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Did anyone PREFER the 13 over the 15?

I always preferred the 13" over the 15". Unfortunately, Apple has treated the 13" like a bastard child from a crack whore mother when it comes to some of the options that I really think it should have. If I could get an anti-glare screen on the 13" I'd be a happy camper.
 
I went in to the Apple Store fully expecting to buy the 15". I liked the power it had but when I looked at it I decided I needed the portability more then I needed the power. I'm quite happy with it. I also got the i7 13" and I upgraded the RAM myself to 8GB. It meets all my needs that I have but I totally understand if people need to do a lot of photo editing and such the display, lack of higher screen rez really makes a difference.
 
I had both the 15 and 13. The 15" has an advantage that its easier on the eyes but the 13" is easier to travel with, i.e., more mobile.

Since my laptop is hooked up to an external monitor when not traveling with me, the screen size difference is nullified. I'd go with the 11" MBA if I could but when I was looking for a laptop, microcenter had an incredible deal for the 13" MBP. I couldn't pass that up
 
i like the 13 better for using on my lap but the 15" is a much better all around device due to the increased power and screen real estate.

but if the 15 and 13 were available on an equal level i might go for a 13 next time around but who knows.
 
I think any laptop larger than 13" is too large.

That being said, I wouldn't mind a higher density screen on the 13" or a dedicated video card...
 
Menge said:
I think any laptop larger than 13" is too large.

That being said, I wouldn't mind a higher density screen on the 13" or a dedicated video card...
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agreed. for anything bigger id rather have a multimonitor setups or a desktop rig.

i think some people just want to get the most expensive macbook pro to say they have the most baller one. I know a few kids that have a 17" mbp but do no gaming, no video editing, and pretty much only basic stuff. He never takes the laptop off his desk. He could easily have gotten a 13" mbp with even a 27" cinema display and been cheaper than the mbp 17"
 
As someone who has both a 13" and 15", I can say the 15" is perfect. I use it as my primary computer and never wish my screen was bigger. I actually have an external monitor, but I found I didn't care enough and eventually took it away to free up desk space. As for portability, I used it at school and I never found it to be too large/heavy to carry. If you buy the appropriate sized bag, portability isn't an issue, especially since it's still quite thin.

The 13" is small. Yes, it is more portable, but I never complained carrying around the 15" so I don't really see that as a significant advantage. The screen size difference though is hugely noticable.

PS. In case you are wondering, I have the 13" because it's what my employer gave me.
 
xxBURT0Nxx said:
Barely faster... and since you claim that the processor in the 15" (which is the same as the 17") is only slightly better than the dual core in the 13" then the minuscule difference between the 15" and 17" is negligible. If the 15" processor, which is almost TWICE as fast as the 13" is only a slightly better CPU, then how can you claim the 17" to be oh so much better because it gains a few points in geek bench since it has more room for cooling. STUPID argument, and invalid point since you don't even see the 15" processor as better and it's the EXACT same on in the 17"


a $200 monitor? So the larger hard drive, better processor, discrete gpu... they all must be imaginary items that don't really exist right?


You must be out of your mind. You won't pay a premium over the 13" for better specs and screen size, but you will pay a premium over the 15" for a larger screen and an express card slot? Your logic is stupid. If the price between the 13 and 15 is a deal breaker why not the price between the 15 and 17?
lol you are proving my point for me. You just said the 15" isn't worth the premium for a but the 17" is worth the price difference when it has the EXACT same processor, EXACT same GPU, and a SLIGHTLY more dense screen? How can you justify that the 17" is worth it when it has the SAME specs as the 15"

Whatever, think what you want but this is seriously the dumbest argument i've ever heard. You think a 17" is worth it and a 15" is not because of 2" difference in screen size and an express card slot.... stupidest thing ever stated
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Dude...did you even TAKE math?

LOOK at the specs of the 13". LOOK AT THEM. It peaks out non-BTO at $1499. Ok.

Now LOOK at the base 15" specs. They are NOT that tremendously better than the 13" yet apple wants to charge a starting price - STARTING price - of $1799 for that machine. Ok. Dual Core vs. Quad. I can see that. But then you're getting no-Vaselined on the video card and video RAM.

The higher end 15" STARTS at $2199. It STARTS $400 more expensive. Add high res antiglare, let's be fair. You're now at $2299. You have just spec'd out a machine that is functionally identical to the 17" with a lower resolution. For $200 more you get a better cooled machine, as well as one that can do the 1920 resolution AND the 1680 resolution, an extra USB port, an ExpressCard slot, etc etc etc. ALL for $200.

Compare the higher end 15" to the 17", and it's crystal clear that one of two things is true - nay, must be true:

1: The 15" is overpriced; or
2: the base 17" is a deal.

That's logical. I tend to lean towards #1.
 
revelated said:
Dude...did you even TAKE math?

LOOK at the specs of the 13". LOOK AT THEM. It peaks out non-BTO at $1499. Ok.

Now LOOK at the base 15" specs. They are NOT that tremendously better than the 13" yet apple wants to charge a starting price - STARTING price - of $1799 for that machine. Ok. Dual Core vs. Quad. I can see that. But then you're getting no-Vaselined on the video card and video RAM.

The higher end 15" STARTS at $2199. It STARTS $400 more expensive. Add high res antiglare, let's be fair. You're now at $2299. You have just spec'd out a machine that is functionally identical to the 17" with a lower resolution. For $200 more you get a better cooled machine, as well as one that can do the 1920 resolution AND the 1680 resolution, an extra USB port, an ExpressCard slot, etc etc etc. ALL for $200.

Compare the higher end 15" to the 17", and it's crystal clear that one of two things is true - nay, must be true:

1: The 15" is overpriced; or
2: the base 17" is a deal.

That's logical. I tend to lean towards #1.
Click to expand...

Sigh

The other guy is saying the performance goes like this 13<<<<15<17 while the price goes 13<<15<17. The bigger price gap includes two more cores (how is that not a big deal? More and more programs will use all four cores) , The GPU allows for gaming which is important to some people.

Look at the benchscores for 13,15,17 divide ratings and then divide costs to compare.

And for the record as a pure math grad student, I fail to see your logic. :confused:

(Not beefing, just building ethos >.<)

EDIT: Also while the weight difference is more or less the same between the 13 vs 15 and 15 vs 17, the the 17 is probably much hard to move in one hand seems trivial but sometimes on the bus or going from the living room to the bedroom I only have one free hand.

And I know that sounds super super lame just thought I'd point it out.
 
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I love the 13".
I've had all 3 sizes, and right now have a 15" for the Anti-Glare screen. (photography)

I definitely love the 13" more than the 15" or the 17", it's ideal for me.
I like to be able to pick up the laptop and go onto it at any time, the screen space was fine for me. The 15" seems too big really, and if there's an argument against 15 and 17, I honestly feel they're pretty much the same thing.

With the 15" and 17" I feel like when I'm on the laptop, that is what I'm doing. It's not small and light to just close and put down, sit back down, toss it back onto your lap and open it up. There's a noticable weight and size difference between the 13" and 15".

13" for me.
 
The decision was made based on my needs.

I need portability, but also a really big screen when I want to work.
I need multitasking, but not extreme multitasking.
I need a lot of raw power once in a while, while compiling software.
I need something where to play when I'm bored, but not an actual gaming machine, I don't expect high setting graphics.


It was simple to me then, a 13" with an external display at my home was the way to go. I can multitask comfortably, I get more juice per core (important when compiling, since almost always is done in a single core) from the processor than all other processors in MBP line.

The screen in the 15" is not enough (not even the hi-res), the graphic card would be only useful for me when playing (which I usually dont, and if I do, don't care playing in low sets).

And finally the 13" is roughly the same size as a book, so I can transport it basically in any bagpack I wish

I think there is no correct one, nor a sweet spot. It's rather of what you really need, and in most cases I must agree, of how much you can pay.
 
revelated said:
LOOK at the specs of the 13". LOOK AT THEM. It peaks out non-BTO at $1499. Ok.

Now LOOK at the base 15" specs. They are NOT that tremendously better than the 13" yet apple wants to charge a starting price - STARTING price - of $1799 for that machine. Ok. Dual Core vs. Quad. I can see that. But then you're getting no-Vaselined on the video card and video RAM.
Click to expand...
yeah so you are saying that $300 is not worth a larger hard drive, larger screen, a processor that is almost TWICE as fast (which is apparently "NOT that tremendously better??) a discrete GPU, and they even have separate audio in/out.

The higher end 15" STARTS at $2199. It STARTS $400 more expensive. Add high res antiglare, let's be fair. You're now at $2299. You have just spec'd out a machine that is functionally identical to the 17" with a lower resolution. For $200 more you get a better cooled machine, as well as one that can do the 1920 resolution AND the 1680 resolution, an extra USB port, an ExpressCard slot, etc etc etc. ALL for $200.
Click to expand...
So $300 is not worth all of the upgrades I listed above, things that actually improve performance like a better gpu, cpu, etc. but you think that $200 is worth a USB port and an express card slot???? WOW you have the dumbest logic i've ever heard. I think you are the one who fails at math. And as i've pointed out the difference in resolution is negligible because the screens are different sizes. They have almost the same PPI, the 17" is not a denser screen, it just is bigger.

Compare the higher end 15" to the 17", and it's crystal clear that one of two things is true - nay, must be true:

1: The 15" is overpriced; or
2: the base 17" is a deal.

That's logical. I tend to lean towards #1.
Click to expand...
You don't even know what you are talking about. First of all, neither is a deal... to say that a $2500 laptop is a deal is a god damn joke, apple products are overpriced compared to PC's so don't try to make it out to look like apple is really hooking you up with the 17" config.

AGAIN, because apparently you don't know how to read or do math...

The differences between the two machines are:
1)An extra USB slot
2)Express Card Slot
3)17" screen (add $50 for AG since you did on the 15")

all for $250.

I'd say that doesn't make either better than the other. If you want a larger screen (which may be valuable to those who prefer large screens) and express card slot, you are going to pay $250 (if the usb port is your selling point, that's a joke). For $250 less you lose an express card slot and get a 15" machine (which for some may be more valuable due to portability).

Neither machine is a better "deal" than the other... they are both very expensive, but some need the larger screen of the 17" some need the portability of the 15". To say the 15" is a rip off (compared to the 17") is the dumbest statement one can make. Go make yourself a spreadsheet of the prices and features of the machines and then analyze the situation.
 
dslrjunky said:
sorry OP but, threads like these are really getting old, they are much the same only word differently.. too many threads about:

"which one is better?", "which should I choose?", "did I made the right decision?", "can't decide which one to buy?", "do I really need this?"

I'm not being a dick i know this is a forum and everyone deserves a shot at an "epic thread".

bottomline you should buy whatever suits your need, because in the end even on threads like those people are gonna say the same thing.. its all up to you and your usage/needs.. there's no need to create threads for every purchases of Macs that all others have already posted/answered..

/rant
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What are you on about? It's not like you've been here for years, having to toil away at reading these threads.

It isn't a big deal at all. You could just ignore it.

Anyways, I got my 13 inch for portability. It had the right amount of speed, too, for my needs. 15 inch seemed overkill for me (and i actually think it is for a lot of people). Just analyze your needs, and then try out the machines.
 
I weighed up the pros and cons when I came to choose between the 13" and 15", and as most of my CPU intensive stuff is desktop based I've got a selfbuilt i7 system running Windows7 and Ubuntu with a couple of 24" screens, so power wasn't the driving force, gaming is unlikely.

The only real drawback on the 13" was the lower res, everything else fit my requirements, now the 15" I loved it, but the cost was nearly another 50% extra, and the size of it while not much bigger than the 13" the extra was the straw that broke the camel's back.

It's a damn shame that there are no screen upgrade options for the 13" otherwise it would have been near perfect.
 
Guh. At the end of the day I'd love to see a 1920x1080 (lower PPI) 15" MBA.
 
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