Thinking about exchanging my 13" for a 15"

[gus6464]

I originally wanted the 15" but was afraid battery would not last me more than 8 hours which is critical for work sometimes. Some reviews of the 15" are saying it gets 7-8 but after reading the Ars review of the base model and seeing it gets 10 hours no problem with medium workload I am now back on the fence.

My normal workflow entails wifi, outlook email, cord to rdp into remote servers (heavy), iterm for also ssh remote, and office. I also use viscosity to log into VPN.

Does everyone think I can get 9 hours with this workflow on the base 15".

 

[doubleaa]

I originally wanted the 15" but was afraid battery would not last me more than 8 hours which is critical for work sometimes. Some reviews of the 15" are saying it gets 7-8 but after reading the Ars review of the base model and seeing it gets 10 hours no problem with medium workload I am now back on the fence.

My normal workflow entails wifi, outlook email, cord to rdp into remote servers (heavy), iterm for also ssh remote, and office. I also use viscosity to log into VPN.

Does everyone think I can get 9 hours with this workflow on the base 15".

My use is almost identical to yours (Outlook, Web, iTunes, RDP, Telnet/SSH via Terminal, Cisco AnyConnect VPN, Cisco Jabber, Windows 7 VM) and I am considering the same thing.

I have the 13" i7 2.8-16 GB-512 GB set to deliver tomorrow and I am leaning towards swapping it for the 15" i7 2.3-16 GB-512 GB. I've been using a 15" for the past 6 years and size/weight of the rMPB is better than what I am used to. I don't need the quad core or the dGPU power but considering I'm going to use this laptop for at least five years, the extra $350 is worth spending in case I ever do. Also, I'm an IT consultant on the side so this is a tax write off for me as well.

My concern with the battery is the apps I run constantly use the network. I think running of 802.11ac constantly will be an issue with. I know I could use an adapter and I may get one for home use. I'd rather Apple just refresh the TBD display so I don't need adapters for Ethernet, Firewire, DVI monitor.

 

[katorga]

15" seems HUGE

Coming from a 2007 15" MBP, the new one actually feels much larger than it is. Maybe the ratio of thickness to width and depth makes it seem huge, like the 17" of old.

If I could have gotten the 13" with quad core and 5200, that would have been the perfect solution for me.

 

[doubleaa]

Coming from a 2007 15" MBP, the new one actually feels much larger than it is. Maybe the ratio of thickness to width and depth makes it seem huge, like the 17" of old.

If I could have gotten the 13" with quad core and 5200, that would have been the perfect solution for me.

Agree. I also have a mid 2007 15" MBP and the rMBP 15" feels larger. Granted I have only spent time with the rMBP in the store so my experience is limited.

13" with processor and iGPU of the base 15" would be awesome. I'd be less likely to switch if that were an option.

 

[doubleaa]

Comparing the specs they are very close except for the height and weight of course, yet the rMBP does feel larger. That 1/10 of inch difference in depth is noticeable.

2007 15"
Height: 1.0 inch (2.59 cm)
Width: 14.1 inches (35.7 cm)
Depth: 9.6 inches (24.3 cm)
Weight: 5.4 pounds (2.45 kg)

rMBP 15"
Height: 0.71 inch (1.8 cm)
Width: 14.13 inches (35.89 cm)
Depth: 9.73 inches (24.71 cm)
Weight: 4.46 pounds (2.02 kg)

 

[MN7119]

I got the 13" yesterday. Just returned and placed an order for the 15". Since this will be the main home computer I prefer a bigger screen rather than portability. "Go big or go home"

 

[Krazy Bill]

I got the 13" yesterday. Just returned and placed an order for the 15". Since this will be the main home computer I prefer a bigger screen rather than portability. "Go big or go home"

Had you kept the 13" do you know what kind of external display you could have gotten with the savings?

 

[johnnylarue]

I got the 13" yesterday. Just returned and placed an order for the 15". Since this will be the main home computer I prefer a bigger screen rather than portability. "Go big or go home"

Amen!

 

[PDFierro]

The one thing holding me back from the 15-inch is its form factor. It just feels much larger than it needs to be for a 15" laptop. But if someone will mainly be using it in one place, then I think the 15-inch rMBP is ideal. It's one hell of a machine.

 

[johnnylarue]

The one thing holding me back from the 15-inch is its form factor. It just feels much larger than it needs to be for a 15" laptop. But if someone will mainly be using it in one place, then I think the 15-inch rMBP is ideal. It's one hell of a machine.

All a matter of perspective--the 15" is downright puny compared to the 17" I'm coming from...

Out of curiosity, does the 13" come with binoculars?

 

[PDFierro]

All a matter of perspective--the 15" is downright puny compared to the 17" I'm coming from...

Out of curiosity, does the 13" come with binoculars?

I couldn't even imagine using a 17-inch. I've heard the 15-inch rMBP barely fits on an airplane tray.

The 13-inch form factor is like perfection to me. I might feel better about the 15" if it wasn't so wide.

 

[Jacquesass]

If I could have gotten the 13" with quad core and 5200, that would have been the perfect solution for me.

Amen. Broadwell is apparently delayed, but if Intel releases a lower power quad-core with Iris Pro (?6200) next year, that will make a hell of a 13"...

 

[MN7119]

We don't take the Macbook out of the house but we never keep it on a desk either. We move it around all over the house so an external display wouldn't do any good.

Had you kept the 13" do you know what kind of external display you could have gotten with the savings?

 

[Krazy Bill]

Amen. Broadwell is apparently delayed, but if Intel releases a lower power quad-core with Iris Pro (?6200) next year, that will make a hell of a 13"...

Works for me! But I think Apple will keep the 13" as their "dog" offering just to keep some distance between it's larger sibling.

 

[johnnylarue]

I couldn't even imagine using a 17-inch. I've heard the 15-inch rMBP barely fits on an airplane tray.

The 13-inch form factor is like perfection to me. I might feel better about the 15" if it wasn't so wide.

I actually did a bunch of flying with my 17" last year. Figured out how to rest the base of it against my chest + tray at a 45 degree angle. Granted, I probably wouldn't try to write a 2000-word essay in that position, but it was an acceptable substitute for, well, the worst-designed tablet of all time...

 

[luffytubby]

The one thing holding me back from the 15-inch is its form factor. It just feels much larger than it needs to be for a 15" laptop. But if someone will mainly be using it in one place, then I think the 15-inch rMBP is ideal. It's one hell of a machine.

i felt the same way until i tried both in the store. I put them in top of each other. the difference is quite little.


then i tried holding them and I noticed that if I am having both sitting on my lap from an upright position, the 13'' is too cramped. it's to narrow, where the 15'' has better ergonomics for viewing. but I am a tall man 6'4 so that might be why.


I've always had 13 inch notebooks so this was a revelation. Most def will get 15.

 

[PDFierro]

i felt the same way until i tried both in the store. I put them in top of each other. the difference is quite little.


then i tried holding them and I noticed that if I am having both sitting on my lap from an upright position, the 13'' is too cramped. it's to narrow, where the 15'' has better ergonomics for viewing. but I am a tall man 6'4 so that might be why.


I've always had 13 inch notebooks so this was a revelation. Most def will get 15.

That's interesting. I did test both out in the store extensively, and they were right next to each other. 13-inch won out for me for the reasons I already mentioned. But everyone will have their own preference.

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I actually did a bunch of flying with my 17" last year. Figured out how to rest the base of it against my chest + tray at a 45 degree angle. Granted, I probably wouldn't try to write a 2000-word essay in that position, but it was an acceptable substitute for, well, the worst-designed tablet of all time...

Haha, I would have liked to seen that.

 

[MN7119]

Same here. Always had 13" laptop until I tried the 15" in store. For using around home it is way better than the 13". If you want to take into a plane maybe the 13" is better but in my case the 15" will be my home computer.

i felt the same way until i tried both in the store. I put them in top of each other. the difference is quite little.


then i tried holding them and I noticed that if I am having both sitting on my lap from an upright position, the 13'' is too cramped. it's to narrow, where the 15'' has better ergonomics for viewing. but I am a tall man 6'4 so that might be why.


I've always had 13 inch notebooks so this was a revelation. Most def will get 15.