For all those people with MacBooks and no external display, is the screen big enough to get by? I personally feel that the MBP 15.4" is a nice size, but I'd rather opt for the MacBook. Just wondering how everyone felt about it...
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13.3" screen big enough?
- Thread starter briantology
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yes and no depends what you use it for. im find with it when i take it places but when im home, i definilty like having an external monitor hooked up
While I could get by, I couldn't live with it unless I had an external monitor hooked up.
I used to take my Macbook to school and used it as my main computer at home. When at school and I was working on assignments I could get by with the screen size, but really it was because I had to. While I'm at home, I use my external monitor and can't imagine using a 13" all the time for my school work (I'm CS so I do a lot of developing).
I have since upgraded to a Macbook Pro and found the 15" much better for doing my development work.
If your laptop is going to be your only computer and you use the computer often, I'd recommend getting the largest screen you can afford, even if you bring it around with you everywhere.
Btw I've also owned a 12" Powerbook and while I miss the small size (it wasn't much lighter than my 15"), I'm much happier with the screen size on the 15.4". I commute everyday downtown to school and the laptop comes with me.
I used to take my Macbook to school and used it as my main computer at home. When at school and I was working on assignments I could get by with the screen size, but really it was because I had to. While I'm at home, I use my external monitor and can't imagine using a 13" all the time for my school work (I'm CS so I do a lot of developing).
I have since upgraded to a Macbook Pro and found the 15" much better for doing my development work.
If your laptop is going to be your only computer and you use the computer often, I'd recommend getting the largest screen you can afford, even if you bring it around with you everywhere.
Btw I've also owned a 12" Powerbook and while I miss the small size (it wasn't much lighter than my 15"), I'm much happier with the screen size on the 15.4". I commute everyday downtown to school and the laptop comes with me.
Hmmm, I'm CE, but currently a freshman. I would consider getting an iMac, but I really don't have enough space on my desk in the dorms to fit it comfortably. As for the MBP, for some reason I just don't like the keys or trackpad, they don't feel right.
I love it for commuting, but I need a big display at home to hook it up to. I couldn't work with it all day otherwise.
That's too bad then, consider getting a 13" Macbook with an external monitor if you can find the space
If not the Macbook's still a good machine to work with, u just might need to use expose more than I did 
I multitask and find it too small, I find the 15 inch MBP pretty decent and the 17 inch MBP amazing. (I have the 15 inch)
multi user
So, I just picked up a macbook 13.3, after using IBM laptops for years, haven't had a mac powerbook since 1993 or so. Whew. but, use Imacs daily.
Honestly, I still prefer a nice 14" 4:3 screen, to the 13" 16:9, there is just more space for the things I do, reading emails, reading online news and such. I haven't started using the macbook yet for photos and such yet, but when I do it will probably be fine.
Just today, there are rumors that a 15.4" macbook will be out before summer, that might have been nice, but I got a great deal on the macbook for 1075$ for the 2.0 white model, so I figure I can sell it for 100$ less in the future, if the 15;4" really catches my fancy.
So, I just picked up a macbook 13.3, after using IBM laptops for years, haven't had a mac powerbook since 1993 or so. Whew. but, use Imacs daily.
Honestly, I still prefer a nice 14" 4:3 screen, to the 13" 16:9, there is just more space for the things I do, reading emails, reading online news and such. I haven't started using the macbook yet for photos and such yet, but when I do it will probably be fine.
Just today, there are rumors that a 15.4" macbook will be out before summer, that might have been nice, but I got a great deal on the macbook for 1075$ for the 2.0 white model, so I figure I can sell it for 100$ less in the future, if the 15;4" really catches my fancy.
it's my one and only computer... and I don't miss screen size, but I guess it's an individual thing...
So I have a 12" iBook and love the portability of it, but I wish it had another inch plus at times. With Expose I can get by with a smaller screen for sure- and I move it around so much I don't want it much larger. I do lots of multitasking, but again, Expose makes that very easy!!
Those are my personal preferences though-
Those are my personal preferences though-
I had a 12'' ibook before my macbook, and the extra inch makes a huge difference. I used my friends ibook recently and it was really cramped (not to mention dull) next to the macbook.
Unless you are doing some serious photo or film editing, or are running a million programs at once (and don't like using expose) the 13'' screen is perfect.
On a side note, I don't understand why some people dislike expose so much. I am utterly shocked when I use someone's mac that doesn't have it enabled. It makes things so much quicker and easier.
eh whatever.
Unless you are doing some serious photo or film editing, or are running a million programs at once (and don't like using expose) the 13'' screen is perfect.
On a side note, I don't understand why some people dislike expose so much. I am utterly shocked when I use someone's mac that doesn't have it enabled. It makes things so much quicker and easier.
eh whatever.
13.3 is good for me, i can take it places, but when i'm at home on a desk, i still use that 13.3 screen, only sometimes i want to hook it up to a external....
it's a perfect size.
it's a perfect size.
Same for me, that size means you can take it everywhere (it's the size of a pad of A4 paper), which is great! I suppose an external display would be nice at home, one day I'll buy one.
That's too bad then, consider getting a 13" Macbook with an external monitor if you can find the space
if he could find the space for an external monitor, would he not have space for an imac?
But you can take a MB to other places whereas an iMac is tied down, if you are just at your desk an iMac doesn't take up any more space.
I also went from a PowerBook 12" to a 13.3" MacBook and I find it provides me with plenty of room. But then I'm not trying to do graphic design or anything like that on it.
I do some graphic design work in Illustrator on my MacBook.
Screen size is just fine. Not as good at the 24 inch widescreen display I've got hooked up to my Mac Pro, but on the move and getting some work done in hotel rooms at night its just fine. Good thing too - I almost got a 17 inch MacBook Pro, but was put off by aweful keyboard. As it turns out, the MacBook is more than up to what I need (and less expenive).
The MacBook Pro needs a serious redesign. Until then the MacBook is a clear winner
Screen size is just fine. Not as good at the 24 inch widescreen display I've got hooked up to my Mac Pro, but on the move and getting some work done in hotel rooms at night its just fine. Good thing too - I almost got a 17 inch MacBook Pro, but was put off by aweful keyboard. As it turns out, the MacBook is more than up to what I need (and less expenive).
The MacBook Pro needs a serious redesign. Until then the MacBook is a clear winner
the post was referring to briantology's comment about considering an imac. dalurker then suggested getting a macbook with an external display, prompting my response.
Hmmm, I pretty well decided to go for a black MacBook, that is until I saw the 15.4" MacBook rumor... I think that would be perfect, but it doesn't exist yet and it's not even a sure thing. I dunno.