I have been using a 15" laptop with trackpad at my dining room table comfortably for many years. I look down slightly at the screen but there is no neck craning or shoulder slumping involved. The table is higher than the typical desk used for computer work which makes it uncomfortable to use a mouse.
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Is the 13" MBP Really that much more portable then the 15"
- Thread starter Alexx90
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I have been using a 15" laptop with trackpad at my dining room table comfortably for many years. I look down slightly at the screen but there is no neck craning or shoulder slumping involved. The table is higher than the typical desk used for computer work which makes it uncomfortable to use a mouse.
15" (2011) never gave me any issue at all. Any neck crane was slight, as you say. However, 15" in the 2016 and up versions are possibly susceptible due to the dimensional thinning they received. Also, I had taken a 13 inch due to 15 being absurdly priced at the time, and am now thinking of probably switching out to an iMac (coming from a 13 instead of a 15). If I am to make any switch, it could be to a proper desktop instead of a 15 inch middling portable.
I am becoming more and more closer to the idea of an iMac and a 12 inch notebook. However, I might have one last trick up my sleeve, that is, if I can get my mother to part with the 24 inch Dell monitor I have given her as a makeshift television, and get her a cheap television instead. That way, the only expense I make is getting a cheap FHD TV (since TV signal is 1080p max anyway here) and a couple of HDMI cables and a USB-C to HDMI adapter/ cable. This will run me down by a maximum of $100.
This would be by far the best thing to do. I need to sneak my monitor back from my mother's room.
And, I am wondering, if I were to do this, I may not need my 13" 2016 at all. I could connect my 2011 MBP with a bad battery - so let's just call it a 1080p iMac machine with 2.4GHz quad core, 6770m 1GB graphics, 16GB RAM and 256GB SSD.
So, could also sell the 13 off and keep the money for a future purchase, burning the 2011 to the ground (risking the flare-up of the graphics chipset in the 2011 by connecting it to an external monitor).
However, that machine is now limited to High Sierra, and I am loving the Mojave betas on my 2016 MBP. So, most likely I will just use this 2016 with the monitor I sneak back from my mother.
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I have been using a MBP15 for over 10 years as main driver. Probably would be best served now with using iMac since find myself just using iPad instead of laptop on the go so stays stationary often. Was thinking about 13 which I might be more on go with but might be hard to adjust screen size or end up with monitor combo.15" (2011) never gave me any issue at all. Any neck crane was slight, as you say. However, 15" in the 2016 and up versions are possibly susceptible due to the dimensional thinning they received. Also, I had taken a 13 inch due to 15 being absurdly priced at the time, and am now thinking of probably switching out to an iMac (coming from a 13 instead of a 15). If I am to make any switch, it could be to a proper desktop instead of a 15 inch middling portable.
I am becoming more and more closer to the idea of an iMac and a 12 inch notebook. However, I might have one last trick up my sleeve, that is, if I can get my mother to part with the 24 inch Dell monitor I have given her as a makeshift television, and get her a cheap television instead. That way, the only expense I make is getting a cheap FHD TV (since TV signal is 1080p max anyway here) and a couple of HDMI cables and a USB-C to HDMI adapter/ cable. This will run me down by a maximum of $100.
This would be by far the best thing to do. I need to sneak my monitor back from my mother's room.
And, I am wondering, if I were to do this, I may not need my 13" 2016 at all. I could connect my 2011 MBP with a bad battery - so let's just call it a 1080p iMac machine with 2.4GHz quad core, 6770m 1GB graphics, 16GB RAM and 256GB SSD.
So, could also sell the 13 off and keep the money for a future purchase, burning the 2011 to the ground (risking the flare-up of the graphics chipset in the 2011 by connecting it to an external monitor).
However, that machine is now limited to High Sierra, and I am loving the Mojave betas on my 2016 MBP. So, most likely I will just use this 2016 with the monitor I sneak back from my mother.
My verdict is ready:
After switching from 13 inch for more than 10 years to 15 inch I have to say, 13 inch is much more portable. Not only does it fit beter in my Hugo Boss bag, but the weight of the latest 13 inch MBP is "almost nothing". What a delight! And yes, I do miss that. It even fitted an economy class food tray in the airplane!
BUT, my new 15 inch also fits in the bag, be it less snugly, has a better battery life and - apart from the better hardware - what a screen!! I am on the road right now and yes, finally I do love working at the bar or from my hotel room because now finally I can actually work efficiently (dual windows and still work and read both).
I was doubting but the burden of the portability - for me as a frequent flyer - has lost over the much better work experience. 15 inch it is!
And yes, the new keyboard is indeed much nicer, almost feels like the OLD (pre-butterfly) one.
After switching from 13 inch for more than 10 years to 15 inch I have to say, 13 inch is much more portable. Not only does it fit beter in my Hugo Boss bag, but the weight of the latest 13 inch MBP is "almost nothing". What a delight! And yes, I do miss that. It even fitted an economy class food tray in the airplane!
BUT, my new 15 inch also fits in the bag, be it less snugly, has a better battery life and - apart from the better hardware - what a screen!! I am on the road right now and yes, finally I do love working at the bar or from my hotel room because now finally I can actually work efficiently (dual windows and still work and read both).
I was doubting but the burden of the portability - for me as a frequent flyer - has lost over the much better work experience. 15 inch it is!
And yes, the new keyboard is indeed much nicer, almost feels like the OLD (pre-butterfly) one.
Do you really need 4k, tho? A 27" 1440P rez monitor with IPS or comparable panel looks great, and should be considerably cheaper too. It's what I've used myself since 2011; have a Thunderbolt Display I used with my old MBP (don't own the dongle to convert to old-style thunderbolt tho so useless with my new one), and a Samsung Syncmaster SA850 monitor for my desktop PC.
These are very nice, capable monitors, and what's available today will be even better.
Well, since monitors are almost a life-long purchase, today in 2018 I would rather not take anything less than 4K. 1440p is one option I overlooked, maybe I should revisit this option and see how the balance of price and performance weighs.
But hey, nothing is going to work out cheaper than getting my mother a 20-24 inch TV and take back my 24 inch FHD Dell monitor. Under $100!
EDIT: checked out some 1440p monitors. This one caught my eye. LG 29UM69G. Still costlier than $100!
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Well, since monitors are almost a life-long purchase, today in 2018 I would rather not take anything less than 4K. 1440p is one option I overlooked, maybe I should revisit this option and see how the balance of price and performance weighs.
But hey, nothing is going to work out cheaper than getting my mother a 20-24 inch TV and take back my 24 inch FHD Dell monitor. Under $100!
EDIT: checked out some 1440p monitors. This one caught my eye. LG 29UM69G. Still costlier than $100!
Sorry to resurrect this thread, but just traveled on a plane with a 15" MBP for the first time (Southwest Airlines) and was concerned about using the 15" on the tray table vs. 13" laptops in the past.
The 15" MBP fit perfectly on the tray table. There were no issues at all. Still had extra room on the sides. The person in front of me was NOT reclining, so that may have helped some. However, using the 15" on the Southwest flight was an absolute pleasure.
Just don't want those on the fence about the portability of the 15" MBPs to be nervous about using them on an airplane tray table. No issues at all.