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Is the 17" MBP comfortable to use on the lap?

B

belgian85

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jun 19, 2008
3
0
I presently have a 15" MBP that I use extensively on my lap, and I find it very comfortable. I was thinking of upgrading to the 17" MBP, but I'm concerned it may feel to heavy or be too big to use on my lap.
Does anyone use it that way, or tried to?

Thanks

James
 
IMO, it would be too big. My 15 feels just right, anything larger would be too big. I've owned a non-Apple 17 inch laptop before, and it was not comfortable in my lap.
 
I use it that way. I don't think the weight or the size is the biggest concern (I'm not Shaq at 5'7" 115lbs). However the heat. It doesn't bother me, I just kinda ignore it it seems most the time, but many complain of it. There are things that dramatically help it out, for example the Incase Hard Shell and Rain Design iLap are all great accesories. Apple's notebooks are much difference then any others. The design and smoothness of them makes them different from the normal collage of plastic we see out of most PC makers. With that said, why are you planning on the upgrade?
 
Especially after the penryn update, yes its very very comfortable and a joy to use on your lap.

Imagine a gorgeous 1920x1200 led 17" just right smack in your face for you to view whatever you please and to multitask as well. Also the penryn makes it so cool on your lap while the weight feels almost the same as the 15" mbp did just wider. But once your comfortable laid back with the 17" mbp on your lap your already set to do some serious computing/watching videos/whatever you want. Did I mention the screen is freaking gorgeous! And you can do alot more (multitasking) at a time.
 
!!!!!!!!!!!WARNING TO ALL MEN!!!!!!!!!!

Don't use a laptop on your lap especially ones that get really hot like a MBP. It can do extensive damage to any future children you wish to create.


And I'm not kidding around either!
 
durant0s said:
!!!!!!!!!!!WARNING TO ALL MEN!!!!!!!!!!

Don't use a laptop on your lap especially ones that get really hot like a MBP. It can do extensive damage to any future children you wish to create.

And I'm not kidding around either!
Click to expand...

Lol, I think this warning was for the merom owners but I honestly feel that it gets moderately warm at best on my lap, these penryn runs so damn cool. I always used an ilap for the powerbooks, first gen mbp, merom... until penryn.. now I can comfortably put my ilap on my desk as a deskstand instead and just undock it and put the mbp on my lap.
 
durant0s said:
!!!!!!!!!!!WARNING TO ALL MEN!!!!!!!!!!

Don't use a laptop on your lap especially ones that get really hot like a MBP. It can do extensive damage to any future children you wish to create.


And I'm not kidding around either!
Click to expand...

and so can standing next to a microwave

or using a cell phone
 
thegoldenmackid said:
I use it that way. I don't think the weight or the size is the biggest concern (I'm not Shaq at 5'7" 115lbs). However the heat. It doesn't bother me, I just kinda ignore it it seems most the time, but many complain of it. There are things that dramatically help it out, for example the Incase Hard Shell and Rain Design iLap are all great accesories. Apple's notebooks are much difference then any others. The design and smoothness of them makes them different from the normal collage of plastic we see out of most PC makers. With that said, why are you planning on the upgrade?
Click to expand...

I'm upgrading because I do lots of engineering work and need the higher resolution.
As to the heat issue, it was bothering me until I installed smcFanControl and that makes such a difference. I make the fan run faster than normal, and the temperature rarely goes past 120F
 
durant0s said:
yeah but doing those for a short period of time is a little different then leaving a heating pad on your lap for hours. I mean the new MBP doesn't get that hot but when you run it full boar which I do a lot, I gets up there.
Click to expand...

It's amazing how much warmer it is when running XP. I pull out my old lap cooler that I used with my old Dell if I boot up in XP. Under OS X, it is pretty comfortable.
 
durant0s said:
yeah but doing those for a short period of time is a little different then leaving a heating pad on your lap for hours. I mean the new MBP doesn't get that hot but when you run it full boar which I do a lot, I gets up there.
Click to expand...

If you do something that intensive you should keep the mbp on a desk or somewhere with a flat hard surface.. I would suggest you an ilap very very nice.
 
A Little unrelated, but what temps does everyones MBP's Idle at? And whats normal? Mine will sit here with MSN, FF3 and iMail open, and stick under 40C with the fans at 2500 (Which is still silent, 3000 you start to hear, trust me lol)
 
So it's not just me

knightrider said:
It's amazing how much warmer it is when running XP. I pull out my old lap cooler that I used with my old Dell if I boot up in XP. Under OS X, it is pretty comfortable.
Click to expand...

I Have 17" MBP with the high res screen and mine runs hotter under Windows than OS X.

As far as using it on my lap its no problem at all

Far better than trying to balance ` 24" imac :D
 
I have a Dell XPS M1710 (17 inch) that weighs 9 pounds that i use on my lap.


It has a 512MB 7900GTX in it, so get at me when you start complaining that your MBP gives off to much heat :D
 
i've learned you can't game with a touch pad :D

i only play counter strike and track mania, but it's sad to say with a MBP ill get more FPS in both games, because they are both CPU dependent, and i still have a core duo (not 2) 1.83GHz CPU..
 
i have a 17" mbp and i love it, no problems at all on my lap, however, one thing to consider is that the hinge for the 17" is not as sturdy as the one for the 15" so if you incline the mbp too much , i.e. if you were laying down and using the laptop, the lid may not be able to hold itself up like the 15".
 
I use my 17" all the time on my lap. Comfortable? Yes. Hot? No. Gets warm of course, but I run the CS3 apps for hours with no problem. Love this machine!
 
I use my 17" on my lap, no problems.

But I'm 6'6", so my 17" MBP for work is like a 15" to me. And the 15" is like a MacBook.

;)
 
fongyuen said:
i have a 17" mbp and i love it, no problems at all on my lap, however, one thing to consider is that the hinge for the 17" is not as sturdy as the one for the 15" so if you incline the mbp too much , i.e. if you were laying down and using the laptop, the lid may not be able to hold itself up like the 15".
Click to expand...

That's not the hinge, it's the large 17" screen that's weighing the thing down.

andrewisnot said:
I use my 17" all the time on my lap. Comfortable? Yes. Hot? No. Gets warm of course, but I run the CS3 apps for hours with no problem. Love this machine!
Click to expand...

Amen, and best comment on the thread. I have it and will never go back to the tiny 15" screens. Everything about the 17" is better than the 15", not to mention the extra USB port and hi def screen that you can't get on the 15" model.

Personally, I'd get a 19" model if Apple made one.
 
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