Using MBP for Programming

I've created Mac programs just fine on my 15" MBP.

 

I love my 17" high res display. No need for an external. Only problem is I forget that most people have lower screen resolutions and some pixel sized UI's are too big for them, so I sometimes have to do that part more than once.

 

Programming on my MBP is fine although i do prefer my 3 monitor iMac!

just remember # is alt+3.

 

I would go for at least an 15" MBP.
I use a 13" MBP myself and it's just a little to 'small' for long dev sessions.

 

The 15" is fine. The high-res option makes life somewhat easier.

 

I've hooked my 15" MBP up to a 1920x1200 monitor, though I can work on its normal screen in a pinch. I'm really glad the 15" nowadays have a medium-res option (as apposed to low-res only).

 

I Program on my 15" mbp with it's 1440x900 monitor. I find it nice, then again I am programming mostly for the iPhone.

 

The MBP is a great programming platform. I use the high-res 17" myself, plus, a 1920x1200 monitor when I'm sitting at it.

 

I do programming on my 13" MacBook pro. I don't do any graphics intensive programs, so it's no big deal.

 

I also use my 13" MBP when I'm not in the office. Works fine.

 

I used to use a 15" monitor about 25 years ago. Sure you can do it, but why would you? Library APIs have grown much more extensive, documentation and IDEs gobble up more space, the program's interface is more complicated too, even if it's a very simple GUI program. I'm always looking stuff up on the internet, and want to leave various stuff up to look at, not to mention running the program or tests. You're much more productive with a couple of monster monitors. At least I am. Three is better.

 

Laptops work just fine for me although. I do most of my programming on relatively small screens (e.g. my 13" MB). Getting proficient with vi, in particular searching and split screens and whatnot, has made it much easier. I do, however, do everything on the command line and that helps quite a bit. IDEs can take up too much space to be proficient on small screens. Using terminal tabs has also helped me alot.

You don't need a high res display to program. People have done it for ages on 80 character line displays. You just need to use the right tools and be efficient/organized.

 

I use my MBP 15", 1440xsomething for all sorts of programming. At the office I hook up to an external 19" display. I can get by without it, but it's nice to have it.

-Lee

 

Surely the best one is the 17". I got an unibody white MacBook, which has a 13 ". Using Interface Builder on it is just painful. Also, I cannot work with two Xcode windows at the same time, and this really sucks!