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efuggetta · Mar 6, 2009, 11:05 AM

I ordered a new 15.4" (2.4, 2GB, 250 hd) Macbook Pro and the seller accidentally sent me a late 2008 17" (2.5, 4GB, 320hd). I have the option of keeping it. (I'm using it now, and it's lovely.)

Is it worth keeping the old design (and much more expensive machine) for the bigger screen, faster processor and extra RAM? Or is the new design awesome enough to jump down to a lesser processor, screen and RAM?

Maflynn · Mar 6, 2009, 11:16 AM

Unibody design, lighter, smaller the 15" MBP will be faster then the older generation thanks to a faster FSB, DDR3 memory superior GPU.

If you like the 17" keep it, but I think the 15" unibody MBP is a better looking, better performing machine.

Just my $.02

Simon · Mar 6, 2009, 12:32 PM

I find the unibody design much nicer and IMHO the 17" is far too big for the road, but the deal you got is pretty good. So if you like the 17" you should probably keep it. Check an Apple store and try the UB 15" MBP in person, then decide. You didn't happen to get the high-res version, did you? If so you could probably sell it off and use the money to get a new (and faster) 15" MBP.

efuggetta · Mar 6, 2009, 12:46 PM

How do I know if I got the high-res version? The max is 1920x1200. Is that what you're talking about? (Sorry, I don't know much about technical stuff.)

The portability isn't too big an issue. I thought it would be, but in my backpack I really don't even notice the difference.

Maflynn · Mar 6, 2009, 01:01 PM

system preferences->display preferences and see what resolution you're running at

efuggetta · Mar 6, 2009, 01:14 PM

1920x1200.

B Gallagher · Mar 6, 2009, 02:28 PM

Wow, you did get a pretty sweet deal there. I hope the seller has been made well aware of their mistake though.

Primate Labs give the new 2.4GHz 15.4" MBP a Geekbench sore of 3090, and the older 17" a score of 3167.

Anyways, my two cents are the same as Maflynn's. If you like the 17", keep it! Maybe go down to an Apple Store or other reseller, and have a play with the 15". I find that after having two 15" laptops for the past 4 years, I could never go down to something smaller. And you've got a very nice amount of screen real estate with the high-res screen. But go check out the new 15" and see whether afterwards, while back home on your 17". if you find yourself wanting it, or you're happy with what you've got.

B Gallagher · Mar 6, 2009, 02:29 PM

Wow, you did get a pretty sweet deal there. I hope the seller has been made well aware of their mistake though.

Primate Labs give the new 2.4GHz 15.4" MBP a Geekbench sore of 3090, and the older 17" a score of 3167.

Anyways, my two cents are the same as Maflynn's. If you like the 17", keep it! Maybe go down to an Apple Store or other reseller, and have a play with the 15". I find that after having two 15" laptops for the past 4 years, I could never go down to something smaller. And you've got a very nice amount of screen real estate with the high-res screen. But go check out the new 15" and see whether afterwards, while back home on your 17". if you find yourself wanting it, or you're happy with what you've got.

efuggetta · Mar 6, 2009, 05:00 PM

Yea, I think I'm going to keep it. I'm falling in love with the extra screen space (coming from a 13"). It's also lightning fast and gorgeous, so I'm thinking that it wouldn't be worth it to sacrifice the RAM and processor for the new design. Maybe I've convinced myself to do so, but I actually really like the keyboard on this guy, too, better than my old MB keyboard, which is similar to the new 15."

SierraDragon · 05:59 PM

After years of 15" and smaller I far prefer the 17" size. The extra screen real estate and extra pixels are way more than worth the extra 1.1 pound.

-Allen Wicks