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Macbook Pro 13" - Viewing .PDF files

T

TBONEU

Limp Gawd
Joined
Jan 5, 2003
Messages
500
Guys & Gals (if there are any on this site),

Just wondering if the 13" version of the Macbook Pro is large enough (or comfortable I should say) for reading E-magazines, books, and various literature in .pdf format? I'm having a hard time deciding between the 13" vs 15" MacBook Pro. As of now, I think the 13" will suit most of my needs. Surprisingly to me, it would be faster than my old faithful PowerMac Dual 2.0Ghz.

TIA
 
Standards of comfort are entirely personal preference. It's pretty hard to answer an arbitrary question like that.

Head down to an Apple Store or a Best Buy with an Apple section and see for yourself.
 
Do you guys know if the Apple Store employees will let me load a .pdf file from my USB thumb drive? If so, that would really be great.
 
TBONEU said:
Do you guys know if the Apple Store employees will let me load a .pdf file from my USB thumb drive? If so, that would really be great.
Click to expand...

You shouldn't have to. There are already PDF files preloaded on the demo Macs. There's also nothing stopping you from browsing to a website and downloading a PDF that way.
 
yes. The ATI Radeon 9600 is slower than the Nvidia Geforce 9400m. I believe those are the cards you are referring to. Make sure to note that one is ati, one is nvidia. It's been a while since ati was on 9xxx numbers for cards. Below is a link to notebook video cards for your reference.

That being said, the 9400m is an ok chip. It handles playing video very well, and it can play older games to some degree. I thought my 13"MBP would be playable with TF2, but it gets too hot and I have to turn the resolution too far down for it to be enjoyable. Oh well, not much time to game anyway.

http://www.notebookcheck.net/ATI-Mobility-Radeon-9600-Pro.2171.0.html
 
One important thing to do with a 13" is to move the dock to the left or right side of the screen. This gives you quite a bit more vertical space.

I don't know who the genius was that decided widescreens were ideal for something used for viewing traditionally portrait documents 99% of the time, but they can suck a fat one.
 
450 said:
Hmm... Is the Radeon 9600 slower than the 9400m?
Click to expand...

Yeah the ATI Radeon 9600 was ok for my Mac five years ago and I never gamed on my Mac because I had a PC and Xbox 360.

FYI:
ATI Radeon 9600:

Chipset Model: ATY,RV351
Type: Display
Bus: AGP
Slot: SLOT-1
VRAM (Total): 128 MB
Vendor: ATI (0x1002)
Device ID: 0x4150
Revision ID: 0x0000
ROM Revision: 113-A58504-112

Thanks for the helpful suggestions everyone. I'm still might wait till next year to see what Apple will release. Maybe Apple will release a high res screens for their 13" lappies?!

One can hope.
 
If you're going to be doing a lot of reading it might be better to go with the 15inch.
 
TBONEU said:
Maybe Apple will release a high res screens for their 13" lappies?!
Click to expand...

Don't hold your breath. Apple isn't a fan of notebooks with high pixel density displays. They did it on the iPhone out of necessity, but 1280x800 and 1440x900 is pretty decent for what most people need.

If you're in that much need for a high resolution display, consider the 24'' Apple Cinema Display as a companion to the MacBook.
 
If you zoom in on the document and just scroll with the track pad, I find that it works out pretty well since the movement is so fluid.
 
TBONEU said:
Guys & Gals (if there are any on this site),

Just wondering if the 13" version of the Macbook Pro is large enough (or comfortable I should say) for reading E-magazines, books, and various literature in .pdf format? I'm having a hard time deciding between the 13" vs 15" MacBook Pro. As of now, I think the 13" will suit most of my needs. Surprisingly to me, it would be faster than my old faithful PowerMac Dual 2.0Ghz.

TIA
Click to expand...

It will run circles around your PowerMac G5!

If you just want to look at documents, i dont know that id spend several hundred more for 2"...just draw out a 16:10 rectangle with a 13" diagonal...or look at em at a best buy or apple store. The multitouch trackpad helps zoom in and out very easily
 
falconman said:
It will run circles around your PowerMac G5!

If you just want to look at documents, i dont know that id spend several hundred more for 2"...just draw out a 16:10 rectangle with a 13" diagonal...or look at em at a best buy or apple store. The multitouch trackpad helps zoom in and out very easily
Click to expand...
Its not just for a couple inches there is a lot of other stuff that goes with it, but I understand where you are coming from.

As far as the OP's debate goes, I would say get the 13" especially since it doesn't sound like you will be doing anything that is really graphically intensive, and you save some major coin.

The 13" IMO is just fine for reading documents and viewing pdf's. And if it really bothers you can put the dock on autohide, or place it at one of the sides. The only other reason I would suggest the 13" over the 15" for you is the portability and it just sounds like you are going to need portability. But then again the 15" really isn't that much bigger than the 13", so that kinda kills my last reason. The best thing that I can really say for you is go and check it out for yourself because only you can tell what will be most comfortable/effective for you.
 
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