Reason To Buy 15" Over A Cheap 13"

[nitromullet]

Serious question here, but what can you do with a 9600M that you can't do with a 9400M? I get that the 9600M with dedicated video memory will be faster and free up system RAM, but in terms of functionality does the discrete 9600M open up some doors or options that are not possible with a 9400M?

 

[shambo]

Serious question here, but what can you do with a 9600M that you can't do with a 9400M? I get that the 9600M with dedicated video memory will be faster and free up system RAM, but in terms of functionality does the discrete 9600M open up some doors or options that are not possible with a 9400M?

Yup, grand central.

Those who can buy discrete, those who can't, err... can't.

 

[nitromullet]

Yup, grand central.

Those who can buy discrete, those who can't, err... can't.

I thought grand central dispatch had to do with thread management being handled by the OS as opposed to the application itself. It has nothing to do with the gpu IIRC.

Are you sure you're not thinking about OpenCL? Although, OpenCL appears to run on the 9400M as well.

http://www.apple.com/macosx/specs.html

OpenCL

requires one of the following graphics cards or graphics processors:

• NVIDIA GeForce 9400M, GeForce 9600M GT, GeForce 8600M GT, GeForce GT 120, GeForce GT 130, GeForce GTX 285, GeForce 8800 GT, GeForce 8800 GS, Quadro FX 4800, Quadro FX5600
• ATI Radeon 4850, Radeon 4870

Again, I'm sure there is a performance difference between the 9600M GT and 9400M, but neither are exactly powerhouses in terms of modern gpus. Plus, I believe they are built on the same architecture, so I'm curious if there really is something that the 9600M GT can do that the 9400M cannot.

 

[TuffLuffJimmy]

Why don't we start threads about why the 17 inch machine is SOOOO much better than the puny 15 incher. Seriously, the resolution is dismal on the 15 inch and the battery is better on the 17 inch.

Yup, grand central.

Those who can buy discrete, those who can't, err... can't.

/Facepalm.png

What would a graphics card have to do with thread management? If you don't know anything about computers or "future proofing" then please don't start threads about it. The fact is a 15 inch machine is probably no more future proof than a 13 inch machine. The bottle necks right now are at the hard disk, external interfaces and RAM. The graphics card is not much of a bottle neck for any task a daily user will run into. Since the 13 inch machine and the 15 inch machine both use the same components and interfaces, other than the graphics card, they will both be dropped from support at the same time.

 

[shambo]

Why don't we start threads about why the 17 inch machine is SOOOO much better than the puny 15 incher. Seriously, the resolution is dismal on the 15 inch and the battery is better on the 17 inch.



/Facepalm.png

What would a graphics card have to do with thread management? If you don't know anything about computers or "future proofing" then please don't start threads about it. The fact is a 15 inch machine is probably no more future proof than a 13 inch machine. The bottle necks right now are at the hard disk, external interfaces and RAM. The graphics card is not much of a bottle neck for any task a daily user will run into. Since the 13 inch machine and the 15 inch machine both use the same components and interfaces, other than the graphics card, they will both be dropped from support at the same time.

We looked at the 17" but he, like myself, didn't like the clumsy size and dead weight.

 

[georgemann]

To help new Macbook Pro buyers what are the main reasons to purchase the capable 15 inch over its 13" weaker brother?

Okay I will start with the obvious: bigger screen, bigger hard drive, bigger ram, bigger processor, extra GPU, more screen real estate, better battery life, higher quality build.

Any others?

You're delusional, the only MacBook Pro that it makes sense to buy at all, if you are interested in BIGGER and BETTER, is the 17-inch model. (and yes, I actually do use a 17-inch and travel around the world with it, but my next Mac will probably be the smallest one they make at the time of my purchase, a little brother for my 17-inch portable office and design studio).

 

[shambo]

You're delusional, the only MacBook Pro that it makes sense to buy at all, if you are interested in BIGGER and BETTER, is the 17-inch model. (and yes, I actually do use a 17-inch and have traveled around the world with it).

As I said we looked at the 17" but he, like myself, didn't like the clumsy size and dead weight, hence this thread is not about the 17 incher but thanks for your contribution.

 

[mrsir2009]

15 inch ROCKS

My Dad has a 15 inch mac book pro from 2006 or 2007 and they have bigger screen and bigger speakers =)

If I brought a Mac laptop I'd buy a 15, a 13 is too small and a 17 is too big to handle =(

15 inch is juuuussst right!

 

[shambo]

My Dad has a 15 inch mac book pro from 2006 or 2007 and they have bigger screen and bigger speakers =)

If I brought a Mac laptop I'd buy a 15, a 13 is too small and a 17 is too big to handle =(

15 inch is juuuussst right!

Agreed. It's Apples sweet spot.

 

[Surely]

My Dad has a 15 inch mac book pro from 2006 or 2007 and they have bigger screen and bigger speakers =)

If I brought a Mac laptop I'd buy a 15, a 13 is too small and a 17 is too big to handle =(

15 inch is juuuussst right!

For you.

I will always prefer the 13 inch.

 

[ziggyonice]

I've had my first gen., 15" MacBook Pro for almost 3 1/2 years now. It's served me quite well.

However, if I purchased a new Mac notebook, it'd be a 13". My reasoning is that, as a portable device, the 13" is more compact and simply more convenient to carry and use for that matter. The 15" is just a little too large; more powerful, yes, but a little too big for traveling with.

If anything, I'd get two machines: an iMac for work at home, and a 13" MBP when I'm out and about. Now if only there was a way to keep them synchronized. Hmm...

 

[Muncher]

I just wanna put it out there - there's nothing cheap about the 13" MBP. They start at friggin $1200.

 

[airplaneman]

To help new Macbook Pro buyers what are the main reasons to purchase the capable 15 inch over its 13" weaker brother?

Okay I will start with the obvious: bigger screen, bigger hard drive, bigger ram, bigger processor, extra GPU, more screen real estate, better battery life, higher quality build.

Any others?

As far as I know, the build is the same; they both utilize aluminum and have the same everything except the 15" is bigger. I like my 15" because it's the perfect size for me. It's totally preference. BTW, 1199 isn't cheap for most people. Let your tastes decide, not the price.