Macbook Pro advice

O

Opopono

Weaksauce
Joined
May 2, 2007
Messages
76
So, I went to the Apple store today to see in person which MBP I wanted to get. It was basically a toss up between the high res 17 inch and the 15 inch.

Well, I still can't decide from what I saw in the store. The only way I am going to know is to actually take it out and see which one fits me better personally. I do think that the 17 inch might be a bit too big for my tastes, but i really want the high resolution display. They didnt have any of those in stock, though.

So, a few questions.

Which one do you guys prefer?

How is the glossy screen in the real world? It surely was beautiful sitting on the desk in the store, but I have a feeling it would piss me off eventually.


Thanks
 
I'm getting a 15" MBP with a matte screen, I went to the store to check out the screens and the glossy (although very saturated colors) was reflecting the lights onto the screen, I figured in class that would get really annoying, so I decided on the matte screen. Personally, the 17" is way too big for me, I started out wanting a Macbook for the size, but the 15" isn't much bigger and doesn't way that much more, but it will probably be a little more tedious carrying it around rather then the MB. If you're going to be moving around a lot, I'd probably opt for the 15" if you're looking for more of a desktop replacement then go for the 17"
 
I think the 15" is the best model to pick because an 8600GT M on 1920x1200 just isn't going to cut it. At 1440x900 it will though.

Plus it's just a tad heavier than the 13.3" MB.
 
My 15" MBP has the matte screen.

I like the blackblack black of the gloss screens - but hate the "reflects absolutely every lightsource behind you" aspect of the gloss screens.

Not to mention fingerprints.

YMMV.
 
I have a 15" matte version of the original Core2Duo MBP (pre-Santa Rosa) and it's great. The 17" was a bit out of my price range, but even if I had sprung for it, I'm certain the 15" would have been the better choice. While I'm not constantly on the go, I do use it for my classes, and bring it with me whenever I travel, and for that, I think a 17" is just too big. Very nice if it's sitting on a desk, but if you plan on using it anywhere else (not to mention carrying it there) it gets a bit much I think.

It all depends on how much moving about you do.
 
I'd go with the 15". The 17" is just a little too big to be very portable.

I'm very happy with my 15" CoreDuo MacBook Pro.
 
Any decision is based on needs that you did not relate. If you are always 'on the go' so to speak, then the 15 inch might be better. However, if you just want the occasional portability, then the 17 inch one might be better.

Also, the decision has a lot to do with how you will use it. As others have said, it will take a lot more GPU power to run 2.3 mega pixels (MP) than it will to run 1.3 MP; so games run from BC will be slower obviously. However, if you are doing PS, Illustrator or Excel more then games, then 2.3 MP is awesome relative to a puny 1.3 MP. Also, I would think that 17 inch models might command a higher resale percentage, but that is just supposition.
 
I'd maintain the portability factor by getting the 15.4" Then if you must utilize a bigger display while at home, just hook up a monitor to it. It has the DVI port for that reason. You'll get more battery life and portability without the constraints, but of course at the cost of an external display; which is IMHO worth it. Good luck in your choice.
 
I'd go with the 15" MBP. I've had a 12" PB, 13.3" BlackBook, 15" CD MBP w/matte display, and now a 15" C2D MBP w/glossy display. Personally, I feel that my current C2D MBP w/glossy display is the nicest system I've had. I definitely prefer the glossy display. The colors seem to be a bit more accurate with the glossy display and the matte display on my other MBP seemed to have this "sparkle" effect on the screen...the screen appeared to have a subtle sort of glisten to it...hard to explain but I've seen other users that have noticed the same thing. The glare isn't nearly as bad on the glossy display as most people would anticipate. Heck, I've even used this outside on a bright sunny day and still found the display to be more than tolerable given the conditions. I guess it really just comes down to personal preference. Anyways, I'd recommend getting the 15" over the 17" unless you're using this as desktop replacement. The 15" is much more portable and I just couldn't justify spending the extra money and sacrificing portability just to get the hi-res display. Use the money you'd save getting the 15" and get a nice LCD to hook the MBP up to!
 
I got the 17" mbp because I wanted the High Res. It's an amazing laptop, but it pretty much stays on my desk. If I want to sit on the couch I take my regular MB with me, the 17" is pretty large. The reason I went with it over an iMac or Mac Pro is that I wanted to be able to travel with my primary computer. While it might not be ideal for lounging on the couch, it's still something I can pick up and take to friend's houses, parents house, etc.

Also, the glossy screen gets to be very annoying if you use it in places where you'll get screen glare. I have glossy on the MB, and when I bought my MBP I went with matte because of annoyances with glossy.
 
17in laptops are huge.....I would go for the 15 in....unless your never going to take it anywhere
 
PM me for a good deal on apples :) Macbook 17 or 15 :p Brand new sealed
 
I had a 17" PC (PC mind you) and it was a bear. So with that in mind, 15" was the one for me. With the 8600GT 256MB with 4 gigs RAM, the only thing I'm sacrificing is screen real estate, but hey I've got TVs to plug it into if I want more. I have all the power of the 17" only smaller. I don't notice problems with not enough space. If you're used to that much space, you would probably notice, but if you're not ... . you probably won't notice it missing either.
 
Savior1 said:
I had a 17" PC (PC mind you) and it was a bear. So with that in mind, 15" was the one for me. With the 8600GT 256MB with 4 gigs RAM, the only thing I'm sacrificing is screen real estate, but hey I've got TVs to plug it into if I want more. I have all the power of the 17" only smaller. I don't notice problems with not enough space. If you're used to that much space, you would probably notice, but if you're not ... . you probably won't notice it missing either.
Click to expand...

I could see a PC 17" being a bear, they are 7.2 - 8+ pounds and thicker than the MBP.
 
Savior1 said:
I had a 17" PC (PC mind you) and it was a bear. So with that in mind, 15" was the one for me. With the 8600GT 256MB with 4 gigs RAM, the only thing I'm sacrificing is screen real estate, but hey I've got TVs to plug it into if I want more. I have all the power of the 17" only smaller. I don't notice problems with not enough space. If you're used to that much space, you would probably notice, but if you're not ... . you probably won't notice it missing either.
Click to expand...
This is the same rationale I had moving away from my Dell XPS Gen 2, aka "The 9-Pound Wonder".:eek: I absolutely miss the 1920x1080 resolution, but I have a 24" LCD I plug into my MBP for those times I need that res (games, Photoshop, etc.). Having a machine that doesn't break my back when traveling absolutely trumps the high resolution, and the 1440 display availed itself well on its first business trip last week. :) It amuses me that the MBP + power adapter weighs less than the XPS just by itself.:p

Also, it's only a matter of time before high-resolution 15" panels with LED backlighting are easily obtainable, at which point I see a screen mod in my MBP's future.
:D
 
just ordered my 15inch matte one online

like everyone else said, 17 one would be too big for a laptop, losing the whole point of being easy to carry around. And i rather have less colorful screens than one with light reflecting off of it
 
I have the 2.4 C2D with 15 inch matte screen.

It owns. Trust me.
 
hmm...wonder if all this is helping you...too many mixed feelings! and I'll add mine...

I went with the 15" 2.4 Glossy and I love it. best screen I've ever seen on a laptop. I hate the washed out colors on my wife's dell.

Glare isn't a problem for me. I can see it sometimes, but it's not bad.
 
chew63 said:
hmm...wonder if all this is helping you...too many mixed feelings! and I'll add mine...

I went with the 15" 2.4 Glossy and I love it. best screen I've ever seen on a laptop. I hate the washed out colors on my wife's dell.

Glare isn't a problem for me. I can see it sometimes, but it's not bad.
Click to expand...

Apple's matte screens don't have washed out colors, they have accurate colors. (which is why photo professionals use them over the glossy screens).
 
I'm a HUGE fan of my 15" MacBook Pro SR 2.2ghz with a GLOSSY screen.

I think it looks fantastic, and I've had 0 problems with glare thus far.

The 17" is too big for me as a laptop, though the high res panel is of course a very nice thing. Still, I'm now 100% used to my 1440x1050 or whatever, and it really isn't that bad :)
 
KevySaysBeNice said:
I'm a HUGE fan of my 15" MacBook Pro SR 2.2ghz with a GLOSSY screen.

I think it looks fantastic, and I've had 0 problems with glare thus far.

The 17" is too big for me as a laptop, though the high res panel is of course a very nice thing. Still, I'm now 100% used to my 1440x1050 or whatever, and it really isn't that bad :)
Click to expand...
1440x900

and you want the matte if you're doing anything where color matters.
glossys good if you find glare isn't a problem for you, and you prefer the saturated (however inaccurate) colors.
 
4b5eN+EE said:
1440x900

and you want the matte if you're doing anything where color matters.
glossys good if you find glare isn't a problem for you, and you prefer the saturated (however inaccurate) colors.
Click to expand...


Yes, this is of course the truth, however if you check out fredmiranda, dpreview, etc, you'll find a decent number of "professional" photographers who use a glossy screen and manage without too much trouble at all.

I'm not disagreeing though, if you want pure 100% accurate reproduction you shoudl probably stick with a matte display...

I personally am able to compensate for the saturated colors and in the end I like what I print :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top