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To all 17" MacBook Pro owners

For me it was a mixture of things:

1. The difference in size and weight between the 15 and 17 is very little. Yes the screen size on the 17 feels like a MAJOR change. The speakers are much better, and the thermal envelope in the machine is more forgiving.

2. I devour screen real estate. I do software development and other engineering related tasks. A 17" with spaces enabled is pure heaven. And these new machines with true four core power and monster video cards really make them a full workstation replacement.

My workflow includes running all of the following at once:

VMWare Fusion with a Server 2003 VM and a RedHat VM, each in its own space at 1920x1200.

Safari with multiple tabs
Transmit
Outlook/exchange
iTunes
iChat
Yahoo Messenger
SimpleText
Microsoft RDP Client
IDE Environment

I have 8 gigs of ram in this machine as of yesterday, and it runs this workflow in its sleep. :apple:
 
I'm considering the 17" for the larger display not the added power, although that's a nice bonus.

If they made a 17" MacBook Air I'd be all over it.

Having two pages open side by side, larger work space for design work is better for productivity. Better yet is a 27/24" display I realize ... but if you don't like working from a desk what do you do.....
 
entatlrg said:
To those who own the 17" MBP:

1. Why did you choose the 17"

2. What do you use your computer for?

3. Where do you use your computer most often, desk, table, couch, mobile?
Click to expand...

1. Screen size

2. Work (have several concerns) / pleasure (music, art, web design, travel)

3. Couch and bed
 
entatlrg said:
Over 50 replies so far an no one yet seems to mind using the 17 on their lap, in bed, couch etc,. Cool.
Click to expand...

I play Starcraft 2 in my lap and it works great. I just keep some space between my legs for the vents.
 
entatlrg said:
To those who own the 17" MBP:

1. Why did you choose the 17"

2. What do you use your computer for?

3. Where do you use your computer most often, desk, table, couch, mobile?
Click to expand...

1. I've been living abroad for several years, and move every year or so, so portability is a must for me. My laptop serves not only as a desktop replacement, but also a TV replacement - so I thought this time I'd go for the 17" instead of 15" to make watching movies and TV shows a bit better too. I was definitely getting the 15" high for graphics reasons, and at that point figured it wasn't much further for the 17". One thing I really enjoy about the 17" that I didn't predict is that it makes working much more pleasant - big enough to have a few windows opened side by side, as opposed to stacked, which seems a bit more convenient/natural than constantly switching.

2. By frequency: Internet, Gaming (in Boot Camp), Work (Office, stats programs), Video editing (skateboard videos, HD digital camcorder).

3. 90-95% at my desk, 5-10% need to take it to school for specific assignments - this was a big reason I went 17" this time, as my portability needs aren't daily, but rather occasional. Anyway, the 17" doesn't really feel anymore cumbersome to me to carry than the 15".
 
entatlrg said:
I'm considering the 17" for the larger display not the added power, although that's a nice bonus.
Click to expand...
AFAIK there is no added power to the 17" from the 15"?
My 15" is a 8GB 2.3GHz i7 quad

akicebear said:
3. 90-95% at my desk, 5-10% need to take it to school for specific assignments - this was a big reason I went 17" this time, as my portability needs aren't daily, but rather occasional. Anyway, the 17" doesn't really feel anymore cumbersome to me to carry than the 15".
Click to expand...
This is why I went with the 15". I never leave home without it, and it is not a big difference from my former travel buddy the 13" MBA - besides the awesome power :)
 
Mollemand said:
AFAIK there is no added power to the 17" from the 15"?
My 15" is a 8GB 2.3GHz i7 quad
Click to expand...
Sorry to tell you this, but if you look at the benchmarks, it's clear the 17" is a little faster, probably because the larger size allows for better thermal management.
 
diannao said:
Sorry to tell you this, but if you look at the benchmarks, it's clear the 17" is a little faster, probably because the larger size allows for better thermal management.
Click to expand...
He he, I stand corrected :eek:

The 17" is indeed the faster one.
 
Once you use a 1920x1200 screen, the 1440x900 screen just feels cramped and, well, uncivilised. Anyway, it just doesn't seem right in this day and age to buy a computer that can't play Full HD video without down-scaling.

And believe it or not, the 17" fits my lap better. My 15" always felt like it would fall through between my legs. The added weight is irrelevant as far as I'm concerned.
 
diannao said:
Sorry to tell you this, but if you look at the benchmarks, it's clear the 17" is a little faster, probably because the larger size allows for better thermal management.
Click to expand...

Well, not by much. We're talking one or two seconds faster. That makes both almost identical. I wont pay attention to that single Geekbench MC posted a few weeks back. Macworld did 18 different tests and the difference is either one or two points. Only the HandBreak test had 4 seconds difference. So the difference here is like comparing two kilos of rice and the other has 10 grains more. :cool:

http://www.macworld.com/article/157893/2011/02/2011macbookpro_benchmarks.html
 
entatlrg said:
To those who own the 17" MBP:

1. Why did you choose the 17"

2. What do you use your computer for?

3. Where do you use your computer most often, desk, table, couch, mobile?
Click to expand...

1. Screen real estate is of value to me. Especially with my graphics work.

2. Software development, graphics development.

3. table, couch.
 
entatlrg said:
I didn't say there was ....?

Read my post .. compared to the MacBook Air I'm using for mobile use right now ... obviously the 17" has more power ...
Click to expand...

My bad, I misunderstood ... And apparently ther is a - however slight - advantage of raw power to the 17" over the 15"

Being the owner of both a MBP and a MBA I can promise you that you won't be unhappy with the MBP power 17" or other :)

Happy buying mate!
 
Thanks!

This thread was excellent in helping me decide. I need maximum mobile screen real estate at times and when I don't the Air would fill the void.

I'm looking to work from less not more computers and the 17" and the Air would be an ideal combo I think.
 
entatlrg said:
To those who own the 17" MBP:

1. Why did you choose the 17"

2. What do you use your computer for?

3. Where do you use your computer most often, desk, table, couch, mobile?
Click to expand...

1. Screen size, graphics card, express slot, resolution.

2. editing pictures, some gaming, and music...mostly lightroom and ps

3. everywhere....mostly desk, but i like having the option to bring it everywhere...
 
1. Screen size... This is my first laptop (and mac) so i'm coming from using desktops with decent size screen. I wanted something that wouldn't tie me to a desk but i also didn't want to sacrifice screen size.

2. Just normal stuff at the moment (still exploring the basics of a mac)... I would probably be fine with an Air if they ever make a 17" but i have absolutely no interest in a 11 or 13 (or even 15 if they made one) screen.

3. I mostly use it on my lap on the couch, either sitting up or laying down (like i am now) I'm a girl, if that makes any difference, and there is absolutely no discomfort using it on my lap. I LOVE it! I'm also someone who doesn't need to carry it around everywhere I go... I mainly use it around the house, or take it with me to someone else's house.
 
My '11 17" will be arriving this week (but I had a 2010 17 and 15)

1. I like high resolution. After outfitting the 15" with high res, it's only a couple hundred less than the 17". Once you use the 17" screen for work, you really appreciate the added screen real estate, cooling, and something about the feel of it when you're holding it (Closed). So much power and functionality in something so thin. The form factor is sort of mesmerizing.

2. Video editing, graphic creation, homework, surfing, chatting, gaming (bootcamp).

3. I generally use mine at my desk, often hooked up to a monitor and periphs. I occasionally like to work in other places around my house for a change of pace, and frequently visit friends for gaming weekends. The 17 makes for a great all around machine, imo. Not that the 15" doesn't. But for 200 more, I think the 17" is worth it, without any doubt.
 
entatlrg said:
Over 50 replies so far an no one yet seems to mind using the 17 on their lap, in bed, couch etc,. Cool.
Click to expand...
I use my 17 inch Santa Rosa 2.4GHz MBP on my lap virtually exclusively. It gets pretty hot when its pressed but for those occasions, I just put a coffee table book on my lap and the MBP on the book. That solves the problem. I don't know whether the recently released quad core MBPs are any cooler than mine or not.

There is a caveat, though, ever since I got an MBA not quit 5 months ago, I don't use the MBP for much but ripping CDs and DVDs to disc. Anyway, the amount of heat the MBP generates onto my lap has never been a serious problem.
 
I did a tally up on Apple Store Canada and the difference in pricing between the 15 inch and 17 inch is a mere $200 if you're opting for the hi-resolution anti-glare display.

On the 15inch, it's an added $150 while on the 17 inch, it's an additional $50 since the 17 inch already includes the hi-res display in its pricing. Final pricing for 15 and 17 inch are $2,549.00 and $2,349.00 respectively.

It seems insofar as the early 2011 Macbook Pro line goes, you either opt for the low end 13 inch, the high-end 15 inch or the 17 inch. Apple has certainly made it easier for those undecided to learn towards the 17 inch model.

I have to wonder though, given that I'm more of a road warrior notebook user; that is, I can find myself having to pull out the Macbook Pro on a whim. I wonder how well it stacks to a bit of bumping here and there.

Also, how is it when used while cross legged on the ground?

Lastly, does anyone have a 13 inch/17 inch overlay photo?
 
1. Why did you choose the 17"? Got it more as a desktop replacement that I could use occasionally on the road. So bigger screen made sense to me.

2. What do you use your computer for? Browsing, e-mail, syncing, just the usual stuff.

3. Where do you use your computer most often, desk, table, couch, mobile? On it's stand at my desk with the Apple keyboard and mouse.
 
1. Screen Real Estate, Love the size of the screen as well

2. Video editing, Photoshop, and a bunch of random things involved in getting stuff i sell online.

3. Everywhere Desk, Bed, Table, Lap, Couch, Floor, Car, Airplane ... U get the point
 
entatlrg said:
To those who own the 17" MBP:

1. Why did you choose the 17"

2. What do you use your computer for?

3. Where do you use your computer most often, desk, table, couch, mobile?
Click to expand...

ITs the best screen realestate and i just needed it

everything

desk
 
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