I'm fairly certain Apple accepts returns on CTO machines. You just need to wait until you have the package to be able to return it. My suggestion, make sure you actually want a 17" by playing with the machines in store first. I personally ordered a 15" on the day they were announced, but ended up canceling and re-ordering a 17" simply because I was planning to use it as a desktop replacement anyway.
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Bought a custom 15" now I wish I'd got a 17"
- Thread starter Ian.C
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Apple accepts returns of BTO products - have done so myself for the mid-2010 macbook pro.
As for the 15" vs 17" ... I had regretted getting my 17" for a while but recently have come to terms and realized how magnificent the 17" is. Probably because I've been spending more time away from my external monitor and have come to really appreciate the screen real estate. The 17" is worth it, you might only regret for a little bit if you were a student (due to the lecture halls' desks being tiny) but otherwise, you should be very happy with a 17".
As for the 15" vs 17" ... I had regretted getting my 17" for a while but recently have come to terms and realized how magnificent the 17" is. Probably because I've been spending more time away from my external monitor and have come to really appreciate the screen real estate. The 17" is worth it, you might only regret for a little bit if you were a student (due to the lecture halls' desks being tiny) but otherwise, you should be very happy with a 17".
17" Pros:
-1920x1200 resolution, which means an awesome amount of screen estate
-Bigger chassis, slightly better cooling
-Speakers are a ten-fold better than 15"
If you can deal with the slightly wider body and the extra 1 whole pound, it's definitely worth it.
-1920x1200 resolution, which means an awesome amount of screen estate
-Bigger chassis, slightly better cooling
-Speakers are a ten-fold better than 15"
If you can deal with the slightly wider body and the extra 1 whole pound, it's definitely worth it.
Just went through same...
This is almost exactly what I just went through.
I ordered my BTO Macbook Pro 15" last Friday (the day after launch), and in the interim had a change of heart, and purchased a 17".
Couldn't be happier with the 17". Let me re-phase...I'm in love with the 17"!
I am in a situation where I need some extra screen real estate but don't have the room to hang an external monitor.
I was initially apprehensive about it being too large, but so far that hasn't been the case. In fact, I just got off a flight where I was able to use it without much trouble. Granted it was a little tight, but I was able to work on it for a couple of hours without too much grief. I think the 15" would have been similar - the main issue being you can't open the screen as far back as you want. Just fyi, the 17" fits between the armrests with a couple inches to spare. I don't fly too much, so it will never be a big issue for me anyway.
As for the return, Apple emailed me a return label that I just slapped on the box and sent it right back to Apple. I never opened the box, but Apple said I had 14 days even if I had.
Hope this helps
This is almost exactly what I just went through.
I ordered my BTO Macbook Pro 15" last Friday (the day after launch), and in the interim had a change of heart, and purchased a 17".
Couldn't be happier with the 17". Let me re-phase...I'm in love with the 17"!
I am in a situation where I need some extra screen real estate but don't have the room to hang an external monitor.
I was initially apprehensive about it being too large, but so far that hasn't been the case. In fact, I just got off a flight where I was able to use it without much trouble. Granted it was a little tight, but I was able to work on it for a couple of hours without too much grief. I think the 15" would have been similar - the main issue being you can't open the screen as far back as you want. Just fyi, the 17" fits between the armrests with a couple inches to spare. I don't fly too much, so it will never be a big issue for me anyway.
As for the return, Apple emailed me a return label that I just slapped on the box and sent it right back to Apple. I never opened the box, but Apple said I had 14 days even if I had.
Hope this helps
I got the 15" and immediately regretted it - took it back and changed it for the 17" and have never regretted it. I also found it easy to take with me when travelling. It might be worth noting that I only use my MBP and no longer use a desktop. The difference in size and weight between the machines is not that much but the screen real estate difference is significant. I am also a fan of the matte screen and silver bezel, but that might be entirely subjective.
I do want the 17 but hesitant since it might be too bulky. I would love the real estate of the 17 but is it portable? I plan to use the MacBook Pro for school work, internet, some video editing, photoshop, and movies...
Don't plan to add a second display...would 17 be too much? I will take it out maybe 2 times a day~...
Don't plan to add a second display...would 17 be too much? I will take it out maybe 2 times a day~...
I've had my 17" now and looking at it, it looks and feels like my 2010 15" until you open it up the huge display
I have a 17 and have no regrets. I use it mainly in the house, moving to different locations during the day. I love the screen and don't feel a need for an external display at all. I was going to get a mouse but that idea is slipping. I am new to the Mac world and assumed I would need a mouse but the track pad is amazing on the MBP.
I need to find a better bag for it but I have a brief case style one I am using for now. I'll find a backpack or something later.
I need to find a better bag for it but I have a brief case style one I am using for now. I'll find a backpack or something later.
17" is extremely portable, as much so as the 15"...I have both and the 17 is my first choice every time.
Dude, you are going to love your new MBP. Trust me. Don't worry about what other people say in the forums... you'll find just as many raving about the 13 inch or the 15 inch.
Embrace your choice. Own it. Live it. Love it.
I love when people say the 15" is the the perfectly portable then turnaround and say the 17" is immobile lol it's a pound and like ~2 inch difference.
Yes you can return a BTO and you can even return it at an Apple store if you have one nearby, I asked them yesterday.
As for the purchase itself, I think your set up is okay. Since you got the hi-res screen, you will have a lot of screen space to work with. I know that when I got mine, I had more than what I'm used too (I did come from a windows PC mind you) plus its a little more portable and a little lighter than a 17.
Unless you are absolutely steadfast on getting a 17 incher, I say you hold onto it for a little while and test drive it a little bit before you decide to return it. That's my .02.
As for the purchase itself, I think your set up is okay. Since you got the hi-res screen, you will have a lot of screen space to work with. I know that when I got mine, I had more than what I'm used too (I did come from a windows PC mind you) plus its a little more portable and a little lighter than a 17.
Unless you are absolutely steadfast on getting a 17 incher, I say you hold onto it for a little while and test drive it a little bit before you decide to return it. That's my .02.
15 vs 17
I have the 17 MBP. I had a Dell XPS M1210 before going to Apple a few years back and it was nice - it was small and convenient - a 12" - It was pretty good at what it did. However, the Macs are ALL extremely nice machines - let me explain. We have in our family and business the following:
MBP - 17 - my personal laptop
MBP - 15 - my wife's
MBP - 15 with SSD and Parallels etc. - my son's laptop - he is a SW developer
MBP - 13 - my married daughter
MBP - 13 - my 15 yr old daughter
White Macbook - my 13 yr old daughter
White Macbook and Mac Mini - oldest son art student
iMac 27 - dedicated office machine
IPAD 2 - my latest portable business machine/toy
Although I like the MBP 17 I get a little tired of it on my lap (although I am typing on it now as the IPAD 2 battery died about 1 hr ago). In the summer I am in my pickup 12 hours a day - I run my business on Google Docs and Dropbox. I tried to use the MBP 17 in my truck - very powerful but too BIG. I tried my wife's 15 in the truck - much better. I tried my daughter's MBP 12 - very very nice size for the truck. If the IPAD 2 hadn't come along I wd have went with an 11" MBA for my truck PC (BTW, I do not use a computer in my truck while driving - I do use a computer a lot in my truck while I am parked at jobsites etc.)
I am not crazy about using an external monitor - I used to do this alot when I was younger but know it is kind of inconvenient. if you need a big screen go with an iMac 21.5 or a iMac 27 - these are nice machines if you need tons of screen real estate.
The extreme convenience of the MBPs is what makes them get the most use in our family. I think a MBA 11 or 13 would be a great "go to" machine that my family would have a hard time keeping their hands off just because they are so easy to pick up and use anywhere and they are powerful.
If I had to have only one machine that would replace:
MBP 17
IPAD 2
iMac 27
I would go with either a MBP 15 or a MBA 13
Although I love my MBP 17 it would grow a little wearisome for me if I couldn't also use the IPAD 2 or one of our "little" MBPs from time to time. I use a computer alot! When I get tired and/or I am feeling creative - I need to get comfortable and it is hard to be real comfy with the big 17 straddled on top my lap.
Sorry - I was rambling quite a bit, but as you can see from the above - I love all of the Mac products - you will not be disappointed whether you go with the 15 or the 17.
Best of luck!
I have the 17 MBP. I had a Dell XPS M1210 before going to Apple a few years back and it was nice - it was small and convenient - a 12" - It was pretty good at what it did. However, the Macs are ALL extremely nice machines - let me explain. We have in our family and business the following:
MBP - 17 - my personal laptop
MBP - 15 - my wife's
MBP - 15 with SSD and Parallels etc. - my son's laptop - he is a SW developer
MBP - 13 - my married daughter
MBP - 13 - my 15 yr old daughter
White Macbook - my 13 yr old daughter
White Macbook and Mac Mini - oldest son art student
iMac 27 - dedicated office machine
IPAD 2 - my latest portable business machine/toy
Although I like the MBP 17 I get a little tired of it on my lap (although I am typing on it now as the IPAD 2 battery died about 1 hr ago). In the summer I am in my pickup 12 hours a day - I run my business on Google Docs and Dropbox. I tried to use the MBP 17 in my truck - very powerful but too BIG. I tried my wife's 15 in the truck - much better. I tried my daughter's MBP 12 - very very nice size for the truck. If the IPAD 2 hadn't come along I wd have went with an 11" MBA for my truck PC (BTW, I do not use a computer in my truck while driving - I do use a computer a lot in my truck while I am parked at jobsites etc.)
I am not crazy about using an external monitor - I used to do this alot when I was younger but know it is kind of inconvenient. if you need a big screen go with an iMac 21.5 or a iMac 27 - these are nice machines if you need tons of screen real estate.
The extreme convenience of the MBPs is what makes them get the most use in our family. I think a MBA 11 or 13 would be a great "go to" machine that my family would have a hard time keeping their hands off just because they are so easy to pick up and use anywhere and they are powerful.
If I had to have only one machine that would replace:
MBP 17
IPAD 2
iMac 27
I would go with either a MBP 15 or a MBA 13
Although I love my MBP 17 it would grow a little wearisome for me if I couldn't also use the IPAD 2 or one of our "little" MBPs from time to time. I use a computer alot! When I get tired and/or I am feeling creative - I need to get comfortable and it is hard to be real comfy with the big 17 straddled on top my lap.
Sorry - I was rambling quite a bit, but as you can see from the above - I love all of the Mac products - you will not be disappointed whether you go with the 15 or the 17.
Best of luck!
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Great post, thanks for taking the time to write it, very helpful for me.
We have a lot of Mac's here and there like you.
I've been considering getting a 17" MBP to have a large screen 'anywhere'. The weight and size holds me back.
From reading numerous posts I'm reluctant, may be better off to stick with my MBA as my main machine.
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to make u feel better, i have an early 2009 17" MBP, while the screen is very nice, it's so big and it's not convenience to bring it from home to the office and back to the home again. so most of the time, i left my 17" beast at the office.
i wish i had a 15" with hi res display, and an ACD 27" for more screen real estate.
this has bogging my mind about selling my 17" mbp and go with the 15" 2011 MBP with ACD 27".
i wish i had a 15" with hi res display, and an ACD 27" for more screen real estate.
this has bogging my mind about selling my 17" mbp and go with the 15" 2011 MBP with ACD 27".
I've been using my new 17" for a few weeks, so wanted to share my impressions of going from a 15" MBP to a 17":
I don't have any problem with the weight difference. Get a well-designed backpack or whatever of your choice and you'll be fine, weight-wise. I'm currently carrying both the 15" and the 17" at the same time in an STM Bags large convertible shoulder bag and the weight is fine. I think the size of both the 15" and the 17" is best handled by a backpack, then by a vertical messenger.
The size of the 17" is a mixed blessing. Having a real screen available where ever you want to work is great, and an anti-glare screen is important to make this a reality as well. The size of the 17" (and the Speck case) also means I can work with the laptop on my thighs in a more natural posture, with my legs somewhat farther apart than they would be to hold up the 15". The one downside I've found is that in cramped quarters (in the middle of a row of bus seats, for example) it can be hard to open the screen all the way. This would probably be a problem unless one had a 13", though.
For desk use, the 17" is great in that it doesn't require an external monitor. At work I use it with a laptop stand to move the screen closer to eye level, and an external keyboard and trackpad. No need to mess with resizing a bunch of windows/apps when using the 17" away from the desk, because I haven't switched from an external monitor to the laptop screen.
Trust me man.. you dont want the 17.. not unless you plan on editing pictures and running VM ware. its just too big. I have yet to see one college desk where the 17" will fit and i have been in college for 4 years now and in 3 different colleges and 50 different buildings. Even for the two i mentioned above can be done easily on the 15. What are your needs exactly? i would highly recommend buying an external monitor.. of if you have a HD tv then just buy the 30 dollar adapter and surf the net on your tv.. thats what i do and its awesome