Welcome to the MacNN Forums.

Kenstee · Sep 24, 2003, 12:50 PM

Curious to hear how the new 15" fits on a coach meal tray? How usable is the AL 15" in coach? Any problems if person in front reclines -- like with the Ti?

Lattimer · Sep 24, 2003, 02:41 PM

*bump*

Me too! Me too!

hehe

No, seriously...

porsche993 · Sep 24, 2003, 02:52 PM

I'll report on this soon...I've got a buisness trip this weekend (If my BTO 'book get's here by then. Grin).

cheers,

sean

utkucan · Sep 24, 2003, 03:33 PM

coach class woth the powerbook?

surely it deserves to travel in better conditions

SSharon · Sep 24, 2003, 03:38 PM

Originally posted by utkucan:
coach class woth the powerbook?

surely it deserves to travel in better conditions

well sure it deserves better conditions, but there are more people in coach so this will allow us to convert the masses more efficiently.

TheIceMan · Sep 24, 2003, 04:02 PM

I don't have the *new* AL 15", but I have flown coach with the Titanium 15". The difference in the 2 models size-wise is:

Aluminum 15"
Dimension: 1.1 x 13.7 x 9.5
Weight: 5.6 pounds

Titanium 15"
Dimension: 1.0 x 13.4 x 9.5
Weight: 5.4 pounds

This is what it breaks down into:

The AL 15" is bigger than the Ti 15" by:
0.1 inches = 0.254 cm
0.3 inches = 0.762 cm
0.2 pounds = 3.2 oz = 90 grams

I did this to point out that despite what people have been saying about the AL 15" being bigger and heavier, the difference is very very minor. In fact, the only slightly noticeable difference is the increase in weight of 3.2 oz. To compare this imagine that the 3.2 oz difference is still less than the Sony Ericsson T616 cellphone at 3.4 oz

So relax people.

porsche993 · Sep 27, 2003, 11:08 PM

As promised, here's my observations after a 2 hour flight from Houston to Denver this evening --

The 15" Al powebook fits just fine on the tray table in coach (Continental) __IF__ the person in front of you doesn't lean their seat back (as mine did)

However, if you just use the machine in your lap, it works great, even with the seat in front reclined.

The backlit keyboard is a godsend in the dark of an aircraft seat at night.

One other note, after 2:15 minutes of flying, I still had 38 minutes reading on my battery. Consdering that the battery read 2:11 minutes when I started it up (full charge) I'm thinking the battery meter isn't real good for this 'book. Work was mixed text editing and compiling C++ code.

cheers,

sean

Cincojoe · Sep 27, 2003, 11:13 PM

If the Ti didn't work for you, then the AL isn't going to work for you.

JEB · Sep 27, 2003, 11:22 PM

Originally posted by porsche993:

One other note, after 2:15 minutes of flying, I still had 38 minutes reading on my battery. Consdering that the battery read 2:11 minutes when I started it up (full charge)

You might know this, but for anyone who didn't run across it: What to do is "run the battery down" to the point where your 'book self-sleeps (like Kramer driving Jerry's Saab on empty).

Then charge it up; that's all. Actually, I learned it's not anything about the old days of 'battery memory' (a myth of sorts) . . . there is actually batt. mem. controller chip . . .

Thanks for your Alu-impressions, by the way. Have you given consideration to any type of extra power adaptors (?)

bcaslis · Sep 28, 2003, 12:20 AM

Originally posted by Cincojoe:
If the Ti didn't work for you, then the AL isn't going to work for you.

That's not necessarily true. Although the Al has slightly bigger dimension, since the lid is hinged lower than the Ti when open the height of the lid is slightly lower on the Al. That is a help when on an airline tray.

vancenase · Sep 28, 2003, 03:43 PM

just took my 17" on coach ... i couldn't flip the LCD up very far because of the guy in front of me (who had his seat in the reclined position). i couldn't get it past 90 degrees (that bastard!)

it was usable, but not optimal by any means. the text was dark and a bit hard to read ...

didn't put it on the fold out tray though ... kept it in my lap.

Kenstee · Sep 28, 2003, 06:49 PM

Originally posted by porsche993:

The 15" Al powebook fits just fine on the tray table in coach (Continental) __IF__ the person in front of you doesn't lean their seat back (as mine did)

However, if you just use the machine in your lap, it works great, even with the seat in front reclined.

Not what I wanted to hear. But, I'm not surprised. Looks like the 12 is still a better option for coach-class road warriors. I like to use a mouse instead of the f #*&' trackpad. I need the surface area of the tray to work my Kensignton Wireless Mini-Pro. Don't really want my on my lap for visability reasons as well as typing ease. For me it's easier to see and to type when its on the tray. Not to mention the heat on the bottom of these Als. Oh well.....maybe the eventual G5 12" will end my Al 15 envy!

One other note, after 2:15 minutes of flying, I still had 38 minutes reading on my battery. Consdering that the battery read 2:11 minutes when I started it up (full charge) I'm thinking the battery meter isn't real good for this 'book. Work was mixed text editing and compiling C++ code.

I have the same deal with my current 12. It seems to recalculate the time remaining on the fly, usually for the better - more time than first displayed. That said, the battery life of the 15 sounds a bit disappointing. Perhaps when its conditioned a few times the lifespan will improve

porsche993 · Sep 28, 2003, 07:44 PM

"Don't really want my on my lap for visability reasons as well as typing ease. For me it's easier to see and to type when its on the tray"

Here's a little trick, one road warrior to another...get a pillow & set the PB on that...

works great, even did it with my 12" ;-)

sean