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17 inch MBP too big for college?
- Thread starter Emrtr4
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it's definitely better than some 17" PC laptops...it's very thin. But I think it's too big to be lugging around every day. You will eventually wish you had something smaller. IMHO.
I would only buy a 17" if I intended to use it primarily as a DTR and seldomly need to transport it.
The 15" better configuration makes for a very powerful machine that is eminently more portable, even if it too is a little large as a portable machine.
The 15" better configuration makes for a very powerful machine that is eminently more portable, even if it too is a little large as a portable machine.
i take my 17" to uni every day, it isn't that big or heavy if you have a good bag. I have a Crumpler Base toucher!
It really depends on what you use it for.
If that is your only computer while in college and do design work or anything that beg for screen real estate, I say go for the 17". I take mine around every day. It may look "big" compared to the macbooks but it really isn't, have you seen the 17" vaio? that thing is a monster. I have seen many people with 17". I do have to say you will have to spend a little more time finding a good bag. That's the only pet peeve I have.
If that is your only computer while in college and do design work or anything that beg for screen real estate, I say go for the 17". I take mine around every day. It may look "big" compared to the macbooks but it really isn't, have you seen the 17" vaio? that thing is a monster. I have seen many people with 17". I do have to say you will have to spend a little more time finding a good bag. That's the only pet peeve I have.
I don't think your biggest problem will be the weight. It's not that heavy for a 17'' laptop. However, you may find that the 17'' model is too big to fit on many of the desks in your classrooms. Some of the older lecture halls at my university have tiny flip out desks that will barely fit a sheet of 8x11 paper. Your 17'' Macbook Pro would definitely hang over the edges and there's a very good chance that you or someone else would knock it over. Same thing goes for those desk/chair combos that the smaller classrooms have. The 15'' model would be better suited for classwork.
My 15 is almost TOO big to take to class every day. I would strongly advise against a 17 in for class. One of my class mates has a brand new HP 17 in (older lady, says she needs larger fonts and a bigger display?). She doesn't like hassling with it to take it out every day. I take mine out and put it away about 4 times on average a day for class, so portability and ease of use are key for me.
i completely agree with this statement. a 7 lb laptop isn't so bad, but the 10" by 15" footprint makes it too cumbersome to use going from class to class. and i would not want to have somebody tripping over a 17" mbp. if you're transporting it from your dorm to the library, fine, but it isn't a laptop to carry from class to class.
I bring my 17 around campus everyday. I have had absolutely no problems. The size difference is negligble in your bag - weight and size. The extra screen real estate, whereever you go is well worth it in my opinion.
Hey,
I would recommend against a 17" for the same reasons mentioned before. The footprint is too big and just isn't worth it. In all of my classes i require the laptop, even calclulus and physics. So with the laptop, subject textbook, and some loose-leaf to workout the problems there really isn't any room to spare. And i have the 15" which is "just right", a 17" would just cause problems and slow everything down.
I recommend that you go to the school you're going to, if possible, and check out the likely places you'll study in (library, study rooms, cafe...). Check out the table sizes they have. Usually libraries have the largest tables while classes have the smallest.
Whatever you go with i recommed the following: A good case, keyboard and screen protection kits (PRICELESS) and a lock of some sort to keep it safe. The screen and keyboard protection kits are pricless since people will always be touching your screen and there are always drinks (coffee) around which can cause problems if spilled on the laptop.
I would recommend against a 17" for the same reasons mentioned before. The footprint is too big and just isn't worth it. In all of my classes i require the laptop, even calclulus and physics. So with the laptop, subject textbook, and some loose-leaf to workout the problems there really isn't any room to spare. And i have the 15" which is "just right", a 17" would just cause problems and slow everything down.
I recommend that you go to the school you're going to, if possible, and check out the likely places you'll study in (library, study rooms, cafe...). Check out the table sizes they have. Usually libraries have the largest tables while classes have the smallest.
Whatever you go with i recommed the following: A good case, keyboard and screen protection kits (PRICELESS) and a lock of some sort to keep it safe. The screen and keyboard protection kits are pricless since people will always be touching your screen and there are always drinks (coffee) around which can cause problems if spilled on the laptop.
A 17" MBP would be very awkward on desks of most universities; even my 12" iBook can make my space a little too crowded at times in class! Another point to consider is that a 17" screen will probably distract those around you far more than even a 15" one, which can be a problem if many students and professors dislike seeing laptops being used in class.
It will needs its own chair and parking space.
Nah, it's not that big, and it's not really that heavy. I don't understand the fascination of bringing your laptop to class. In Australia, I don't really see this happen very often (or pretty much never).
Personally, I'd get a 15" laptop and a 20" LCD from somewhere.
Honestly, I think it's too big to be called a laptop. It won't fit comfortably on small desks and tables.
these statements are getting ridiculous; i doubt any of you have actually used a 17". i have (for a couple of weeks when my 15" was dead) and the difference is noticeable, but not problematic. the footprint of a 17 vs. a 15 is about 1.3" wider and 0.8" deeper. you are telling me that the extra 1.3" and 0.8" makes the laptop not fit on small tables? please.
is it heavier? yes. is it bigger? yes. is it "not portable?" no. i went to the 15 for 2 reasons: 90% was i would be using it primarily at home on a big external monitor and the size difference would not have really been a benefit for me; and 10% was that i had a hard time finding a bag for a 17 that did what i wanted it to do.
you need to go into an apple store, pick up a 17 in one hand and a 15 in the other (which are almost always next to each other) and see for yourself. then lay the closed 15 on top of the closed 17 and see how minimal the difference really is. make your own decision.
these statements are getting ridiculous; i doubt any of you have actually used a 17". i have (for a couple of weeks when my 15" was dead) and the difference is noticeable, but not problematic. the footprint of a 17 vs. a 15 is about 1.3" wider and 0.8" deeper. you are telling me that the extra 1.3" and 0.8" makes the laptop not fit on small tables? please.
Taking into account the need to use a mouse on my small desk, or the need to fit a coffee cup next to it at the coffee shop, yes.
In fact, I would have gotten a 13" Macbook Pro had such a thing existed; I think 15" is still a bit large, although the screen size is very comfortable.