[GATTACA]

Hello.
I need some buying advice from programmers out there.
The time has come to upgrade my 15" Macbook Pro (MA1226) Mine is one of the models prior to the introduction of the uni-body design, I got it in 2007.

My question is: Should I go for a 13" MBP or stick to a 15" MBP (hi-res and anti-glare screen).

I'm a Linux/Unix programmer so I my current computer usage is as follows:
70% coding through terminal in vi (SSH into a server and write C++ code or perl scripts)
20% Writing papers in Microsoft Word
10% Websurfing
10% Movies via Netflix and other forms of goofing off

Price aside (since my work is paying for this). Which do the programmers out there recommend?
I'm attracted to the size and weight of the 13" but fear the low-res glossy screen will make it uncomfortable/inconvenient to do the things I currently do on my old 15" MBP. Some people at work have told me that you can get use to the 13" screen.

Any thoughts/suggestions from users?
Thanks in advance.

[CharlesS]

Depends on how you use your laptop. If you primarily set it down on your desk and only occasionally take it somewhere, get the 15". If you primarily carry it around and use it on the go, the 13" might be more attractive for its lower weight.

A third option would be to get a 13" (or even an Air) and buy a large external monitor for your desk. Then you can have a large workspace when you're at your desk, and a light, portable machine for when you're on the road.

[OreoCookie]

In 2010, the 13" and the Air did not have Core i5s and Core i7s, so I decided to get a 15", even though I wanted something smaller. Since I have an external monitor, I don't really need a big built-in screen. Today, I would probably get a maxed out 13" MacBook Air instead of a 15" MacBook Pro. The reason is that I travel for about 2~3 months a year and I need something portable.

For the workloads you give, cpu power is nice, but not paramount (mine are actually quite similar, although I dabble quite a bit in Aperture as well).

[GATTACA]

Thanks for the replies.

I travel infrequently (6-8 times a year), but when I do travel I always wish I had the 13" .
I don't have an external monitor so I'll have to make due with the display of the laptop. This is my big concern with switching to a smaller display.

[OreoCookie]

Originally Posted by GATTACA 

I travel infrequently (6-8 times a year), but when I do travel I always wish I had the 13" .

That's your answer right there. BTW, the 13" Air has a higher resolution than the 13" Pro.

Originally Posted by GATTACA 

I don't have an external monitor so I'll have to make due with the display of the laptop. This is my big concern with switching to a smaller display.

I've spent the majority of my studies with a 12" iBook (although I did have access to various other Macs at work) and it was great for coding and such.

[CharlesS]

Originally Posted by GATTACA 

I don't have an external monitor so I'll have to make due with the display of the laptop. This is my big concern with switching to a smaller display.

Any reason you can't get one? It makes a huge difference, and allows you to use whatever size laptop you want. The combined price of a 13" Pro or Air with a nice external monitor would be in approximately the same ballpark as a 15" Pro.

Originally Posted by OreoCookie 

That's your answer right there. BTW, the 13" Air has a higher resolution than the 13" Pro.

I've spent the majority of my studies with a 12" iBook (although I did have access to various other Macs at work) and it was great for coding and such.

You weren't using Xcode 4, though. Xcode 3 is fine on a smaller screen — Xcode 4, however, feels cramped even on my 24" external display.

[OreoCookie]

Originally Posted by CharlesS 

Any reason you can't get one? It makes a huge difference, and allows you to use whatever size laptop you want. The combined price of a 13" Pro or Air with a nice external monitor would be in approximately the same ballpark as a 15" Pro.

A second monitor boost my productivity as well, I'd definitely get one even if I'd get the 15" in the OP's place.

Originally Posted by CharlesS 

You weren't using Xcode 4, though. Xcode 3 is fine on a smaller screen — Xcode 4, however, feels cramped even on my 24" external display.

I use TextMate and bigger LaTeX projects, so I wouldn't know.

[GATTACA]

I could get an external monitor but it wouldn't get too much use. I have a lot of meetings to attend across campus and I take my MBP with me (I work in at a university). From week to week I will be in different locations. In the summer I'm pretty fixed in my location, I stay in my cubicle. For the summer I could use the external monitor but for the rest of the year it won't get much usage.

I forgot to ask: Is the glossy the display really annoying when you're working on the terminal? I've gone to the Apple store here locally and it looks okay but then again the store has "optimal lighting".

[OreoCookie]

So it really seems you'll carry your machine a lot. I would recommend you have a look at the 13" MacBook Air.

Originally Posted by GATTACA 

I forgot to ask: Is the glossy the display really annoying when you're working on the terminal? I've gone to the Apple store here locally and it looks okay but then again the store has "optimal lighting".

That's a purely personal issue. I've gotten a glossy display just to test it for myself. I find the glassy display much easier to clean, for instance (which is a seldomly mentioned plus). Most of the time, it's not a problem. If you still have issues, you can get a matte film for very little money.

[CharlesS]

Originally Posted by OreoCookie 

So it really seems you'll carry your machine a lot. I would recommend you have a look at the 13" MacBook Air.

I dunno - Xcode 4 on a 13" display would be murder, IMO.

[SierraDragon]

Screen real estate, screen glare, and screen resolution are parameters only you can evaluate. I suggest that you spend some time (e.g. multiple sessions) at an Apple store literally doing your work on the various choices to help you decide. Tha Apple Store folks are good about that.

Screen Real Estate & Pixels
I use all the screen real estate available when performing coding-type work, spec writing, etc. Your work practices may be different but I find that being able to concurrently view earlier code, lists of snippets, etc. in multiple other open windows is hugely productive. I feel very constrained when working on really small screen real estate. As a consequence I went bigger not smaller, 15" to 17". My main work is images and I do watch streamed movies and again, bigger is better. I use two displays when feasible.

Higher resolution displays do have a downside of smaller fonts that some folks including me do not like. Personally I tolerate the small fonts because images are much better viewed on high-resolution. Someday we should get resolution-independence out of the OS but I am not holding my breath.

Glossy versus Matte
Glossy vs. matte is irrelevant to some and a deal-breaker to others. Under controlled lighting the glare can be somewhat minimized but used at uncontrolled locations (I went a few months using an iPad for its 3G connection) the glare can be much more pronounced.

Size & Weight
I am on my second 17" now so obviously I find the trade off for power, screen real estate and matte display worth carrying an extra pound or two. If was to go with a 13" glossy box and felt confident that 4 GB RAM would remain adequate under Lion (for me it definitely will not) and did not need strong graphics support (I do need strong graphics support) the MBA would be my choice. The iPad taught me that it certainly is convenient to carry such a small light box (except that I carried iPad plus MBP ).

All said and done with price minimal in the analysis IMO the power, graphics, hi-res, anti-glare and especially the larger display make a 2.2 GHz MBP your best choice. It is a very definite plus to have desktop-level power in your hands that you know is unlikely to quickly become limiting as the OS and apps evolve.

Whatever you get, plan on an SSD. Modern CPUs are very seriously constrained by the limiting performance of 2.5" notebook hard drives. And the reduced latency in all operations is an absolute joy.

HTH

-Allen

[polendo]

I´m not a programer but I do text a lot. I fear that if you scale back to a 1280X800 resolution you will be dissapointed in case you go for the MBP 13". I have a 15" MBP with a 1400x900 resolution and going back to a lower resolution is a big no no. I´m not too kin of the MBA for working purposes, but if the 13 MBP had a higher resolution I would go that way without a doubt.

[Mojo]

I recently purchased a 13" MBP. I have owned a 15" MBP for several years and it is too large for me when I travel. I only take two carry-on bags and the 15" is just a bit too large and heavy for my taste...

I don't care for Apple's "glassy" displays so I purchased a $35 anti-glare film from Power Support: Anti-Glare Film - MacBook Pro 13” - Shop | Power Support USA

I originally purchased the same film for my iPad. It really does the trick, eliminating reflections and reducing the display contrast.

I apply the film as soon as I remove a new Apple product from its box. In the case of the iPad I didn't need to clean the display. The MBP only required a couple of dabs with a clean, dry microfiber cloth to remove a few specks of dust. Both installations went without a hitch, with no bubbles or trapped dust particles.

I've compared the 13" and 15" MBP displays after installing the anti-glare film and they are remarkably similar in appearance.

Another option is to replace the glassy display with a matte display installed by Tech Restore: http://www.techrestore.com/mac/matte-upgrade.html The cost is $200 including return shipping.

I plan on selling my aging 24" Core2Duo iMac and replacing it with a soon to-be-released NEC 24 e-IPS display. My 13" MBP will reside in this stand when it is on my computer desk: Amazon.com: Twelve South BookArc for MacBook Pro (12-1105): Electronics