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20" MacBook Pro

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$MacUser$

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Mar 27, 2005
330
22
Los Angeles
Hey there,

You guys think there is any possibility of a 20" MacBook Pro surfacing to replace the 17" form factor? Although the chances are slim for a number of reasons, I don't see it out of the realm of possibility. On the contrary, I think its only a matter of time before a major manufacturer releases a 20" book. Although some might consider that way to large, I am currently writing this in front of a 20" iMac and the screen really isn't all that enormous...certainly not too big to be put in a laptop. The current 17 incher is pretty large by some accounts, but I find it perfectly acceptable. I think a 20 would be excellent for those who demand power and only need to transport their computer from point A to point B (ie: a professional), not someone tossing it around a dorm room or toting it from class to class. My current 17" is essentially a desktop replacement. It only leaves the desk if I need to transport it for the purpose of a project, or if I want to surf the net while I'm watching TV downstairs :)

So, do you guys think a twenty is on the horizon? After all, a few years ago, if someone suggested a 17" laptop they'd be considered a loony. Now they're out there in abundance. Although I realize we are getting to the outer reaches of what is practically applicable to a laptop, I dont see increasing the outside dimensions of the current 17" powerbook by an inch or so as a big deal.

Thanks for reading and I appreciate in advance any ideas...
 
well, all this is in the eyes of the beholder. the 17", to me, is not all that huge, although I can understand why it would be construed as such. you have to read my post carefully...the 17" is already geared away from the super-portable user. What I consider convieniently portable would max out in the 15 inch design. The 17 is designed for people that need to move their computer from point A to point B, with the occasional romp between offices/sofas. A 20 inch book would only be marginally larger, when looking at the 17...and I'm sure battery life wouldn't be a huge cry from it either.
 
$MacUser$ said:
well, all this is in the eyes of the beholder. the 17", to me, is not all that huge, although I can understand why it would be construed as such. you have to read my post carefully...the 17" is already geared away from the super-portable user. What I consider convieniently portable would max out in the 15 inch design. The 17 is designed for people that need to move their computer from point A to point B, with the occasional romp between offices/sofas. A 20 inch book would only be marginally larger, when looking at the 17...and I'm sure battery life wouldn't be a huge cry from it either.
Click to expand...

Well, when you start talking about a portable with that large of a form factor, it might be possible to get a second battery into that sucker. Maybe not, but it has to be close. The thing would be pretty damn heavy, though.
 
$MacUser$ said:
well, all this is in the eyes of the beholder. the 17", to me, is not all that huge, although I can understand why it would be construed as such. you have to read my post carefully...the 17" is already geared away from the super-portable user. What I consider convieniently portable would max out in the 15 inch design. The 17 is designed for people that need to move their computer from point A to point B, with the occasional romp between offices/sofas. A 20 inch book would only be marginally larger, when looking at the 17...and I'm sure battery life wouldn't be a huge cry from it either.
Click to expand...

well, it would be, the Video Card of the current MBP@1.83GHz is a 256MB Mobility Radeon X1600. to support a 20'' i bet something will have to be done.

the iMac is pretty much a laptop itself. it uses SO-DIMM PC2-5300 DDR2 SDRAM, identical to the MBP, pretty damn light (for a desktop, that is) and somehow tabletish but it consumes a lot of power for the user to go.

i think we wont see Apple making the first move on this.
 
Uhm.. I don't think we will be seeing 20" laptops any time soon. Sitting that close to a 20" screen cannot be good for you either. I can't imagine how much such a thing would weigh, not to mention the sheer size of the dimensions.

Worst idea ever.
 
I think it's a great idea, it would be an ideal desktop replacement! If you travel a lot, taking a PowerMac + monitor on a plane is next to impossible, and taking a flat panel iMac would still be pretty difficult. However, toting a 20 inch PowerBook even on an overseas flight would be incredibly simple.
 
A 20" laptop would be way too big to justify buying for most people. It's essentially going to be as portable as an iMac, less powerful, and much more expensive. If you're looking to get something to transport once in a while, get a 20" iMac and one of those iLugger bags. I don't even want to know how much a 20" MacBook Pro would cost. I just don't see any major computer maker producing a 20" laptop any time soon. The amount of people that would buy it would hardly justify making it, I'm sure.
 
Aren't some of the Windows laptop manufacturers talking about a 19" or 20" laptop? I guess if it's 16x9, it won't be so so big. But I dunno. No thanks to me. I want 12" or less and ultra-portable.
 
So basically you want a 20" iMac with Screen Cover and retractable Cord?

That sounds more reasonable to me. Have the stand and a cover some how fold together and that way your iMac is now more portable. But at that point we do not have Batteries that support it enough to even consider this mildly laptop worthy.
 
stoid said:
I think it's a great idea, it would be an ideal desktop replacement! If you travel a lot, taking a PowerMac + monitor on a plane is next to impossible, and taking a flat panel iMac would still be pretty difficult. However, toting a 20 inch PowerBook even on an overseas flight would be incredibly simple.
Click to expand...

Exactly!
 
I'm sure they were saying "it couldn't be done" before the 17" books came out. Will an extra inch and a half (diagonally) on each side of the screen really make that idea completely unfeasable. It would be roughly the same thickness as the current powerbook, just a little extra on each side.

It seems like the LCD laptop screens arent heavy, so it wouldnt require some engineering marvel to make a lid/screen. And, with the extra space that those three diagonal inches affords in terms of surface area where the components are stored, I'm sure a larger battery could be accomodated.

It would be quite a big machine, but not unreasonable. A good number of people say the current 17" powerbook is heavy. I certainly don't have a problem with it, especially since that weight is spread out rather evenly along the length of the computer.

Regardless, a 17" book is very nice, no doubt about it. I'm certainly not arguing, or saying for sure that this hypothetical configuration will be released. Its just a "what if" type of thing.

Perhaps what is more likely to happen (if anything at all) is that the new macbook pro will have a slightly larger screen size. For example, the new model out now is 15.4 inches, which is a bit of an increase on the old. Perhaps the new 17 might be a 17.5, or even approaching 18...who knows.

All that seems set in stone is that Im eagerly awaiting the updated top model. Regardless of screen size, it should be a dramatic improvement over my current Powerbook 1.67 (which is definetly no slouch). Anyone have any tidbits on what could be in the works?
 
stoid said:
However, toting a 20 inch PowerBook even on an overseas flight would be incredibly simple.
Click to expand...
Yeah... I can just see using a 20" laptop on a plane. My 12" PB was barely small enough.
 
irrªtiºnal said:
well, it would be, the Video Card of the current MBP@1.83GHz is a 256MB Mobility Radeon X1600. to support a 20'' i bet something will have to be done.
Click to expand...

Since you really really highlighted mobility i'd like to point out that the iMac has a mobility in it too. Also the macbook can support the 30" apple cinema display so i'm sure it can handle a measly 20". Do your homework ...
 
well....


20 in. Macbook Pro?...

I once thought 17" was unthinkable, yet I've came to appreciate the size of 17" nowadays.

I don't know.. perhaps in a few years, we might be able to treat 20" 'laptop' as a laptop :cool:
But until then, I think 20" is way too big.:eek:
 
mkrishnan said:
Aren't some of the Windows laptop manufacturers talking about a 19" or 20" laptop? I guess if it's 16x9, it won't be so so big. But I dunno. No thanks to me. I want 12" or less and ultra-portable.
Click to expand...


Well in fact, there are 19" laptop made by Samsung

http://asia.cnet.com/reviews/hardware/notebooks/0,39001743,39095326p,00.htm

The neat feature, in my opinion, is how the display of that 'thing' can be separated from the main frame so that it can be connected to so-called display stand.
 
the resolution on the 17" is more than enough for portability. I couldn't seriously carry a 20" laptop around unless i stopped taking public transportation and drove everywhere.
 
um noooo,

i think this is quite rediculous. You would need a friggin artists portfolio to carry this thing around. We also have to realize that the new 17" displays have the same resolution as the 20" displays so you are really not losing any effective screen density. just actual size. its a similar situation with the ibooks. same resolution onf a 12 and 14" screen. 20" macbook, please... stick with your 17"
 
$MacUser$ said:
http://asia.cnet.com/reviews/hardware/notebooks/0,39001749,39284834,00.htm

This article talks about the move to bigger displays in laptops, highlighting some of the points I had mentioned. There is also a link for a 19" Samsung laptop due out later this year.
Click to expand...

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