Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Feeling depressed carrying an almost 9 years old heavy MBP 17"

H

hajime

macrumors G3
Original poster
Jul 23, 2007
8,219
1,431
Hello, it takes about 4 hours to go back and forth between home and downtown by public transportation. I feel depressed carrying such heavy computer and its power adapter. One of the reasons for the depression might be due to the fact that it is almost 9-year old. I used to change computers every two years when I was a student.

Should I just buy an Air or wait for 2018 with that hope that Apple is going to change the design of the rMBP by addressing to the complaints of the users?
 
depends on your use.

17" down to 13 or 11 might be an issue for you?

I loved my old 2007 17" before it died.
using a 11 inch air now and it bit small.

would love a 17" even with the size and weight it would be good for work use.
 
That 17" MBP is definitely a heavy machine compared to the modern tbMBP's. I doubt anything is going to change in 2018 for the tbMBP's. I have 2 of the 15" 2016 tbMBP's (one personal and one issued from work). Both perform very well. I have only had one keyboard issue with my personal one where the "B" key would double press randomly. I have AppleCare on it and Apple recently replaced the top case and has resolved that issue.

It's your call if you want to wait, but I don't see any reason not to buy now. I definitely wouldn't choose an Air. The MacBook Air is extremely out of date. It all depends on what you will be using the machine for. The 12" Retina MacBook is a pretty decent machine for just getting all the basics done. It's extremely portable too. If you need the horsepower, there isn't really a reason not to just go with one of the current tbMBP's.
 
  • Like
Reactions: keysofanxiety
It sounds like the only thing holding you back is the lack of a 17-in option. Almost everything you can buy today can be reasonable considered "better" than the 17-in, except the display size. I've been a longtime user of 15-MBP, but when I recently helped my daughter move to a 13-tbMBP, I was impressed by the screen. Didn't really feel constraining to me at all. Everyone's eyes are different (near and far sighted), so ymmv. MBA screens are of course smaller, and less resolution. But with cheap and ubiquitous displays, it's easy enough to keep one at both work and home. Meanwhile, there's there opportunity to shed a large amount of computing size and weight, and enjoy a gorgeous display.
 
I, too, don't want to give up my 17" MBP, though mine's from 2011 so it's not quite as long in the tooth as yours is and weighs a tad less with its solid-state drive. My suggestion would be to get a small, fast MBP, two AC adapters, and two monitors - one of each for home and for work. Then you just have to carry about four pounds/two kg of computer, with plenty of battery life to use during your trip if that's practical, with no screen size compromises when you're at either of your two usual locations.
 
I have used two rMBP 15" at work. I was comfortable using those laptops. Not sure about smaller screen size. I used Powerbook Duo 280c long time ago. It had a beautiful 9.5" screen with 640x480 resolution. Of course can't use it to compare as the GUI and my eyesight have changed. Under Windows Vista, a Thinkpad with screen size of 14" was OK.
 
I really like my 17” MBP. Wish Apple still made computers like it... but I guess slowly they are working up to a 17” iPhone so no worries.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: mk313, kohlson and ZapNZs
You could buy a base MacBook Air or retina MacBook to act as your portable machine when traveling (which you could continue to use in combination with your 17-inch if you like the larger screen size). Both are good systems...they each have their own benefits (e.g., Air is ultimate in battery life, has physical ports, has the traditional keyboard; rMB is ultimate in extreme portability, has a great screen, has a more advanced trackpad.) (Both would be a huge performance advancement over your current machine in regards to virtually every measure of performance.) Further, if you do not like the current MBP, with one of these machines you are investing less money (especially if you purchase the base models as they are frequently on sales), often making it more practical to purchase a MBP to operate in combination (or in replacement of) the portable system. I'm using a combination of a MBPr 15 and a rMB 12 for my primary systems ATM and am loving it (if Apple offered a 17-inch, with as much as I love having the rMB for portability, I would probably buy it over the 15-inch.)

Alternatively, an iPad Pro might make a good lightweight alternative for traveling to function in combination with your MBP17 when not on the go? (obviously depending on what you do with the system while traveling!)

Sedulous said:
I really like my 17” MBP. Wish Apple still made computers like it... but I guess slowly they are working up to a 17” iPhone so no worries.
Click to expand...

The iPhone 18 Ultra Super Tall 25k Widescreen Plus Pro Plus

12+-+1.jpg
 
Last edited:
I upgraded my 2009 17” MBP back in September. It finally gave up the ghost, couldn’t be switched on any more.

It was the first time that I’d looked at the laptop lineup from Apple for some time. I ended up with a 15” mbp, the one with the touch bar. I found the Airs were very long in the tooth, screaming for an update, the MB isn’t powerful enough for my needs, and the MBP lineup kind of pushed me to the one I ended up with. I wasn’t impressed by the selection. I really felt I had to get the top machine as the line up just doesn’t seem to be offering an adequate alternative.
 
  • Like
Reactions: AxiomaticRubric
I am a big fan of the 11' Air. I had one a few years ago. I have the new macbook pro 13" now and its looks great, but the screen gives me a headache, the keyboard is terrible and the touchbar is a gimmick that has become an annoyance. Also you get usb ports on the Air, which is a big deal.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Yvan256
dewski said:
I am a big fan of the 11' Air. I had one a few years ago. I have the new macbook pro 13" now and its looks great, but the screen gives me a headache, the keyboard is terrible and the touchbar is a gimmick that has become an annoyance. Also you get usb ports on the Air, which is a big deal.
Click to expand...

Why the screen gives you a headache? Is it too small?
 
hajime said:
Why the screen gives you a headache? Is it too small?
Click to expand...
The resolution is just too high. I read some other people were having the same problem. Something to do with your eyes not being able to focus. Its not an issue on phones because your eyes focus on the device, but you are looking at a larger screen from that distance, you dont really have anything else to focus on. Something like that. I changed the resolution so that everything is bigger and its better. Still not great.
 
hajime said:
Hello, it takes about 4 hours to go back and forth between home and downtown by public transportation. I feel depressed carrying such heavy computer and its power adapter. One of the reasons for the depression might be due to the fact that it is almost 9-year old. I used to change computers every two years when I was a student.

Should I just buy an Air or wait for 2018 with that hope that Apple is going to change the design of the rMBP by addressing to the complaints of the users?
Click to expand...
??????????????????????
Cher up......buy a car and you can get to work faster and the car can carry the laptop.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back