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

MBP 15" vs 17" which one to buy?

A

Atomicfission92

macrumors regular
Original poster
Jan 18, 2009
170
0
Hey everyone,

I am going to be making my plunge into the mac world with the purchase of a new MacBook pro. I was dead set on the 2.53ghz 15" model until the new 2.66ghz 17" model came out. Now I'm back to square one. I like the 15" cause I think it's going to be more portable but then I like the 17" for the new battery and the added screen real estate. The two are basically the same as far as specs so I am basically going to omit them from my decision making process.

Which ever one I do get I will be purchasing a 24" led acd to use at home.

What is your take on this? Or what would you do?

Money really isn't an issue because it's only a few hundred more between the two models.
 
My idea would be to buy the 15, and with the money that you save you can purchase a nice LCD monitor. This way you have the best of both worlds.
 
If only a 'few hundred' wasn't an issue for me...

Anyway, I would go with the 15". Since you're buying the 24" ACD, the extra screen real-estate of the 17" is essentially useless. Besides, have you ever carried a 17" notebook around? It's like carrying a fetus to term.

Seriously, 17" notebooks are anything but portable. Yeah, the extra battery power would be nice, but it's simply not worth the sacrifice of portability.
 
if your planning on getting the ACD, then use your 15" at home with your ACD and when your on the road, use your 15"
 
do they sell extra battery packs for the 15"? Cause for the price difference between the two I could get a spare battery pack and the extra battery life in the 17" wouldn't make a difference.
 
I use to have a 17 inch MacBook pro and it was a pain to carry it on my backpack to ride my bike. I the reason why apple made the 17 MacBook is that it's for users who can move thief computer with then at home only... Like your room to your basement ... For protability I'll go with the 15" MacBook pro + the 24" display.

Isn't that awsome that all you have to do is disconnect the cables of the display to mobile your computer...
 
Buy the 15" and the extra battery. With the ACD, you should be fine.

BTW, what do you use the computer for?
 
Get the 17" hi res mbp, at least when you use the 17" mbp in dual monitor mode with the 24" led screen you will get 2 1920x1200 side by side. =D
 
nope7308 said:
Anyway, I would go with the 15". Since you're buying the 24" ACD, the extra screen real-estate of the 17" is essentially useless. Besides, have you ever carried a 17" notebook around? It's like carrying a fetus to term.
Click to expand...

Wtf? If carrying the 17" is carrying a fetus to term, carrying a 15" is carrying one and having it born two weeks premature.

Get over it people, the difference is almost negligible. They're both pretty big and the little extra isn't as bad as it's made to be.
 
I faced the exact same dilemma. I went with the 17 for a couple of reasons. First, the high res screen. However, I already have an iMac, so I am not getting another screen to go with the notebook. Secondly, for the ability to support 8g of RAM.
 
Sir Plus said:
I faced the exact same dilemma. I went with the 17 for a couple of reasons. First, the high res screen. However, I already have an iMac, so I am not getting another screen to go with the notebook. Secondly, for the ability to support 8g of RAM.
Click to expand...

This would be the only reason I would get one. That, and the 15" just isn't as powerful as the 17" for real work. I get more power and more screen for actual work with the 17" in a case that's only a few ounces heavier... yeah count me in.
 
17 for sure

I just returned my 15" unibody (dead on arrival with the hard drive unfortunately). I had a choice to make, get another 15" or wait for a month or so for the 17". I currently have a 17" MBP, and did find that the 15" was a little more portable and lighter in the bag, but not by a huge amount. I also bought a 24 ACD, and like the idea of having 2 hi-res screens together. I also do a lot of work outside of home, so screen real-estate as well as the new battery were the deal makers for me. My 15" was a 2.8 as well, so similar in specs to the 17" now. That is what I did
 
If it's your only computer - the 17 inch is the way to go - the real estate and higher resolution are very sweet. The difference in weight and portability are there but are not the burden that many seem to want to make them out to be. I have a 17 inch and transport it a fair bit. Would a 15 be lighter and easier - sure it would. But would I get the bigger screen - no. What's more important to you?
 
Look how much more screen space you get with the 17" compared to the 15"

MBP17uni2.png


Plus a faster, newer model processor as standard

Plus a longer (lot longer!!) battery life as standard

Plus better cooling due to extra space

Plus a double quaility screen, with capability for 1.7million colours (doubke 15")

Plus Higher definition screen (almost complete HD, 15" is far lower resolution)

Plus one more usb port

And all this for only $300 more = Bargain.


More Info for you:

http://guides.macrumors.com/Which_Apple_notebook_should_I_buy?
 
kastenbrust said:
Look how much more screen space you get with the 17" compared to the 15"

MBP17uni2.png


Plus a faster, newer model processor as standard

Plus a longer (lot longer!!) battery life as standard

Plus better cooling due to extra space

Plus a double quaility screen, with capability for 1.7million colours (doubke 15")

Plus Higher definition screen (almost complete HD, 15" is far lower resolution)

Plus one more usb port

And all this for only $300 more = Bargain.


More Info for you:

http://guides.macrumors.com/Which_Apple_notebook_should_I_buy?
Click to expand...

arrrghhhh just when I had my mind made up on a 15", someone has to post this! :)
 
JayEllo said:
arrrghhhh just when I had my mind made up on a 15", someone has to post this! :)
Click to expand...

I had decided on the 17", then got to thinking the 15" would be more portable, at the cost of some screen real estate... Now I'm back to the 17... waiting Apple... waiting on you...
 
JayEllo said:
arrrghhhh just when I had my mind made up on a 15", someone has to post this! :)
Click to expand...

+1 here too, damnit that 17" beast is so gorgeous and I'd love to set the 17" beast up on my new big assed desk.

Only thing keeping me sane and away for now and sticking with my 15" unibody mbp is:
3215805597_3ed43ebaec_o.jpg
Somebody's Watching Me~~
 
kastenbrust said:
Look how much more screen space you get with the 17" compared to the 15"

MBP17uni2.png


Plus a faster, newer model processor as standard

Plus a longer (lot longer!!) battery life as standard

Plus better cooling due to extra space

Plus a double quaility screen, with capability for 1.7million colours (doubke 15")

Plus Higher definition screen (almost complete HD, 15" is far lower resolution)

Plus one more usb port

And all this for only $300 more = Bargain.


More Info for you:

http://guides.macrumors.com/Which_Apple_notebook_should_I_buy?
Click to expand...
The image on the 15" display doesn't appear to be filling up the full screen, the bezel is not that big.
 
kastenbrust said:
Look how much more screen space you get with the 17" compared to the 15"

MBP17uni2.png


Plus a faster, newer model processor as standard

Plus a longer (lot longer!!) battery life as standard

Plus better cooling due to extra space

Plus a double quaility screen, with capability for 1.7million colours (doubke 15")

Plus Higher definition screen (almost complete HD, 15" is far lower resolution)

Plus one more usb port

And all this for only $300 more = Bargain.


More Info for you:

http://guides.macrumors.com/Which_Apple_notebook_should_I_buy?
Click to expand...

Ok, be real, that is NOT a proper representation of the screen of the 15" MBP.

http://www.apple.com/macbookpro/features-15inch.html

The border is a lot smaller than is represented in your photo.
 
kastenbrust said:
Stop whining, that photo was taken at macworld, its real.

http://arstechnica.com/journals/app...s-first-impressions-of-unibody-17-macbook-pro
Click to expand...

I guess the others are arguing the fact that the 17" mbp in that picture is displayed closer to the shot making it look much bigger than the already big size of the 17" and the 15" mbp is scooted away to the right without portraying its real beauty while distorted from the camera angles. :p

But I'm sure with no doubt in my mind that 17" mbp has a much higher contrast/gamut and that 1920x1200 looks even sweeter than the 15" mbp's screen (I've already had the last gen hi resolution 17" led mbp so I know what I'm talking about). =D
 
jjahshik32 said:
I guess the others are arguing the fact that the 17" mbp in that picture is displayed closer to the shot making it look much bigger than the already big size of the 17" and the 15" mbp is scooted away to the right without portraying its real beauty. :p
Click to expand...
Not that, the image is perfectly legitimate, but there is a black border about 1/2"-1" (on the screen itself) as part of that bird image on the 15" screen that makes the screen size seem smaller, it has very little to do with the angle of the screen.
 
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