Why a 17" ?

[Thomas Davie]

Personally I've always wondered by the 17" is so popular. No knock on the current owners and prospective buyers.


I've read enough complaints from prior owners about trying to use it in flights (too big) and lugging it around (it gets heavy and cumbersome).

Like everything else its a personal preference and many people swear by the 17" (or is it swearing at )

It is *not* heavy. It's 6.6 freaking pounds. If you can't carry that 24/7 you have a health problem. I'm 48, out of shape, and do not have a problem carry the 17" mbp around all day.

Tom

 

[frou]

You know that the 17" is not that much bigger. Compare the Height/Width/Depth/Weight measurements before considering it a tank.

Its screen kills the 15.4", which is badly in need of a resolution increase.

 

[BinfordsTool]

Just submitted my order today for the 17", the expresscard, extra usb slot (I'm a usb-freak), matte option, and overall potential upgradeability of the machine did it for me. I'm looking for a long term investment (I've bought cheap laptops since 2004, now I have a macbook that's lasted longer than all of them... and this one is only 8 months old..). So I went with the pro, which I think with all the parts I can modify later (add an SSD, whatever expresscard stuff I want, and more ram) I should be fine for about 4-5 years.

Hope so at least.

 

[entatlrg]

Some people are truly mobile. They don't have an external monitor they can connect to everywhere they are. Maybe they're in the field, outside or commute to various locations and they want a big screen but don't have or want to carry a monitor with them too.

There are many life situations you might be oblivious to. Not everyone uses their laptop at home.

no, not oblivious to others uses for a notebook at all, was just curious as to why people do buy the 17", field work with no access to an external display is obvious, lol.

 

[benchobi]

There's some great replies to this thread....but I'll add my two cents just for fun...

I think kruzz pretty much summed up my situation. I work in a field where at any given time I could be anywhere in the country. Couple that with the fact I only want to have to maintain (and fund) one computer, the choice was between the 15" and 17" (13" is too small for me). After seeing both in person and comparing the glossy vs. matte, the choice was easy. I'll have the 17" in matte please.

Do I consider the 17" too big to be a "laptop". Right now I'm using my MBP on my lap in my recliner. So for me....no.

Now, as to the weight, the 17" MPB is near the same weight of my old 14" laptop so carrying it wasn't much of a transition. In fact, on a daily basis you'll find the 17" UMBP AND a Motion 1300 Tablet PC in my backpack.

I don't regret the choice at all.

 

[Tallest Skil]

Both 15" and 17" are not portable...

Completely subjective. This statement is incorrect from my viewpoint; both are quite portable.