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MacBook Pro Decision

2.2ghz 15'' MBP w/ 23'' ACD or 17'' High Res?

  • 2.2ghz 15'' MBP w/ 23'' ACD

    Votes: 45 81.8%

  • 17'' High Res

    Votes: 10 18.2%
  • Total voters
    55
S

SavageLLama77

macrumors regular
Original poster
Yes, I know I made a thread like this earlier, but it seems that I have a smaller budget due to the iPhone coming up. My question is: Should I get the 2.2ghz 15'' MacBook Pro with a 23'' Apple Cinema Display or a High-Res 17'' 2.4ghz MacBook Pro. Each configuration costs exactly the same, give or take a penny🙂 . Know that I'm not in graphic design, and I won't be using any "professional apps." I just need a new replacement for my 1.6ghz iMac G5. All I want to do on the new machine is..

Microsoft Office and iWork for school
LOTS of Safari and Firefox windows open for web browsing
occasional iMovie/iPhoto for fun
iTunes
Mail
Watching, Streaming, Downloading, and Playing DVD Movies
Gaming ONLY if the computer is capable of running good quality games (its not a priority (I have an Xbox 360 for that)

One of the most important things is that I like having LOTS of apps and windows open at the same time without having the whole computer slow down or 'chug.' Thanks!🙂
 
The 15" MBP with an external seems a very good option. First because when you want to take your MBP to school, you won't have to be carrying a big 17" laptop.

And for your needs, the 15" MBP would be more than enough.
 
i say 15" mostly for the portability PLUS u get an even bigger screen then the 17", thew only reason u should get the 17" is if u really need the better graphics or the processor (which wont really do much)
 
I would absolutely go with the 15". You will like the portability so much more. 17" is (to me at least) more of a desktop that you can pick up and move if necessary. The 15" will give you a great balance of both. However, if you want the high-resolution on the go, obviously the 17" is the better choice.
 
x Shadow Dragon said:
i say 15" mostly for the portability PLUS u get an even bigger screen then the 17", thew only reason u should get the 17" is if u really need the better graphics or the processor (which wont really do much)
Click to expand...

Thanks for replies, guys! And shadow, I know the 23'' is a ''bigger'' screen than the 17'', but the two have the same amount of pixels.
 
SavageLLama77 said:
True, but would the 17'' have a "sharper" screen than the 23'' for movies as an example?
Click to expand...

Not necessarily. 1900x1200 is higher resolution than even 1080i Hi-Def video. So especially with your standard DVDs and less so with HD video, the image is stretched to fit your screen. And, if you limit the video to its true resolution, it will be a smaller-sized image on the screen.
 
makismagoo99 said:
Not necessarily. 1900x1200 is higher resolution than even 1080i Hi-Def video. So especially with your standard DVDs and less so with HD video, the image is stretched to fit your screen. And, if you limit the video to its true resolution, it will be a smaller-sized image on the screen.
Click to expand...
If you don't know 1900 1200 is 1080p which is what I am referring to for movies, not 1080i. So, which would appear sharper while watching the equal resolution screens, 17 or 23. Thanks.🙂
 
Yep go for the 15-inch MBP since you intend to get a cinema display.. I do lots of 3D graphics design and I'm getting the smaller MBP and also an external LCD display.. For the sake of having a portable machine 🙂
 
SavageLLama77 said:
If you don't know 1900 1200 is 1080p which is what I am referring to for movies, not 1080i. So, which would appear sharper while watching the equal resolution screens, 17 or 23. Thanks.🙂
Click to expand...

Check them both out at a store if you possibly can. I found the high-resolution 17" to be stunning. Looking at a 23" screen after that was a bit disappointing 😎
 
pdra05 said:
Yep go for the 15-inch MBP since you intend to get a cinema display.. I do lots of 3D graphics design and I'm getting the smaller MBP and also an external LCD display.. For the sake of having a portable machine 🙂
Click to expand...

Just so you know, I would only get an ACD if I got the 15''. It's not like I planned to get the ACD all along; I just got intrigued by the 17'' but look at the the 15'' and the 23'' ACD and saw that each configuration was the same price. Any different advice given that information? Thanks!
 
it seems to me that a 17" laptop isn't really that portable to begin with. but... a 15" plus an ACD will give you the best of both worlds.
 
amc382 said:
it seems to me that a 17" laptop isn't really that portable to begin with. but... a 15" plus an ACD will give you the best of both worlds.
Click to expand...

I wonder why so many people are getting the 17'' when it seems clear that almost everyone likes the 15'' and ACD.
 
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