fantastic analogy. Definitely comparable to screen size on a laptop.

Yeah, I could've done a little better there. Anyway, my intent was to illustrate how big of a cop out hand wave the old "carpenter and his tools" nut usually is.

Sure, you might be able to build a house using a screwdriver to bore out holes in a house to pop wood dowels into. A programmer used to a larger screen can get by on a 13 inch. Both situations aren't exactly the most comfortable for those involved. Or, like you said, the most optimal. Why should either one of them make sacrifices to their usual workflow simply for the sake of change?

 

[heeby]

Gotta love the people who tell others what they need and don't need. I need a list of all the people online I am supposed to get approval from before I make my next purchase. Can someone PM that to me?

 

[bpaluzzi]

Both situations aren't exactly the most comfortable for those involved. Or, like you said, the most optimal. Why should either one of them make sacrifices to their usual workflow simply for the sake of change?

Agreed 100%. My laptop is a 15", and I much prefer to work on my static setups with 2 or 3 monitors per. However, my problem was with the original statement of being unable to work on a 13".

If you _can't_ get what you need done on a 13" screen, you're awful at your job.

 

[NewbieCanada]

Gawww. I hate Alienware machines. Every time I see one, I think "HAY GUYS! LOOK! I'VE GOT GROUND EFFECTS ON MY FREAKING SWEET RIDE...I MEAN LAPTOP! YOU WANNA TOKYO DRIFT LIKE RIGHT NOW". It's so cheesy, it actually hurts.

But if you're still in the market, I hear Sager makes excellent 17 inch laptops. They're gamer machines in the sense that they all have beefy graphics cards in them, but they're sleek, professional looking machines. Not cheesed out like an Alienware.

Thanks, I ended up buying a Sony F-Series that's now in permanent clamshell. My laptop that gets open now is a MacBook Air, and it will probably be replaced by a 15 inch Air or Pro on the next refresh.

 

[KnightWRX]

ran into ANOTHER REASON why 17" are relevant not only for coding, and comparing coding, especially if ur running virtual machines because ur using Xcode to code for apple and other SDKs on windows 7 for windows programs.



we did a software demo today for the customer, the 13" was WAY TOO SMALL for the demo, it was terrible, but u can clearly see the limitations, and the resizing of the windows and such for the demo.

and its an ERP program so there many many functions, buttons, textfields, labels, etc etc.



the fact is i don't know what type of business u do development for, but in this field, when u have to have MULTIPLE PROGRAMS OPEN, CODING IN DIFFERENT VIRTUAL MACHINES, u absolutely need a 17" and to do a clean successful demo without resizing so much.


do not tell me u can do perfectly fine with a 13" or less in those circumstances. thats just ridiculous

I do customer demos on projectors usually. On a 100" screen. 13" does that with no problem.

I also use virtual machines on my 13" just fine, they use their own virtual desktop, and I switch desktops between Xcode and the virtual machine and another for my browser.

I still see it as a "want" rather than a "need". For me, the "want" of a higher pixel count screen was less than the "want" of portability, so I opted for the MacBook Air and do just fine coding on it.

YMMV, but don't mistake your wants for needs.

 

[KnightWRX]

A programmer used to a larger screen can get by on a 13 inch. Both situations aren't exactly the most comfortable for those involved.

For some programmers, the comfort of carrying a smaller, lighter laptop outweights the comfort of carrying a high pixel count screen. At their desk, neither is using the laptop's internal screen to code anyhow.

 

[linux2mac]

For some programmers, the comfort of carrying a smaller, lighter laptop outweights the comfort of carrying a high pixel count screen. At their desk, neither is using the laptop's internal screen to code anyhow.

Mac Setups: MacBook Air 11″ & Mac Mini Web Development Workstation
http://osxdaily.com/2012/03/24/mac-...feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+osxdaily+(OS+X+Daily)

 

[Renzatic]

Linux2Mac: The greatest Mac news centric RSS Forum Bot the world has ever seen.

For some programmers, the comfort of carrying a smaller, lighter laptop outweights the comfort of carrying a high pixel count screen. At their desk, neither is using the laptop's internal screen to code anyhow.

Yup. Some. I know you prefer smaller laptops on the go. I know I would. One of the major reasons why I invested in an iPad instead of a laptop recently was for the portability and ease of use while out and about.

But tastes are subjective things. You might not like it, I might not like it, but there are people out there who'd much prefer lugging around a 17 inch laptop for all their out-of-the-office work. And who's to say they're wrong? That's why I'm arguing here. These people could do their work on a 13 inch Air. Hell, they could probably be coerced into doing it all on the 11 inch. But why should they be forced into using a smaller laptop? Just so Apple can consolidate their line? Apple should be attempting to cover everyone's needs here, not just theirs alone.

As long as they're not losing money on it, I see no reason why they should nix the 17 inch.

edit: I thought of one good reason why someone would want a 17 inch screen. It's pretty narrow focused, admittedly but still a good one nonetheless.

Apple will eventually come out with their high DPI Macbooks. That's well and good for a lot of things, but what if you're using something like Photoshop? It's a program that sticks a TON of info on the screen in all kinds of tiny icons scattered about across the screen. High DPI can only take you so far there. For them to fit all that information into a 13-15 inch screen and still give you a comfortable amount of space to work with (that is, without having to collapse and expand menus and tool tabs constantly), they'd have to make the UI elements super tiny. All the buttons and whatnots would be razor sharp and super clear due to the high resolution, but after everything is said and done, a 1cm target is still a 1cm target. That's too small to hit comfortably, specially if you're using a trackpad.

A 17 inch laptop would work far better for something like PS than a 13-15 inch would.

 

[KnightWRX]

Linux2Mac: The greatest Mac news centric RSS Forum Bot the world has ever seen.



Yup. Some. I know you prefer smaller laptops on the go. I know I would. One of the major reasons why I invested in an iPad instead of a laptop recently was for the portability and ease of use while out and about.

But tastes are subjective things. You might not like it, I might not like it, but there are people out there who'd much prefer lugging around a 17 inch laptop for all their out-of-the-office work. And who's to say they're wrong? That's why I'm arguing here. These people could do their work on a 13 inch Air. Hell, they could probably be coerced into doing it all on the 11 inch. But why should they be forced into using a smaller laptop? Just so Apple can consolidate their line? Apple should be attempting to cover everyone's needs here, not just theirs alone.

As long as they're not losing money on it, I see no reason why they should nix the 17 inch.

Loon3y is arguing that a 17" laptop is required for programmers. I'm arguing saying it's a matter of taste. So we're saying the same thing.

 

[Renzatic]

Loon3y is arguing that a 17" laptop is required for programmers. I'm arguing saying it's a matter of taste. So we're saying the same thing.

Pretty much, but I'm throwing in the "if he says he needs it, why should we or Apple say otherwise" modifier.

 

[KnightWRX]

Pretty much, but I'm throwing in the "if he says he needs it, why should we or Apple say otherwise" modifier.

Well, no one should say otherwise, but then, Apple doesn't have to make it and sell it to him either.

In the end, if Apple drops the model, I sure won't be surprised.

 

[loon3y]

I do customer demos on projectors usually. On a 100" screen. 13" does that with no problem.

I also use virtual machines on my 13" just fine, they use their own virtual desktop, and I switch desktops between Xcode and the virtual machine and another for my browser.

I still see it as a "want" rather than a "need". For me, the "want" of a higher pixel count screen was less than the "want" of portability, so I opted for the MacBook Air and do just fine coding on it.

YMMV, but don't mistake your wants for needs.

of course we use a projector, but the projector doesnt give extra real estate, it it just makes the view bigger so the whole room can see.

lol, dont blame the tools, blame the carpenter? do u know how much crap is in an ERP system? on one data window? ur basically running a business from that program.


im not saying its required, but there is no way u can do a demo on an 11 inch, unless you want to turn off your customers but resizing all the windows every time

 

[Radiomarko]

.....
If you _can't_ get what you need done on a 13" screen, you're awful at your job.

Now I'm guessing but does that mean you think you know exactly what I and everyone else with a 17" on the road does and what their needs are?

lmao

MacRumors seems to have become a kindergarten!

 

[bpaluzzi]

Now I'm guessing but does that mean you think you know exactly what I and everyone else with a 17" on the road does and what their needs are?

lmao

MacRumors seems to have become a kindergarten!

Nope, it means exactly what I said. If you absolutely _can't_ get your programming work done because all you have is a 13" screen, you're horrible at your job.

 

[KnightWRX]

of course we use a projector, but the projector doesnt give extra real estate, it it just makes the view bigger so the whole room can see.

Ah, you don't know how to properly configure a projector as a non-mirrored display. That explains everything. My laptop monitor does not dictate the resolution of my projector at all.

 

[loon3y]

Ah, you don't know how to properly configure a projector as a non-mirrored display. That explains everything. My laptop monitor does not dictate the resolution of my projector at all.

ohh really? lol wow how do u do it??


now i feel dumb

 

[KnightWRX]

ohh really? lol wow how do u do it??


now i feel dumb

Just uncheck the "Mirror Displays" check box under the "Arrangement" tab in Displays.

 

[whitedragon101]

Nope, it means exactly what I said. If you absolutely _can't_ get your programming work done because all you have is a 13" screen, you're horrible at your job.

He he, immensely practical statement. We should do this for all jobs:

Soldier - If you can't be a soldier without a gun you are horrible at your job.
Rally Driver - If you can't be a rally driver in a Prius you are horrible at your job.
Childcare - If you can't run a daycare centre in a minefield you are horrible at your job.
Cinema owner - If you can't run a cinema on a widescreen tv you are horrible at your job.
Petting zoo owner- If you can't run a fox and chicken petting zoo you are horrible at your job.

 

[Giuly]

Number 1 reason why Apple cancels the 17" MacBook Pro: Because it cancels the 15" MacBook Pro as well, replaces it with an 15" MacBook Air, and a 17" MacBook Air would cost you at least $3500, resulting in a lower volume than they have already, makeing it less profitable - or even more expensive.

People crying because they can't do X with a 15" MacBook Air: Get a (or multiple) Thunderbolt Displays. Is 27" big enough?