[asparagui]

Greetings,

I am planning on purchasing a Merom MBP. I was wondering if some of the users who have 17" notebooks find them to be 'overly large', or if the extra real estate is worth the added size.

I practically live on campus, so I'm suffering while I wait for the release, but every time I see them in the bookstore the 17" looks like it would be almost cumbersome.

Do those of you who have one find this to be the case?

Thanks in advance.

[Necrocool]

I had the 17" PB before getting a 15" MBP. Honestly, they aren't too much different in size, but 15" is a little more comfortable to use in class and I didn't miss the screen real estate too much.

[romeosc]

Originally Posted by Necrocool

I had the 17" PB before getting a 15" MBP. Honestly, they aren't too much different in size, but 15" is a little more comfortable to use in class and I didn't miss the screen real estate too much.

I have owned over 40 PBs since my first 2 PB100s. I love my 17" G4 PB. Real Estate is very important! Strain on the eyes is less! I have a leather case and carry it everwhere!

[Velocity211]

40?!

[phoenix78]

It depends on whom you ask. It is deceptively heavy. carrying it in your hands isnt very heavy but you need an oversized bag to carry it... so 17" + weight of carry bag + other stuff you carry in that bag = rather heavy.

I have 17" and its ok because i carry it short distances and then put it on a desk all day... then take it back to my car and drive home. makes it easy and its great having extra screen space make no mistake about that!

really you need to make a decision based on how portable you want to be with your mbp. the 15" has similar specs to the 17" and is cheaper by a bit... so that may be a tipping point also...

cheers
rob.

[SierraDragon]

Originally Posted by asparagui

Greetings,

I am planning on purchasing a Merom MBP. I was wondering if some of the users who have 17" notebooks find them to be 'overly large', or if the extra real estate is worth the added size.

I practically live on campus, so I'm suffering while I wait for the release, but every time I see them in the bookstore the 17" looks like it would be almost cumbersome.

Do those of you who have one find this to be the case?

I sent a 17" PB G4 back for a 15" because the 17" felt "clunky" to me. However as of today the specs are not the same 15" MBP vs. 17" MBP so I would buy a 17" because FW800 IMO is essential and the faster Superdrive is important too.

Personally I am waiting to see specs on the Merom MBPs before I buy a new MBP, but I am expecting 17" Merom MBPs to have sufficient additional features to justify the more cumbersome size (weight is fairly moot to me).

-Allen Wicks

[milhous]

the 17's nice because you get a higher resolution screen. that and if someone needed firewire800 are probably the only reasons why someone would get one.

in my opinion, apple needs to offer higher-res screen choices in the 15" model. 1440x900 is too low for my tastes.

[shabbasuraj]

THe 17" is a big computer, end of story.

[gnomexp]

I would STRONGLY ADVISE AGAINST taking a 17in MacBook Pro to class. It is simply too large, heavy, and fragile. My advise would be to get a MacBook and a base MacPro (I hope you can find a monitor cheap or have one already), or a 15in MacBook Pro if you only want one computer.

15in is a good solid size based on my experiences with the TiBooks. I can't say enough about my experiences with 12in PowerBooks and, even better, 13in MacBooks.

[irv09]

I have a 15" Al G4 PB and a 17"MBP and the 17" is big. I think if you are really mobile, the 15" is the way to go. I wanted the better superdrive and the FW 800 port. I will say that once you are set up on the desk, the 17" is nice in terms of the larger display.

[Cadaver]

Originally Posted by gnomexp

I would STRONGLY ADVISE AGAINST taking a 17in MacBook Pro to class. It is simply too large, heavy, and fragile. My advise would be to get a MacBook and a base MacPro (I hope you can find a monitor cheap or have one already), or a 15in MacBook Pro if you only want one computer.

15in is a good solid size based on my experiences with the TiBooks. I can't say enough about my experiences with 12in PowerBooks and, even better, 13in MacBooks.

Why two machines? Why not just a 13" MacBook and an external monitor for home? Maximize the portability, and you've still got full functionality at home. And if you're worried about games, the price difference between a 17" MacBook Pro and a 13" MacBook will leave you with more than enough for an XBox 360 and many, many games.

[gnomexp]

I used to do that with a 12in PowerBook and believe me, it's a huge hassle. I like being able to get home and jsut get on a computer.

[shabbasuraj]

External monitor is the way to go. Check the longstanding PowerBook picure thread for ideas, man users here seem to go that root.

Best of both worlds.

[romeosc]

Originally Posted by Velocity211

40?!

Yeah, I'm a pack rat and buy and sell used PBs, still own about 10. I unfortunately refuse to sell if
prices drop too low! I still have 2 PB100s, a couple 5300c and duo 2300s. I used to loan old PBs free to users at local Apple Users group to tose who only need PB periodically.

I often carry an extra G4500 Ti and external firewire drive (cloned) when I am on road for a long time, in case of a problem!

[indigoimac]

I really love the 15" PowerBook, really an excellent size, that said for true portability a MacBook is probably a better choice. The MacBook Pros and PowerBooks were always aimed more as "desktop replacements" and are a little heavier, The iBooks and MacBooks are more just supplements to a desktop (iMac, MacPro, PowMac, w/e)

[shecky]

i think that a lot of the people who think a 17 is too big have not seen one hands on. i spent a lot of time in an apple store looking at the 15 and 17 and the 17 is a bit larger and a bit more heavier, but you gain a lot for marginal differences in size, weight, and price.

you can read my thread here: http://forums.macnn.com/69/powerbook...h-i-get-wooed/ for more specific thoughts that i had regarding the 17.

if you can, go into an apple store and lay a 15 on top of a 17 (i did) and you will see the size difference is not a big deal at all.

[SierraDragon]

Originally Posted by indigoimac

I really love the 15" PowerBook, really an excellent size, that said for true portability a MacBook is probably a better choice. The MacBook Pros and PowerBooks were always aimed more as "desktop replacements" and are a little heavier, The iBooks and MacBooks are more just supplements to a desktop (iMac, MacPro, PowMac, w/e)

The MacBooks only save 6 ounces of weight and a little bit of length/width but at the cost of added thickness, essential screen real estate and less pixels (also no PC card slot, no graphics card, etc.). If one does anything with graphics the MacBooks are IMO a less good choice. A case of getting what you pay for.

-Allen Wicks

[ticedric]

I got my cureent 17 G4 because my boss, who travels ALOT, just hated it. For him its too heavy and big...also the fact that he needed a bigger bag was a bog issue. I am currently debating getting a 15inch MBP or a 17inch. With the new resolutions of apple laptops I find that even macbook is'nt that small.

[iREZ]

i used to carry a 12" to class and back (for design) and it was a joy, im now having to carry my 15" mbp, and there is no way in hell id carry a 17" back n forth. if you ask me, the 17" isnt that much bigger or heavier than the 15" but the 15" is already a pretty big machine in itself vs a 12" or 13" notebook.

so with that said, i find 15" the most id ever go with if i have to carry my notebook around with me everywhere, whereas the 17" looks like the portable id use if id only take my computer off the desk a couple times a month vs everyday like i use now.

[mdc]

I had the 15" PowerBook and since last November I have had a 17" PowerBook. I will not go back to the 15" since I do not find the size or weight difference to be a factor.

I have a Booq Python XM backpack and RadTech Sleevz. I travel a lot with it and in the backpack I do not find it heavy.

Often I am out taking photos and I have my PowerBook with me to dump photos onto it when I run out of space.

With the 17" having the resolution of a 20" monitor I do not find a need for an external.

[rogerio drummond]

I have had several Macs starting with the Lisa (a pre-Mac computer).
I also had several Mac notebooks including the Duo, over 10 years ago.

The 17" PBs and now the 17" MBPs with 1680x1050 can easily be your
only computer. I run a lab. with 20 Macs for my students, but I do not
use anything other than my PB G4 17". I'll replace it with soon to be upgraded
MBP 17" (w Core 2 Duo).

For me, I need a reasonable screen real state for program dev. The 1680x1050
is OK, higher resolution would be even better. 1440x900 on a 15" screen makes
one tempted to use an external display or to use a desktop at the office.

For the last years I only use my notebook. All my email, my classes, the web
pages I create for courses, etc, reside on my PB. I use the server to keep backups
of my PB and to handle the email and the sites that I manage.

I use a Brenthaven side bag. I am now changing for a backpack. They are better
suited for your body (do not strain one side). The weight difference between a 15"
and a 17" is not that much. The advantage of having more space to work is a
confort that you will enjoy for years.

A MBP 17" of today gives you more than enough power for most of every days work,
and a screen that is large enough and has a quality you would hardly want to change
for anything else.

Get youlself a good backpack and a backup squema and enjoy your colege life.
Consider also getting a RoadTools Podium CoolPad. It lifts the back of the MBP so that
the keyboard is at a better angle, and you can swivel the notebook.

You will not regret...

[BWhaler]

I don't think it's too large at all. To each his own.

I travel the world with my 17" PowerBook. And I will buy the 17" MBP when it is updated.

For me, I like the screen real estate and being able to give presentations to small groups of people without being crowded around a laptop.

Sure the laptop bag I carry is 25 pounds with all my goodies in it. But the trade-offs are worth it. Even when that bag is being carried around the planet.

But I think you need to decide what works best for you and your specific needs.

[asparagui]

Thanks to all who have responded.

I am fortunate enough that I have an office-type location on campus, and really only need to port the laptop back and forth to a couple of classes a day. It doesn't have to be with me at all times, which decreases the probable 'bulkiness.'

I managed to 'borrow' a 15" PowerBook G4 for a couple of days, and the weight was noticable, but an extra pound isn't that big of a deal between the two sizes.

I just wanted an opinion from some who have one and carry it around. It's a once-in-a-lifetime deal (Student Developer, baby) and I think I'm going to go for the gold, a.k.a. 17".

On a totally unrelated note, I look forward to people saying "It's too much!" and being able to say "Yeah...I know."

Thanks for contributing.

-dave

[houstonmacbro]

Originally Posted by asparagui

Greetings,

I am planning on purchasing a Merom MBP. I was wondering if some of the users who have 17" notebooks find them to be 'overly large', or if the extra real estate is worth the added size.

I practically live on campus, so I'm suffering while I wait for the release, but every time I see them in the bookstore the 17" looks like it would be almost cumbersome.

Do those of you who have one find this to be the case?

Thanks in advance.

i just received mine (at work) yesterday and while i think it would be too big (and heavy for me personally) i like it at work to be able to have two web pages open, or full screen of garage band, etc.

are you gonna be lugging it around alot? i think it's lighter than my 15" powerbook and runs a bit cooler.

[Javizun]

I personally fell like the 17" pro is rtoo big for class, i find the 15" more suitable add a 23" cinema display @ home and you have the best of both worlds.

[romeosc]

I'm an old F&^t but I carry a 17" around all day long.... I guess as age creeps up, the eyesight goes, so screen is much easier to see and sliding around on a conference table, its easier for multiple viewers.

[macintologist]

Remember the 17" MBP has the same resolution as the 20" Cinema Display