MacBook Pro - 17" vs. 15"

[AlphaDog]

OK, so let's analyze this further.

When you're doing on-the-fly work, in the crowded car or bus, how much additional equipment are you trying to juggle at the same time? And how much of the overall field work does take place under conditions like that?

When you're doing the heavier work - creating the slideshow, the gallery, and the CDs, is it safe to assume you have a generous work area? How about the time commitment? Do you spend more, less, or the same amount of time with this part of each project as you spend on the on-the-fly portions?

You did comment that being able to run four externals at the same time only cuts your processing time by roughly one quarter, and that's significant but not as significant when you're talking only 3 hours; it's not like you can do a heck of a lot else in three hours when you're away from your home base. Plus, you might have an option for that fourth external on the 15" if you have a second firewire device that could be run from an adapter in the FW 800 port.

Think about the amount of time you'll spend using the computer in the different segments of each project. If you spend as much time working in a crowded space as you do working where there's more room, then the 15" does make more sense.

[M A V I C]

I do a few different shoots, but the most common one works like this:

- Shoot for six hours one evening
- Next day off until evening, shoot another six hours (until midnight)
- During those times I'm typically in a hotel and plenty of room
- Next day I shoot for nine hours (starting at 5am), this is where it gets tricky...
- Through the day I'm at a remote location in the wilderness. I transfer photos a few times during the day.
- Then we drive back and I have to get a slideshow ready. I usually only have about three hours to do that, half of which is in a crowed car or bus. Plus I'm hauling around four or five complete camera setups, including flashes, remotes, mounts...
- I get done around 9:30, head back to my room and build the remaining galleries. Then I try to get some sleep.
- Shoot more in the morning
- At that point I've got ~3 hours until checkout to burn the discs (for this example, I only do 100.) Sometimes less if my flight is early. Like for one class I had to take a 6am flight, so that meant I had to finish off the galleries and burn all the CDs without sleeping.

I think I'm gonna go with the 15". If that doesn't work out, I can always sell it and get the 17".

Thanks for all your help.

[AlphaDog]

With all those file transfers added into the mix, the 15" is definitely more convenient and a better choice.

[bfd]

bfd would've gone with the 17" to start with, but as you say, if the 15" doesn't work out, you can always sell it and get the 17" (but the reverse could hold true as well).

[onthedownlow]

I've had my fair share of 12"/14.1" laptops and even the current MacBook (and even some UMPCs - OQO/Sony)...I had the original 17" PB...and now have the 17" MBP. I haul it around everywhere. It is not that heavy, nor much of a difference (aka "awkward", as people usually say) to travel with. If it were me, I would choose the 17". I also have a 17" Dell XPS that sometime travels with me instead - much heavier than the MBP...but still...not awkward and travels very easily.

Maybe I am just different though - the weight is not an issue.

-to add, I believe almost just as important (if not even more) is the actual method you transport the laptop and accessories (i.e. standard carrying case, backpack, sleeve, saddle-bag, etc.)

[M A V I C]

[quote onthedownlow]-to add, I believe almost just as important (if not even more) is the actual method you transport the laptop and accessories (i.e. standard carrying case, backpack, sleeve, saddle-bag, etc.)
I have a bag like this, but the 12" version:
http://www.smalldog.com/product/46217

I typically also have my camera bag with me most of the time. It's a backpack.

[jims]

I have the 17" MBP and travel with it. I was on economy class last week on both a 737 and an RJ and had no problem using it on either plane. I had the 17" Powerbook then sold it and bought a Macbook. I loved the computer but hated the small screen. So when the C2D came out in the 17" I bought it and would not trade it. The weight difference is not that much.

[GGD]

[quote jims]I have the 17" MBP and travel with it. I was on economy class last week on both a 737 and an RJ and had no problem using it on either plane. I had the 17" Powerbook then sold it and bought a Macbook. I loved the computer but hated the small screen. So when the C2D came out in the 17" I bought it and would not trade it. The weight difference is not that much.
At time's I've found it difficult to use a 15" TiBook in a coach seat if the person in front reclines their seat. Not enough room to fully open the screen to a good viewing angle.

The 15" seems to be about as wide as the tray table, does a 17" start to encroach on the seat next to you.

[Sam3]

I originally had the TiBook. I liked the 14" screen but felt that I wanted more. I sold that and got a 1st. gen. 17" Powerbook. While I loved the screen on it, for me the 17" felt too large. Not that it felt too heavy, it just felt too large and unwieldy. I sold that and ended up getting the 15" Macbook Pro and I really enjoy that. For me, the the 15" sized laptop is ideal, large enough of a screen to do work, but small enough to feel nicely transportable.

I'd recommend the 17" primarily to anyone who needs to do video editing in the field, as the 17" will give needed screen real estate for the video monitoring.

[M A V I C]

GGD, very good point about the reclining seat thing. I forgot how tough that used to be with my Ti500.

Thanks to all the input from all of you. I'm going to go with the 15". One thing I didn't mention was that it will get handed down to my wife when the next rev of MBPs come out. She really doesn't want a 17" (found that out after most of you responded.) I'll probably keep my 12" around just for personal travel and such.

Thanks again.