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MBP 15 i7 - vs - MBP 17 i5

Which MBP?

  • 15" i7

    Votes: 57 67.9%

  • 17" i5

    Votes: 27 32.1%
  • Total voters
    84
W

whirlpool

macrumors member
Original poster
Oct 28, 2007
44
0
Hey guys,

If these two machines cost the same, which one would you choose? and why?

I'm stuck on this predicament.

Main uses for me:
Running VMware
Gaming (steam yay! also game on windows bootcamp)
General web surfing/word processing

It will predominantly be used at home (although probably once in a blue moon will be taking it with me).

Cheers.
 
I really don't know why you wouldn't choose the i7 over the i5 if the price was the same. Other than a very slight potential to have slightly less battery life due to the very slightly faster processor I'd go i7 all day long. Now if you're paying more for the i7 then you of course have to decide if the slight speed increase is worth the cash.

On edit: Whoops. I just noticed you were comparing a 15" i7 to a 17" i5. Sorry about that.

With that being said I'd go with the 17". Personally I don't find that it feels much bigger at all.... and the screen size is just about perfect IMO for a laptop.
 
mingoglia said:
On edit: Whoops. I just noticed you were comparing a 15" i7 to a 17" i5. Sorry about that.

With that being said I'd go with the 17". Personally I don't find that it feels much bigger at all.... and the screen size is just about perfect IMO for a laptop.
Click to expand...

hehe yeah,

it's a tough choice...

Do you guys reckon the resale value of the 17" i5 will be better or the 15" i7?
 
personally id go with the bigger screen over a slightly better processor speed for what your needs are...
 
whirlpool said:
hehe yeah,

it's a tough choice...

Do you guys reckon the resale value of the 17" i5 will be better or the 15" i7?
Click to expand...

I was in the same spot as you. I decided on the 17" i5. The screen real estate and the express card slot made me make the right choice. The i7 only shaves off a couple seconds over the i5. I love my 17". You wont notice the i7 speed increase unless you do some hardcore programs. Get the 17".......
 
whirlpool said:
Hey guys,
It will predominantly be used at home (although probably once in a blue moon will be taking it with me).
Click to expand...

That pretty much answered the question for me. It seems that for what you're doing, the screen real estate and card slot is worth the "sacrifice"
 
tim100 said:
maybe true. how about 15 vs 17 some think 17 is too big
Click to expand...

This the only thing that's bothering me. My college's desks don't necessarily have too much real estate.... seeing that my 3 year old macbook barely fits on them.

As for the topic, my needs are pretty much the same as the TC's (besides using photoshop for photography) so I'll be looking at the feedback on this subject.
 
I travel a lot and carry two laptops. A Lenovo T500 and whatever else I have. I've been carrying a Lenovo X200 tablet. Works fine. Prior to that, I was carrying a Macbook Pro 17". It was not so bad, actually. The only issue I had was on the plane. It was like opening up a billboard. Unwieldy in a tiny seat.

So, I've opted to get the 15" i5 mid level model. This will be my primary machine (eBaying my Lenovo tablet) and I'll obviously keep my T500 (work issued machine).

In short, if you travel a lot (on planes specifically) I'd avoid the 17". It's too big to be comfortable. The 15" may be too big too, but I am a resolution junkie.
 
coolbreeze said:
I travel a lot and carry two laptops. A Lenovo T500 and whatever else I have. I've been carrying a Lenovo X200 tablet. Works fine. Prior to that, I was carrying a Macbook Pro 17". It was not so bad, actually. The only issue I had was on the plane. It was like opening up a billboard. Unwieldy in a tiny seat.

So, I've opted to get the 15" i5 mid level model. This will be my primary machine (eBaying my Lenovo tablet) and I'll obviously keep my T500 (work issued machine).

In short, if you travel a lot (on planes specifically) I'd avoid the 17". It's too big to be comfortable. The 15" may be too big too, but I am a resolution junkie.
Click to expand...


Everyone acts like the 17" is some huge, heavy monster. The 17" is only 1 pound heavier. I carry it everywhere.
 
whirlpool said:
Hey guys,

If these two machines cost the same, which one would you choose? and why?

I'm stuck on this predicament.

Main uses for me:
Running VMware
Gaming (steam yay! also game on windows bootcamp)
General web surfing/word processing

It will predominantly be used at home (although probably once in a blue moon will be taking it with me).

Cheers.
Click to expand...

Go for the bigger screen 17" all the way dude ;) but if your looking for portability i say go for the 15"


OOPS i thought both are i7 , i say 15" with i7 ;) hehe
 
Next Tuesday said:
Everyone acts like the 17" is some huge, heavy monster. The 17" is only 1 pound heavier. I carry it everywhere.
Click to expand...

I'm not suggesting it's a huge, heavy monster. The 15" MBP by comparison to my Lenovo X200 tablet is huge. My point is if you fly a lot, you will be uncomfortable. My guess is you don't travel much (I do every single week).

My application may be extreme, but it's my opinion and I posted in an attempt to help the OP.

Around the house, I TOTALLY miss the HD resolution of the 17". Outside of that, I'm good with the 15". If it sat on my desk mostly, and I didn't carry two laptops, there would be no question - 17" all the way.
 
I love my MBP 17". And with the AG display the difference in weight between it and the glossy 15" it's LESS than a pound.

Also the width of the silver AG bezel is narrower on the 17" MBP than the 15" which imo makes the 17" look sleeker
 
coolbreeze said:
I'm not suggesting it's a huge, heavy monster. The 15" MBP by comparison to my Lenovo X200 tablet is huge. My point is if you fly a lot, you will be uncomfortable. My guess is you don't travel much (I do every single week).

My application may be extreme, but it's my opinion and I posted in an attempt to help the OP.

Around the house, I TOTALLY miss the HD resolution of the 17". Outside of that, I'm good with the 15". If it sat on my desk mostly, and I didn't carry two laptops, there would be no question - 17" all the way.
Click to expand...

well if you dont travel alot the 17 inch provides additional space for working and a clear display. now the questions is if you are in the market for a mbp and have an imac why get a 17, desktop replacement when you can get a traditional size 13-15.
 
I've just received the 15" i7 High Res - the resolution makes it feel like a bigger laptop, yet you still get some portability. I'd definitely recommend it
 
Buy an external monitor. 17" is still, like Windows ME era, for stay-at-home computers.
 
u know what.. u makes me thinking more n more now.. hahaha. I was about to get the 15" antiglare, but only now that i realized that i can get the i5 17" antiglare, at about the same price.. the difference being only the processor and the screen size. hmmm :confused:
 
17 inch really isn't that big compared to the 15 imo, and has the benefit of the express card port.


Personally though, high resolution i7 15 inch is what I went for. Just like the idea of more power in a smaller package.
 
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