I've been through this a few times, went from 17" and decided it was way to big and heavy so never took it with me and then switching to netbooks in 12" form factor which I decided were very portable but not that great to work on. Then switched to 13" which just ended up seeming like a bigger heavier netbook to me then switched to Sony Vaio Z 13" which was the ultimate in portabilty and power but in the end the screen real estate was just not enough to do any serious work on. So I ordered a 15" MBP and without a doubt it is the perfect size for me as far as portablity/power/screen real estate go. I really love that Z it is quite a marvel how much power it has in such a small package but unfortunately for my old tired eyes the MBP 15" is a much better option, I will be purchasing 15" from now on as IMO it is the perfect size for portabilty/power and screen real estate. Haven't tried a 14" that might be nice as well but there is no macbook in 14" and reason I switched to macbook was for the thinness it is about as portable as you can possibly get with a 14"-15" form factor latop.
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errrrr...liking me 13" more then my new 17"
- Thread starter farmermac
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Some friends were very positive about the speakers in the 15" MBP. So when I unpacked mine last week I tried some music with high expectations. Unfortunately though they sounded like a tin-can. I'm not picky about speakers at all, but I compared them to the speakers in my old 13" and although they're noticeably better, I still wouldn't like them at all for listening to music or watching a movie. So if that would be the only reason, I think you'll be disappointed. And then you'r stuck with a 15"-sized laptop with mediocre speakers.
If you want better sound but still be able to move around (opposed to just having a good set on your desk), check out the X-mini's. They're very small, easy to carry around in a bag, and they sound pretty great with a lot of bass. The best thing is you can chain them, so if you have two you can connect the first one to your MBP and the second one to the first mini. That way you can have pretty good 'stereo' sound from very little speakers. Watch some vids on YouTube to get an idea of how much difference there is between laptop speakers and those things. But in the end nothing can beat a normal speaker set.
About a year and a half ago I sold my HP Verve to a DJ colleague of mine. That machine's speakers were some Altec Lansings, quite nice actually for a laptop. They blow away all of the MacBook's speakers by a wide margin. The 17" though has some fairly good ones considering the space they had to work with.
About 5 years ago I had a 17" Qosmio laptop and it had the best Karman hardon speakers built in. But yea the laptop was like 2x the size of the 17" macbook pro and I used to carry it around EVERYWHERE!
I literally looked like a Ninja Turtle carrying that Qosmio around...
The thing I don't like about the 13 inch.
- looks ugly ( the speakers of the 15 inch make it look just perfect )
- it's not that much smaller than the 15 inch MBP
- In weight, the 13 inch is too heavy to be considered a light weight laptop.
- 13 inch screen is way too small to be productive on.
- looks ugly ( the speakers of the 15 inch make it look just perfect )
- it's not that much smaller than the 15 inch MBP
- In weight, the 13 inch is too heavy to be considered a light weight laptop.
- 13 inch screen is way too small to be productive on.
The only thing I don't like about the 13" is the glass/reflections. Everything else people are having issues with I think are really down to personal preferences, and why Apple makes other models for you to choose from.
higher resolution and ppi means both smaller font and smaller gui. Everything shrinks, icons become difficult to read etc, etc. Yeah I know all real pros just use hotkeys in programs like final cut and photoshop but hey, we're all human, sometimes I forget my hotkeys.
I've tried a 15" with a 1080p display and a 17" with a 1080p display and honestly, I don't see myself using anything higher than a 16xx by 900 on anything smaller than a 20"+ display.
I've tried a 15" with a 1080p display and a 17" with a 1080p display and honestly, I don't see myself using anything higher than a 16xx by 900 on anything smaller than a 20"+ display.
I have a 17" Pro and 13" Air. The thing to remember about the 17" machines is that they're not really intended to be carried with you everywhere you go - instead, think of them as desktop replacement machines that can be occasionally ported about, when needed. Mine leaves the house maybe once or twice a year, with the Air being the one that gets routinely carried about.
Using a 17" as a primary portable is far too much like hard exercise.
Using a 17" as a primary portable is far too much like hard exercise.
Good point, same for me, that resolution is suited to 20" screens and bigger.
I think Apple would sell more 17's if they offered an option with lower resolution so 'everyone' could see the screen.
Too bad for that, and too bad they don't offer an AG option on the lower res screens.
Guess they're making enough money already, and don't care to make what I feel are sensible decisions.
It seems to me that the decision as to whether to buy the 13 inch or the 17 inch MBP should turn on how often and how far you have to transport your computer. If you have to travel or carry it around a campus then the 13 inch is certainly the way to go. But if you don't require that a computer be highly portable, I am convinced that the 17 inch is the best way to go.
As others have noted, the extra pixels on the hi res model can be very handy. Further, reading text should not be a problem because the "
+" keyboard shortcut is a quick and, to me at least, painless, way to increase the size of text to a size that is more easily readable. My 17 inch Santa Rosa MBP has a resolution of only 1680 x 1050 but I frequently increase the size of text. As noted, it's fast and easy. Better yet, it works.
As others have noted, the extra pixels on the hi res model can be very handy. Further, reading text should not be a problem because the "
+" keyboard shortcut is a quick and, to me at least, painless, way to increase the size of text to a size that is more easily readable. My 17 inch Santa Rosa MBP has a resolution of only 1680 x 1050 but I frequently increase the size of text. As noted, it's fast and easy. Better yet, it works.It seems to me that the decision as to whether to buy the 13 inch or the 17 inch MBP should turn on how often and how far you have to transport your computer. If you have to travel or carry it around a campus then the 13 inch is certainly the way to go. But if you don't require that a computer be highly portable, I am convinced that the 17 inch is the best way to go.
As others have noted, the extra pixels on the hi res model can be very handy. Further, reading text should not be a problem because the "
how about a 15, if you cant decide
I have both, and I think that's the best solution. The 13 is not a compromise at all. I do all sorts of astrophoto processing on both. The finishing touches are always on the 17.
The 13 is an iPAD killer IMO. And the 17 is a workstation substitute.
I'm lucky to have both.
The 13 is an iPAD killer IMO. And the 17 is a workstation substitute.
I'm lucky to have both.
See I don't get this. On Windows, yes, the WUXGA res makes everything look super tiny. Snow Leopard doesn't look anywhere near that small.
I have a 17" Pro and 13" Air. The thing to remember about the 17" machines is that they're not really intended to be carried with you everywhere you go - instead, think of them as desktop replacement machines that can be occasionally ported about, when needed. Mine leaves the house maybe once or twice a year, with the Air being the one that gets routinely carried about.
Using a 17" as a primary portable is far too much like hard exercise.
And I don't get this either. The 17" is not that heavy and it's not that big. Is it as portable as a 13"? No. But it's not nearly as bad as you're saying. It's light, battery life is good, and it can handle much more with a lot more screen real estate.
I don't know...I know it's preference, but geez...a lot of you really need to check out the Gateway P7805u or that Qosmio at Best Buy, both clocking in at 10 pounds. Carry those around with you for a few weeks (I did) and then come tell me the 17" is big or heavy.
Having both is cool! Did you get glossy or AG screen on your 17?
For me the 13" MBP is an iPad killer for sure. I only use my iPad in my car for a big screen gps, otherwise 13" and 3g internet stick.
Compared to other 17"-ers, no, it's not that bad. But once you get used to carrying the Air around, you really do notice the extra heft in the Pro. Would I notice it so much if I'd never got the Air? Probably not, but now that I've been spoiled it's a different matter...
agree the 13 and ipad are similar when consuming info on the internet. for a few hundred more you have the power of a mbp over an ipad.
Compared to other 17"-ers, no, it's not that bad. But once you get used to carrying the Air around, you really do notice the extra heft in the Pro. Would I notice it so much if I'd never got the Air? Probably not, but now that I've been spoiled it's a different matter...
Of course I "noticed" it but I didn't care. It wasn't a substantial difference for me. Having held all of the MacBooks for extended periods, I just don't feel much difference in weight between, say, the 15" and the 17". Yet people would have me believe the 15" is somehow magically more "portable" even though it's only fractionally smaller than the 17".
IMO the 15 inch is the biggest I could deal with and still have it be portable. The 17 is powerful but also giant.
there is not much difference between the size of the 15 vs 17.
also the 13 is the most popular size for many reasons.
Over the years my needs have changed. I've used 12", 13", 15", and 17" mac notebooks. Each time I think I've settled and finally made a decision I end up selling it to get a different size. As of now I am using a 17" and I wouldn't have it any other way. Most likely because this is my only computer so I decided to get the biggest screen possible. That and I take it everywhere with me. Very portable, IMO, regardless of what the naysayers are babbling about.