I don't know, I see most people complaining about the size and then those whom like the 17' bringing weight into the subject. But in any case, for me personally it has to do with being able to use my laptop in planes, in the car, and while sitting on the couch. I almost never use my laptop sitting down at a desk or table, so the 17' vs. a 13' or 15' is indeed a big difference for me. I suppose if I wanted to use the 17 inch in an office environment then it wouldn't be as much of a problem.
Also, no, it can't. Perhaps informally, in that you can use it that way if you want, but if we're going to use it in the correct way it is not in any way related to or interchangeable with weight.
I don't want to be that person who nags about every spelling mistake, I just didn't like the way you criticized others for saying it was too big and then launched into points about weight without separating them.
i don't use a laptop at a desk, i use a desktop. i have carried laptops around in the field for years, and use my laptop on my lap. most complaints seem to be about size and weight, too big and heavy is the most common complaint. i use a 15" HP laptop, my wife has a 17" HP which dwarfs the MBP.
in Apples world the 17" MBP is their largest and heaviest laptop, in the real world it is amazing that it can be the size it is and only weigh 6.6lbs.
i wasn't criticizing and i did separate....i said "is thinner then my 15" pc laptop and is only an inch and a half longer" to me that looks like a size comparison.
