15" or 17"


Recommended Posts

So if you haven't noticed by my large quanity of mac posts this week, I'm about to buy a Macbook Pro, but right now I'm having troubles picking the size I want.

I am leaning towards the 17" model because I am going to school for graphics design, so I can see a large screen being beneficial, and the battery life on the new unibody MBP is stellar!

I am debating the 15" because it's cheaper and a bit more portable.

The nearest Apple store/retailer is quite a distance away, but I eventually plan on making a trip there before my purchase to get a first hand feel for them, but I just wondered if any fellow Neowinians could shed some of their experience in my direction!

On a side note, I've held off buy my MBP until now because of WWDC, partially incase they update anything or release a larger iPod touch, since I am a student and I am eligible for their free iPod program. So do you think they'll actually release any large updates for the Macbooks, or just maybe minor speed bumps or not?

Oh and one last night, I did want to make too many posts so I'm trying to condense here! I plan on getting an external drive (anyone ever use a Buffalo Technology external drive?) but the maximum internal storage on a MBP is 320GB. I was hoping for a little bit more, so I was going to upgrade my harddrive myself, but from what I've been reading, this voids my warranty, even with Applecare?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

So if you haven't noticed by my large quanity of mac posts this week, I'm about to buy a Macbook Pro, but right now I'm having troubles picking the size I want.

I am leaning towards the 17" model because I am going to school for graphics design, so I can see a large screen being beneficial, and the battery life on the new unibody MBP is stellar!

I am debating the 15" because it's cheaper and a bit more portable.

The nearest Apple store/retailer is quite a distance away, but I eventually plan on making a trip there before my purchase to get a first hand feel for them, but I just wondered if any fellow Neowinians could shed some of their experience in my direction!

On a side note, I've held off buy my MBP until now because of WWDC, partially incase they update anything or release a larger iPod touch, since I am a student and I am eligible for their free iPod program. So do you think they'll actually release any large updates for the Macbooks, or just maybe minor speed bumps or not?

Oh and one last night, I did want to make too many posts so I'm trying to condense here! I plan on getting an external drive (anyone ever use a Buffalo Technology external drive?) but the maximum internal storage on a MBP is 320GB. I was hoping for a little bit more, so I was going to upgrade my harddrive myself, but from what I've been reading, this voids my warranty, even with Applecare?

i would get the 17inch, i first brought the 15inch unibody but was nowhere near happy with the resolution - within the 14 days return policy i exchanged it for the 17 inch & now really happy. I wouldn't dream of getting a 15 inch now.

The resoultion increase is worth the upgrade, battery life is excellent.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

well i don't use Macs but based on 15" monitor or 17" ... to me it's not even a choice, the 17" is better by a landslide especially if your planning on 'looking' at it for any length of time.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

well i don't use Macs but based on 15" monitor or 17" ... to me it's not even a choice, the 17" is better by a landslide especially if your planning on 'looking' at it for any length of time.

QFT, especially if you are doing graphics design, you'll really appreciate the extra screen space it gives you

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I was going to upgrade my harddrive myself, but from what I've been reading, this voids my warranty, even with Applecare?

This should not void warranty

But there may be some fine print that states "approved" hardware only (or similar warranty option)

You are best to contact Applecare directly via email or their support options, and confirm what you are allowed and not allowed to do.

By the way, as someone into good graphics, it should be mentioned that the bigger the better ;) (screen wise) But if mobility outways this, then go 15" and use a larger external Monitor at your normal location (ie home)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Sweet, fast responses, thanks!

So this pretty much helped confirm my gut feeling, go big or go home! Besides, what's 2" going to boil down to for portability. Heck, I'm doing the 17" and I want to get a good larger external monitor, so anyone have an suggestions for those? A lot of people said get a S-IPS panel, which I understand why, but after dropping close to $4k on this Macbook Pro and all the accessories, plus tuition for school... an expensive panel is kind of out of the question!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Well I'm sort of bummed they didn't add the SD Card slot to the 17" and the 15" now has the better screen. Seems a bit unfair that they would only update the 15" =(

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have the 17" Unibody and it is pure awesome. Best computer I have ever owned and so I give it a glowing recommendation. I have found no faults or finding myself wanting more from the computer. It's excellent.

Also you commented about the 15" Having a better screen. The 15" and 17" now have the same quality of screen as the 17" previously was better the 15" has been updated to match. And using an Expresscard to SD adapter you can get SD on the 17" (Trust me Express Card 34 is 1000x better then just an SD slot). The 17" was updated with Faster CPU and a larger Hard Disk BTO (500GB 7,200RPM)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I ordered the 17". Should be here tomorrow or on Monday, unless they do Saturday delivery.

I'm glad I did wait. Cheaper and faster!

Main things why I chose 17":

Larger resolution

ExpressCard

SD slot is great an all but only SDHC? Boo.

Anyone know of a PCIe-based ExpressCard/34 SSD?

It'll be used for Windows?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This topic is now closed to further replies.
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.