Torn between 13" and 15"..!

[airplaneman]

thank you all guys for the useful ideas
I think I might get the 15" , but are these specs enough (the low end 15") , i mean they are the same as the 13" , and here it's a bigger screen and a bigger resolution , will i find loss in performance and will it be able to run several tasks without lagging (as in windows...)
because that's my top budget , i doubt i would be able to buy a higher specs one..

Of course! I can run:

1. Safari w/10 tabs
2. Skype
3. Activity monitor
4. Parallells in WinXP w/1GB mem dual core mode
5. iTunes
6. Pages

And this machine does not slow down (although it does get pretty hot )

The memory does get a bit low (20 megabytes) so you might want to get 8 GB if you are intensely multitasking most of the time.

Just don't install any crapware and you'll be more than fine.

Good luck with your purchase!

 

[iJabareen]

new questions added

 

[airplaneman]

If you're going to travel a lot on airplanes, buses, or trains I recommend you buy the 13" MBP. If you are just carrying it between places, I highly recommend the 15" MBP. The extra size helps for movies. The resolution is much nicer. And it overall is a better experience for entertainment/use/etc.

Good luck.

Yup. You might miss the screen size of the 15". It's totally portable, too. Don't forget you have the option of matte now!!!

 

[zenoran]

I just got my 13" yesterday and I love it... I got it mainly for portability... I use it with the screen shut when I'm at home plugged into a 23" monitor and it works out very well...

15" has larger screen yes but with larger screen you also get a larger base and it just looks BIG. The 13" looks like it's a perfect fit.

With expose/spaces OSX really gives you a lot of tools to be able to manage a very productive computing environment even on a small screen. I don't think windows would be as efficient but OSX is PERFECT for smaller screen laptops.

Oh and if you're not obsessed with the higher cpu in the 13" I would recommend getting the low-end model and upgrading it yourself. Apple really rapes on HD/RAM upgrades. You can get 500gb HD and 4gb RAM for $150.

 

[airplaneman]

I just got my 13" yesterday and I love it... I got it mainly for portability... I use it with the screen shut when I'm at home plugged into a 23" monitor and it works out very well...

15" has larger screen yes but with larger screen you also get a larger base and it just looks BIG. The 13" looks like it's a perfect fit.

With expose/spaces OSX really gives you a lot of tools to be able to manage a very productive computing environment even on a small screen. I don't think windows would be as efficient but OSX is PERFECT for smaller screen laptops.

Oh and if you're not obsessed with the higher cpu in the 13" I would recommend getting the low-end model and upgrading it yourself. Apple really rapes on HD/RAM upgrades. You can get 500gb HD and 4gb RAM for $150.

Upgrading the HD doesn't void the warranty, right? I can't remember if it does or not...

 

[specops]

i decided on the 13 because i couldnt see myself carrying around 15 and the extra pound. I LOVE THE 13, ITS PERFECT. I would highly recommend going to bestbuy/apple store/ another apple retailer and check out the 13 and 15 for yourself. I have the high end 13 and it run AMAZINGLY quick, just imagine a super fast desktop PC but packed into a 13inch uMBP!!!

Oh and the 13/15 with play 1080p videos like they are a joke.

I doubt you will even use half the computers power, just to give you an idea of how powerful these things are.

I installed win xp on my 13 inch and ran the counter strike source FPS test and averaged 90!!!!! FPS.

 

[entatlrg]

I used to use a 13" white MB, before I went with the 15" MBP. I find that, as my old eyes are not what they used to be, I really appreciate the added screen real estate. Of course, the 13 enjoys the same screen quality as the 15. Just slightly smaller.

I stare at this puppy for hours every day. I don't mind the size, weight isn't an issue to me. 15 is my vote. YMMV of course.

there is very little if any noticeable difference in font size from the 13" to the 15" imo ....

 

[jfyrfytr25]

the only reason people would say pick the 13 in is because its the cheapest one out there and thats the one they got, 15 in is the perfect size not to big and not to small

is this guy SHAMBO's alter ego? Shambo said the same thing in another one of these threads. the statement is just ludacris. to generalize EVERYONE in the world and say they pic they promote the 13" because they could not afford a 15" is just silly.

many people here, me included, had no money restraints when purchasing their MBP. I initially thought the 13" would suit me best and got it, although i had set aside enough to buy a fully loaded 17" if i wanted. i ended up exchanging for a 15" which i love, but in no way was the cost EVER a factor in which one i chose.

what i think is that the people that make that statement actually regret getting a 15" and are stuck with it now and post that non sense to soothe their buyers remorse..... keep telling yourself that and you'll believe it some day.

 

[TXbug]

I looked at the 13" and the 15". Because I have many windows open at once and OS X does not have the type of vitrual screens that Linux Gnome has, I chose the 15" because I can put more on the screen. I use very small fonts also, especially in the Terminal window.

Now, if the 13 inch offered the same resolution as the 15 inch, I would have gone with the 13 inch because it is easier to carry around.

BTW, I've been using a 14inch ThinkPad, Windows and Linux, for years. Compared to the MB/MBP line, they look like junk.

 

[iJabareen]

let's say i'm gonna buy the 15" , is the low end one enough for general stuff (internet , some photoshopping-nothing serious , but fixing images and stuff like this , plus some video editing for youtube- maybe hd , but not big files.. , and most important watching 720+1080p movies - and i might connect it to 42" lcd ..) , will it handle these easily? , or will i need the 2.66 with the dedicated video card - which is a bit expensive...

and if I'm going with the high end 13" , will it handle the stuff mentioned above? (decreased screen resolution)

 

[airplaneman]

let's say i'm gonna buy the 15" , is the low end one enough for general stuff (internet , some photoshopping-nothing serious , but fixing images and stuff like this , plus some video editing for youtube- maybe hd.. , and most important 720+1080p bluray rips..) , will it handle these easily? , or will i need the 2.66 with the dedicated video card - which is a bit expensive...

and if I'm going with the high end 13" , will it handle the stuff mentioned above? (decreased screen resolution)

Shouldn't strain it too much. The 15" screen is a definite plus especially if you're doing photo/video editing and 1080p stuff. I'm a bit perplexed though; why would you want to rip blu-ray from an external? It'll be painfully slow. None of 's computers have blu-ray drives yet!

 

[iJabareen]

no i meant like downloading hd movies and watching them

 

[shambo]

Shouldn't strain it too much. The 15" screen is a definite plus especially if you're doing photo/video editing and 1080p stuff. I'm a bit perplexed though; why would you want to rip blu-ray from an external? It'll be painfully slow. None of 's computers have blu-ray drives yet!

Watch out for blu-ray drives next year.

 

[iJabareen]

I'm not that much interested in having a blu-ray drive in the macbook pro, since I only watch downloaded blu-rips , and sometimes i connect my pc to the hdtv (but it's pain in the ass moving it everytime) , and if I want a blu-ray disks , i would just watch them on the ps3 ...

 

[iJabareen]

any other opinions?

 

[zenoran]

Upgrading the HD doesn't void the warranty, right? I can't remember if it does or not...

nope I asked the apple dude at the apple store and he said the only thing it would not cover is the new HD you actually put in.. well duh


upgrading the hardware also increases your resale value too.. apple stuff is already apparently very high resale value but if you upgrade your own hardware you can probably end up selling your macbook in a year for the same price you paid and get a new one with no money loss... thats the way I look at this... I'll probably get a new one next year when they have blu-ray but this is def a good investment until then.

 

[entatlrg]

Get the 13" I have both in my office, you'll be more pleased typing on it, using on your lap, desk, anywhere... the 15" really seems a lot heavier and much clunkier imo, so much so you think twice about grabbing it and taking it everywhere, the 13" on the other is fun and easy to carry, flip it open anywhere/any time without effort.

I've bought 15's in the past, regretted it every time and ended up with a 13" ... it's the sweet spot and if you're hooking up to a 42" LCD for sure I'd get the 13"

Just my opinion though ... Enjoy it regardless of what you buy!

 

[phillm]

Get a 13", put 4GB in it and an SSD. This is more then capable of doing 95% or tasks you are ever likely to do. I tried WoW and Eve on the 9500m and both play fine. Wow had around 80fps, not sure about eve.

If you plan on ever doing any graphic work, this doesn't even require a bigger processor, I don't know why people suggest it does. It will help if your working at extremely high dpi in photoshop but even then this 13" is fine.

As for the screen, I would not recommend using a laptop screen for anything where the colour is important. I love this 13", it is the best laptop ive ever used. Portability, power and style.

 

[kuwxman]

I had this same debate going on in my head before my recent purchase. Should I get the high end 13" or the low end 15"? I ended up getting neither, lol. Went ahead and went with the 2.26 GHz 13" and the 24" LCD Cinema Display.

The laptop is replacing an aging Windows desktop and the speed is more than enough for everyday internet usage and occasional processor intensive operations. The only thing I changed was I ended up upgrading the RAM (up to 4GB) and HDD (up to 500GB) for ~$150 through Newegg.

Overall, I am extremely pleased with my purchase!

 

[dcdude]

if you aren't going with the 15" for the purpose of the additional graphics card, go with the 13"

 

[aubiefan]

I am trying to make the same decision right now, and I have a question to add to this discussion:

For the people with 13", are you talking about models with 2.26 or 2.53 GHz processor? How much of a difference is there in performance between those?

 

[MacbookWoo]

Hopefully I can help you out in your decision.... I went to Apple yesterday and I was in the same predicament you were. I think one of the things you have to factor in is your size.... I am 6'6" so my hands are bigger than most... Needless to say I went with the 15" MBP 2.53 I have to say I am so glad that I made this decision.

After I made my purchase I went over to a buddies house who has a 13" MBP and even he was very impressed by the size difference. I bring my laptop EVERYWHERE I go it doesn't leave my side. I have an Oakley backpack that comes with an Oakley neoprene case it fits very snug and it is not that heavy....... I think you will be VERY pleased with the 15" and if you buy the 13" you will aways have in the back of your mind damn I wish I wouldve went with the 15

OVERALL: GET THE 15 YOU WONT REGRET IT!!!!

 

[iJabareen]

thanx dude , that really helps ...
so let's say if we narrow it to the low end 15" 2.53 and the higher end one , the 2.66 with the 9400+9600 256mb dedicated graphics card , will that make a difference with the stuff i'll do on my laptop? , does it worth the extra 250$?!
and how powerful the 9400 is? I'm not gonna be gaming on this laptop , but for general use , and multitasking (like internet, itunes, photoshop, msn, ...)

 

[airplaneman]

thanx dude , that really helps ...
so let's say if we narrow it to the low end 15" 2.53 and the higher end one , the 2.66 with the 9400+9600 256mb dedicated graphics card , will that make a difference with the stuff i'll do on my laptop? , does it worth the extra 250$?!
and how powerful the 9400 is? I'm not gonna be gaming on this laptop , but for general use , and multitasking (like internet, itunes, photoshop, msn, ...)

If you have the money, get the higher end one, but the 9400M is a very nice integrated card. It'll handle everything you want to do. Multitasking is more dependent on how much memory you have. So, basically, get the best you can with what you have. Good luck on your purchase .

 

[NC MacGuy]

The 2.26 13" works fine. I don't see many things it can't do. Save the money, buy the 2.26, get some RAM and a faster/bigger drive. Hell, after you upgrade the drive, you can make the stock into a nice TM backup for $6 for an additional bonus.