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Size downgrade in Mac Laptop

R

Redfraggle

Platinum Member
Has anyone here gone from at 15" screen to a 13" screen? I have a 15" Powerbook G4 now, and am probably going to have to replace it this year. For my purposes, a Macbook will do just fine, but they don't come in this size. I'm not sure I want a smaller screen than I already have. I've used my cousin and friend's smaller Macbooks, and it was a little weird. I suppose I could get used to it, but I am getting more and more into photo editing. Do I save the money, and get something smaller and get a larger external display when I want to do more editing (it's a hobby, not a profession). Also, as I learned in somebody else's thread, I am further limited to older macbooks, or a newer macbook pro because I need firewire.

Cliffs: Did you go from a larger screen to a smaller? What did you think?
 
if you're getting more and more into photo editing, you'll probably want an external non-glossy display anyway. but if you plan on doing that editing on the road.. stick w/ the 15". more space+better screen.

and since you need firewire, I'd say just get the 15".. the new aluminum bodies are SOOO nice it's not even funny (but I'd still say wait for a 2nd gen if you can wait).
 
Do you think the 15" that you have now is too big? Also remember the specs are somewhat difference betwee the 13" and the 15".
 
i personally don't like the quality of the Macbook screens - they show color banding to my eyes. they must use lower spec LCDs.
if you use an external display, that would be negated, or if the Macbook display is OK to your eyes, then disregard.

Macbook hard drives are hella easier to replace/upgrade than a MBP.
 
Originally posted by: umrigar
i personally don't like the quality of the Macbook screens - they show color banding to my eyes. they must use lower spec LCDs.
if you use an external display, that would be negated, or if the Macbook display is OK to your eyes, then disregard.

Macbook hard drives are hella easier to replace/upgrade than a MBP.
Click to expand...

it's the same now, they both share the same design. both easy. and yes, it's been proven the new aluminum bodied macbooks have a poorer display than their macbook pro brothers.
 
Originally posted by: randomlinh
Originally posted by: umrigar
i personally don't like the quality of the Macbook screens - they show color banding to my eyes. they must use lower spec LCDs.
if you use an external display, that would be negated, or if the Macbook display is OK to your eyes, then disregard.

Macbook hard drives are hella easier to replace/upgrade than a MBP.
Click to expand...

it's the same now, they both share the same design. both easy. and yes, it's been proven the new aluminum bodied macbooks have a poorer display than their macbook pro brothers.
Click to expand...

They all have TN panels, regardless. Not good for photo editing.
 
I tried to go from a 15" to a 13" and it was too much of a loss of screen real estate when I had to work on the laptop solely. At home I have a nice 24" display that I can hook it up to for editing, etc.. but when I'm away from the house, being stuck on a 13" for editing/web design/coding.. it's a real pain. Ideally I'd prefer to have a 17", but the 15" suites me well, since I don't have the money to upgrade.
 
Originally posted by: Jack Flash
Originally posted by: randomlinh
Originally posted by: umrigar
i personally don't like the quality of the Macbook screens - they show color banding to my eyes. they must use lower spec LCDs.
if you use an external display, that would be negated, or if the Macbook display is OK to your eyes, then disregard.

Macbook hard drives are hella easier to replace/upgrade than a MBP.
Click to expand...

it's the same now, they both share the same design. both easy. and yes, it's been proven the new aluminum bodied macbooks have a poorer display than their macbook pro brothers.
Click to expand...

They all have TN panels, regardless. Not good for photo editing.
Click to expand...

yeah, but the 13.3 is the worse of the two. and I don't even know how well glossy works w/ calibrators.

but that's why I said he'd be best off going external for serious stuff... the real question was would he be working on the run too... there's only so much you can do there =) And with that, I'd opt 15" for the space.
 
The price of a refurb black macbook is enticing, and it has what I want -- except for the screen size. I'm hoping that when I'm ready to buy, I can pick up a decently priced 15" Macbook Pro. 17" would be awesome, but maybe just too big. Perhaps a trip to the Apple Store will help me decide. I keep forgetting there's one close to me now.

Does anyone have any other tidbits of info about the newer laptops? I'm definitely going to research, but input that saves me time on that is always appreciated. 🙂
 
Originally posted by: Parasitic
I've downsized and find that 13.3" is a comfortable size for me.
Click to expand...
Same here. I have a 15.4" HP DV6000T and moved to a blackbook. I never missed the extra 2". I guess the form factor of the macbook is perfect for me.
 
my bro moved from his macbook pro 15" (matte) to the new unibody macbook 13". hasnt regretted it at all, and he got over the glossy pretty quickly. however, i still stuck with the unibody macbook pro 15" and while i do love the portability/size of the macbook, i still need that extra power of the pro. besides, 5.5lbs aint killing me (more with this speck case ive put on it!).
 
Originally posted by: Megatomic
Originally posted by: Parasitic
I've downsized and find that 13.3" is a comfortable size for me.
Click to expand...
Same here. I have a 15.4" HP DV6000T and moved to a blackbook. I never missed the extra 2". I guess the form factor of the macbook is perfect for me.
Click to expand...

do you have an external monitor at home? On the road, I find the 13.3" fine, it's the perfect form factor (sans the weight). But once I'm home and comfy... I'm too spoiled by my 24" 1920x1200 screen =) All that workspace is so nice to have. Tho, to be honest, on the go, the Dell Mini 9 has proven useful.. hoping there will be more like it, but in the 12" range.. dirt cheap Air basically, heh.
 
Originally posted by: randomlinh
Originally posted by: Megatomic
Originally posted by: Parasitic
I've downsized and find that 13.3" is a comfortable size for me.
Click to expand...
Same here. I have a 15.4" HP DV6000T and moved to a blackbook. I never missed the extra 2". I guess the form factor of the macbook is perfect for me.
Click to expand...

do you have an external monitor at home? On the road, I find the 13.3" fine, it's the perfect form factor (sans the weight). But once I'm home and comfy... I'm too spoiled by my 24" 1920x1200 screen =) All that workspace is so nice to have. Tho, to be honest, on the go, the Dell Mini 9 has proven useful.. hoping there will be more like it, but in the 12" range.. dirt cheap Air basically, heh.
Click to expand...
No. I don't have a desk. I gave up my desk and all the computer hardware that went along with it when I made my lifestyle change a few years ago. That said, I wish I did have a desk with a nice large widescreen monitor. 😉
 
I find my 13.3" MacBook too big.

I'm lusting after a 12" C2D MacBook. Too bad it doesn't exist.

Mind you, I have a 24" iMac at home with a second 24" screen attached to it, so the MacBook is mainly just my road warrior machine.
 
Originally posted by: Eug
I find my 13.3" MacBook too big.

I'm lusting after a 12" C2D MacBook. Too bad it doesn't exist.

Mind you, I have a 24" iMac at home with a second 24" screen attached to it, so the MacBook is mainly just my road warrior machine.
Click to expand...

Really? A system that is only 1" smaller is enough when the 13.3" is 'too big'? Weird.

There is always the Dell Mini12, but then you are stuck with the 1.6GHz Atom, and that is no Core 2 Duo.
 
Originally posted by: randomlinh
Originally posted by: Megatomic
Originally posted by: Parasitic
I've downsized and find that 13.3" is a comfortable size for me.
Click to expand...
Same here. I have a 15.4" HP DV6000T and moved to a blackbook. I never missed the extra 2". I guess the form factor of the macbook is perfect for me.
Click to expand...

do you have an external monitor at home? On the road, I find the 13.3" fine, it's the perfect form factor (sans the weight). But once I'm home and comfy... I'm too spoiled by my 24" 1920x1200 screen =) All that workspace is so nice to have. Tho, to be honest, on the go, the Dell Mini 9 has proven useful.. hoping there will be more like it, but in the 12" range.. dirt cheap Air basically, heh.
Click to expand...

I use a laptop stand to prop my blackbook up, and because of the viewing angel and the size of my desk (well, it's more of a writing table than a desk) it actually brings the viewing distance and makes the 13.3" bearable.
 
Originally posted by: TheStu
Originally posted by: Eug
I find my 13.3" MacBook too big.

I'm lusting after a 12" C2D MacBook. Too bad it doesn't exist.

Mind you, I have a 24" iMac at home with a second 24" screen attached to it, so the MacBook is mainly just my road warrior machine.
Click to expand...
Really? A system that is only 1" smaller is enough when the 13.3" is 'too big'? Weird.

There is always the Dell Mini12, but then you are stuck with the 1.6GHz Atom, and that is no Core 2 Duo.
Click to expand...
Well, make it a 11" MacBook then. 😉 In fact, I was just thinking about that. One of the annoyances about the 13" MacBook is that it doesn't fit so well in economy class on the plane. The 12" iBook fits better width wise, but is still rather big as height is an issue. And don't tell me to buy business class tickets. 🙂

I have actually been looking at 10" netbooks, but have held off because the whole OS X thing. I don't want to be constantly searching for hacked OS versions and dealing with niggling software issues just to get run OS X on a machine. The netbooks don't have Core 2 Duos, but then again I'm not that concerned, as long as I can run Office and iWork. (I don't care too much about iLife on my laptop.)

In terms of laptops, I've owned:

15" Windows PC
15" PowerBook Titanium
13" MacBook (several models)
12" iBook (several models)

My favourite form factor has been the iBook. However, a smaller footprint would be better, preferably with a 1152x864 screen or something like that. 1024x600 is getting a little cramped, but is still quite usable IMO for light usage.

But like I said: I don't need huge power on the road, as I already have a Core 2 Duo 24" iMac with second 24" external screen. I do most of my heavy lifting on the iMac.
 
As this is my only computer, I want to be sure I am satisfied with the screen size. I like this size (15"), and am somewhat hesitant to downsize. The cost of a larger one seems almost silly though, as I'm not doing anything too crazy. Yes, I know I spent a pretty penny for the one I have now, but I've grown wiser since I was 22-23.
 
Originally posted by: Redfraggle
As this is my only computer, I want to be sure I am satisfied with the screen size. I like this size (15"), and am somewhat hesitant to downsize. The cost of a larger one seems almost silly though, as I'm not doing anything too crazy. Yes, I know I spent a pretty penny for the one I have now, but I've grown wiser since I was 22-23.
Click to expand...

There's absolutely nothing wrong staying with a 15" if you feel comfortable. The market seems to suggest that 15.4" is an acceptable size. Unless you have had doubts about the size of your PowerBook hampering you in any way in the past, why bother changing?
 
Yeah I agree. If it's your only computer and you're comfortable with 15", then stick with it.

I do tell people to think twice about getting the 17" though if they haven't tried big laptops before. I've known too many people that bought a 17" because they assumed bigger is better, and then they downgraded not too long after because 17" was too unwieldy... but they often stick with the 15", as it's much more managable, despite being only 2 inches smaller.
 
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