17" Macbook Pro vs 15" Macbook Pro

Chas3 · Jul 12th, 2008, 10:42 AM

Should I buy a 2.2 Ghz 17" macbook pro, or a 2.5 Ghz 15" macbook Pro?

fyrefly · Jul 12th, 2008, 11:57 AM

Depends on your needs. How much portability do you need? The 17" MBP adds almost 2lbs on top of the 15" MBP. The 15" MBP also has the same screen resolution as the old 17" iMac, while the 17" MBP is more the same as the 20" iMacs.

The 17" MBP has 3 USB ports vs. the two in the 15" MBP.

Atroz · Jul 12th, 2008, 12:05 PM

The 17" has the option of the LED backlit HI-RES display to. That's what I'm using and it's terrific. I've posted before about it, have a look through the past messages.

SoyMac · Jul 12th, 2008, 12:08 PM

So many reasons for each!

Mom has a 17" MacBook Pro, mainly because she plays card games and appreciates the extra screen space for spreading out the cards.

I just bought a 15" MacBook Pro, because I take my machine with me a lot.
I edit video and graphics, and I almost always use an external LCD to expand my screen space, so my compromise is a smaller MBP for travel, with an external LCD for editing.

Those are just two tiny situations out of the millions of permutations of why someone would prefer one over the other.

Will this be your first MBP?
You'll love it!

optimus prime minister · Jul 12th, 2008, 01:57 PM

17" just to play cards?? That's an expensive card game!

My dad's got the 17" and he says he always feels a little leery of transporting it cause it's so wide and thin it feels like you could easily bend it in half if it got dropped, etc. Feels more flimsy, I guess. Whereas the smaller ones are a bit more solid feeling. This is why lots of people just love the 12" Powerbooks and won't give them up. My mom has one of those.

Me, I've got the 15 inch. Seems like a happy medium. You can always attach an external cinema display or something if you want a ton of screen real estate for some reason (video editing or something).

keebler27 · Jul 12th, 2008, 02:05 PM

Hey Chas,

I asked myself this same question and ultimately went with the 15". I didn't want to haul anything heavier and for my photo editing and video needs, the 15" still does the trick.

If I didn't have my 24" imac or 20" acd for my other machines, I probably would have splurged for the 17".

I used the extra savings to buy ram.

Cheers,
keebler

MacTechSupport · Jul 12th, 2008, 02:13 PM

[QUOTE=optimus prime minister;700810]17" just to play cards?? That's an expensive card game!

My dad's got the 17" and he says he always feels a little leery of transporting it cause it's so wide and thin it feels like you could easily bend it in half if it got dropped, etc. Feels more flimsy, I guess. Whereas the smaller ones are a bit more solid feeling. This is why lots of people just love the 12" Powerbooks and won't give them up. My mom has one of those.

My wife HAD a smaller one and probably from passing it back and forth to me by the corner to show me pictures it developed video problems; seems the video chips are surface mounted on the mobo and any bending causes cracks in the solder. Not worth repairing so got her a new one - lesson learned.

SoyMac · Jul 12th, 2008, 04:32 PM

	Quote:			Originally Posted by optimus prime minister
	17" just to play cards?? That's an expensive card game!...

For many points on the pros and cons of a 17" MBP for playing cards, please see many of the points in this thread:
MBP for Mom

Chas3 · Jul 13th, 2008, 01:59 PM

I also have to remember that a 15" is cheaper, so after the feedback of it being hard to transport I guess I will go with the 15". Thank you!