to buy or not to buy

[fjs08]

Got a chance to play with a new Mac Book Pro at the Apple store here in Tampa. WOW!! Impressively fast. I was thinking of waiting until the 17" comes out, as I currently have a 15" TiBook. Yikes the 17" Powerbook looks big. I figure I'd need a new Booq bag, plus will a 17" fit under the seat on an airplane. I love to watch my Eagles Farewell Tour I DVD on the plane, but I would think a 17" would basically be like a cinema for the whole row.

Any thoughts on the above, but more importantly, is the current 15" ready for Prime Time. I will be using Microsoft Office stuff like Entourage, Excel, etc a heck of a lot, plus iTunes, iPhoto, and the like. Are any modificacations coming out, or any that are needed. Is the time right to buy, or are there votes to wait for an updated, refined Mac Book Pro.

Also, other than the screen, will the 17"have anything the 15"wouldn't??

Thanks.
Frank

 

[mrfop]

Well, you might wanna wait for the Merom MBP's, that's what I'm doing, albeit for my own reasons (see my thread https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/186299/).

Of course, I'm in no rush to be mobile, so this would be a big question for you ... do you need to watch your Eagles tour in the next few months!

Also there's the April 1st event (or whenever it actually happens, since April 1st is a Sat). Here there is a good chance of the Macbook's (Intel iBooks) making an appearance. The Macbook would most probably handle what you mentioned in terms of software, and may have better battery life than the MBP.

Cheers.

Dave

 

[ipacmm]

Also, other than the screen, will the 17"have anything the 15"wouldn't??

The 15" MBP is a very nice laptop, I bought one and it runs great and hasn’t had any issues with it. In regard to the 17" having anything different other then the screen, Apple usually gives the 17" a bigger HD on a stock system and maybe a slightly faster chip. But right now we really don't know when the 17" MBP will come out...

 

[calebjohnston]

The 17" MBP will probably be too big for most planes. A 15" is pushing it, but is still useable. A 17" however, you'll be bumping your neighbors' elbows with the computer - not to mention people all around you will be staring at you and the screen.

Definetely stick with 15" or smaller if you travel alot with it - especially on planes.

 

[asherman13]

To buy, so long as money isn't an issue.

 

[fjs08]

>>A 15" is pushing it, but is still useable.<<

It'a actually not bad. It fits on the drop down table very nicely.

>>A 17" however, you'll be bumping your neighbors' elbows with the computer - not to mention people all around you will be staring at you and the screen.<<

I do get comments, usually positive.

Frank

 

[iHeartTheApple]

The 17" MBP will probably be too big for most planes. A 15" is pushing it, but is still useable. A 17" however, you'll be bumping your neighbors' elbows with the computer - not to mention people all around you will be staring at you and the screen.

Definetely stick with 15" or smaller if you travel alot with it - especially on planes.

I bring my 17" PB on the plane with me all the time. It never seems to cause any trouble for the surrounding passengers and usually, it actually starts positive conversations! It's unbeatable for DVD playback as far as laptop is concerned, imho. To the OP, I too am waiting until the 17" MBP comes out (and maybe even Merom MBP's) before I trade in the PB. If you can wait, than more power to you, but if you need it *now* than you should buy it.

As another poster said, the 17" may have a slightly bigger HDD or faster CPU, but other than that it should be just about the same...except for the dead sexy screen!

 

[fjs08]

>>but if you need it *now* than you should buy it.<<

I don't need it right away. I may wait.

How does the 17" fit under the seat?? Not to big.

Another thing. What amazes me is how the Windows users are astounded with the coolness of OSX, especially Expose. They love that feature.

Frank

 

[w8ing4intelmacs]

a 17" Powerbook has significantly less battery life, which is a huge consideration if you take it on flights.