15" Macbook Pro vs. 17" Macbook Pro

Speaking from experience...
I loved my 15-inch Titanium PowerBook G4 and used it for almost 5 years.
When it was time to upgrade I thought the 17-inch MacBook Pro would be the ticket. I thought the larger HD screen would be fantastic so I bought one last January.
Last month I bought the new 15-inch Unibody MacBook Pro and I couldn't be happier.
It's amazing how much extra weight and bulk the 17-inch MBP carries vs the 15-inch machine.
I think the 15-inch Unibody MBP is the new sweet spot in the Apple laptop line.
I took a hit when I sold the 17-inch machine on eBay... but I'm diggin' the new MBP.

Cheers!

I have gone for the new 15-inch MacBook Pro over the old 17-inch MacBook Pro for the following reasons.

Durability - Far stronger
Keyboard - Easier to type and no more painted keys
*_Removable Hard Drive*_ - Finally! I do not have to rip apart my notebook to get at my HDD. This gives the notebook better longevity. Swap HDD for SSD.
Screen - Do not think of it as glossy. It is new screen technology.
*_Magnetic screen latch_* - Your lid will not bend anymore
_*Glass track pad*_

Seriously, just read the Original MacBook Pro pages of Apple Discussions. If you think the minor complaints for the new MacBook Pro have been bad, just read the complaints for the old one.

In the end, it is just a better-built notebook than the lid-bending, case-separating tin can edition.

Good luck, and let us know!

well thanks alot luke...i bought my "clam shell" 15 inch macbook pro a month before the new ones came out... what a way to diss the 1st generation macbook pros... but i know when apple comes out with something new, you're gonna jump on that bandwagon and say the same about the one you got now...enjoy your "new" macbook pro while it lasts, because pretty soon it will be considered "old"....

By the way, I am happy with my clam shell notebook,
the keys are more ergonomic,
it doesn't look like a dell,
who switches out their hard drives?
stronger? if you drop either laptop somethings bound to break (maybe the cool glass screen)
and a glass trackpad that doesn't work?
I'll stick to mine thank you very much

plored13,

Give it a break.

I have just offered some balance to the recent negative posts.

+"Who switches out their hard drives?"+

Spend some time here, and learn.

Please do not complain about a notebook that you do not even own.

PS:

Yes, plored13, this could happen to your notebook too!

http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1633616&tstart=60

Message was edited by: LukeD

well thanks alot plored13...

you are attacking someone for defending the new macbook pro, yet you are defending the old macbook pro with the same vigor... that sounds a little hypocritical to me, my friend.

i guess that we should all get rid of our new macbook pros to make you feel better about yours.

Trisha K, it's not about making ME feel better, it's just that ever since I got my first macbook, and would browse around the forums, I noticed one thing. That it seems to me that everyone is always putting down the previous generation of something. Yes new things do come out and are better, but does that give you the right to say mine is better and yours isn't? I really thought apple users were a real tight community, after all, WE are different from the "OTHERS" . But I was wrong. And I apologize for ever joining a mac forum. So keep your sorrow, it does more harm than good.

By the way TrishaK, if I really really really wanted the "NEW" one, I would have done what every other apple user did and complain till I got mine. So I don't think I was attacking, it was more like defending.

Dude not even an issue. I had a 15" Macbook Pro I bought in April that had major problems with the bad nvida card which the 17 still has. Apple offered me the new 15" Pro with 2.53 & 700 Hard Drive OR old 17" with all the recent upgrades. I was in the same boat as you and decided to go with the newest of the new. The only think I liked better on the old version is the keyboard... like the raised keys but other than that with the trackpad firmware update tonight for tapping issues on the new macbook pro.. this machine is perfect!

I decided to go with the 15.4" because honestly that 1.6" screen difference isnt noticable and it adds so much weight going with the 17". Also personaly the 15" looks better and has all the new features. Personaly i dont think i could go without the new trackpad. I love my macbook pro 2.53 and the screen size is awesome so games and especially movies.

I'd go with the 15" MBP.

The 17" isn't as portable as the 15". Try using the 17" MBP on an airline tray.

The 15"MBP has a better glass touch pad, FSB, DDR3 memory and dual GPU modes to extend battery life. The new unibody design is slick looking but also strong.

The 17" is still the older design but it does have the matte screen option. For some people that's important. I found the glossy screen (surprisingly so) to be excellent display.

Same dilemma for me too. Does anyone know if Apple are planning to launch soon with a newer 17" Model, similar to the new 15" Pro machines? I think I'd rather wait for that then buy right now.

personally i would pick the 15" as it is smaller my friend has the 17" and its just to big of a "Laptop" for me.

Oh the drama.lol 🙂

Yes, using it a computer on an airline try may not be the best environment for a 17" but some of us depend upon a computer, even when we travel, do our work, and for some of us, the 15 lowers our productivity because of the work, be it image editing, or film editing or sound editing (yes, you do those things on a Mac laptop), and anything smaller just cuts down how much work we get done per hour. I'd rather take a break from work on the airline, and then work when I get where I am going on a larger screen. I'm not saying this is the universal opinion, but it is mine, and that's why I find the 15 too small. When I get to Ireland, or France, or wherever I am going, and get ready to do some work the next day, I'd rather open a 17" than a 15" Different strokes for different folks.

Let's just try to imagine that one size doesn't fit all. Also, when image editing, I'd rather not have the glossy screen. Yes, the 15 is great for most of you, but why do you want to sell us your preference? Comments bashing the "old" newly updated 17 often are just silly.

If there's an Apple dealer near you, please visit and try both out.

Back in 2006, I chose a 17" MBP. It is a little more of a "commitment" to carry around with you, but I have thoroughly enjoyed it, and would go for another 17" MBP if the need arose.

SO...please try 'em out first if you can. Minnesota has Apple stores in Lake Minnetonka, the Bloomington Mall of America, The Rosedale Center in Roseville, and Southdale in Edina.

I'm trying to make the switch from pc to mac now but I want a 17 in with all the new features that the new 15in MBPs have except for that mirror screen. Gonna wait til after macworld to see if there is any hint at a new 17in there and a possible return of the matte screen OPTION (although I dont think its going to happen). So I guess unless there is a New 17in MBP with antiglare coming after January, it looks like I'll have to purchase an old 17 in model, sorry but that mirror screen is a deal breaker, more than any weakness the old model may have. I've been to the apple stores repeatedly, the glare is that bad.

BRING BACK MATTE PLEASE QQ.

Just my 2 cents
Thanks
Dave