MacBook Pro - Should I Get the New 15" Unibody MBP or the old 17" MBP

af22 · af22 #1 (**permalink**)

01-18-2009, 08:15 PM

Hello,

I am going to purchase my first apple computer. I have decided on the MacBook Pro. Being that I have never owned a mac or really used the mac OS, i wanted to get your opinion on which MBP to purchase.

Right now, I am torn between the new 15" unibody MBP, or the last gen 17" MBP. Both are within 5% price difference at macmall. Which one would you buy? I am aware of the differences between the two, but since I have not used a mac before, I do not know how much of a difference each feature is "worth".

Any suggestions or advice?

Thanks.

Thundermoon1994 · Thundermoon1994 #2 (**permalink**)

01-18-2009, 08:39 PM

What will you be using it for? Will you be using it as a desktop replacement, or will you be taking it with you a lot? The 15" will offer you greater portability and longer battery life (being able to choose the graphics processor) than the 17". The 17" offers (of course) a larger screen and a higher resolution screen (133 pixels per inch vs. 110 pixels per inch).

af22 · af22 #3 (**permalink**)

01-19-2009, 09:38 AM

well, the main reason i am buying a mac is so i can use the iphone sdk.

i am also selling my thinkpad, to help gather funds. thus it will also be my only laptop. i dont use my laptop "on the go" much, so the 15" to 17" travel size doesn't matter much.

graphics processor wise. the 8600 and 9600 are really pretty much the same. they are within 5% of a performance difference. in terms of performance, the new one isn't really any different then the old one.

if the newer unibody ones are significantly cooler temperature wise then the 17", that may be enough to sway my decision.

sjpeckey · sjpeckey #4 (**permalink**)

01-19-2009, 06:45 PM

Have you checked on the apple store for refub unit? I have not looked today but you can get some good deals. You may see some other configurations that you may like.

osxx · osxx #5 (**permalink**)

01-19-2009, 11:20 PM

If you are going desktop replacement 17 any hint of packing this around 15.

NYCMACMAN · NYCMACMAN #6 (**permalink**)

01-20-2009, 10:31 AM

Personally i would go for the 17". Just because there is such a great difference between a 15" and a 17". But if you need it for more graphics intensive tasks go for the new 15" because it has an updated graphics card. The best option would probably be the new 17" pro but with that price tag its out of my reach.

Thundermoon1994 #2 (permalink)
Member Since: Dec 26, 2006 Location: Kent, OH Posts: 495 Mac Specs: 15" MacBook Pro w/ 2.4 GHz C2D, 4 GB RAM, 250 GB	01-18-2009, 08:39 PM What will you be using it for? Will you be using it as a desktop replacement, or will you be taking it with you a lot? The 15" will offer you greater portability and longer battery life (being able to choose the graphics processor) than the 17". The 17" offers (of course) a larger screen and a higher resolution screen (133 pixels per inch vs. 110 pixels per inch). -- Unibody 15.4" MacBook Pro (2.4 GHz Core2Duo Penryn, 250 GB HD, 4 GB RAM, nVidia GeForce 9400M & GeForce 9600M GT w/ 256 MB) -- -- 8 GB iPhone 3G -- 30 GB iPod Video --
	QUOTE Thanks

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MacBook Pro - Should I Get the New 15" Unibody MBP or the old 17" MBP

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af22 #1 (permalink)
Member Since: Jan 18, 2009 Posts: 3	01-18-2009, 08:15 PM Hello, I am going to purchase my first apple computer. I have decided on the MacBook Pro. Being that I have never owned a mac or really used the mac OS, i wanted to get your opinion on which MBP to purchase. Right now, I am torn between the new 15" unibody MBP, or the last gen 17" MBP. Both are within 5% price difference at macmall. Which one would you buy? I am aware of the differences between the two, but since I have not used a mac before, I do not know how much of a difference each feature is "worth". Any suggestions or advice? Thanks.
	QUOTE Thanks

sjpeckey #4 (permalink)
Member Since: Jan 04, 2009 Location: Milwaukee WI Posts: 63 Mac Specs: Macbook pro 2.2 core 2 duo,Macbook/iphone/ipod/apple Hi-Fi/MacBook Pro 13"/ipod nano/iPad 64 wifi/	01-19-2009, 06:45 PM Have you checked on the apple store for refub unit? I have not looked today but you can get some good deals. You may see some other configurations that you may like.
	QUOTE Thanks

osxx #5 (permalink)
Member Since: Jan 19, 2008 Location: houston texas Posts: 3,935 Mac Specs: 15 MacBook Pro 2009 32GB iPad 4 32GB iPhone 5 Apple TV 3 AEBS/AE	01-19-2009, 11:20 PM If you are going desktop replacement 17 any hint of packing this around 15.
	QUOTE Thanks

NYCMACMAN #6 (permalink)
Member Since: May 27, 2008 Location: nj Posts: 340 Mac Specs: Black Macbook 2.0 Core 2 duo, Alienware 7700 3.2ghz, Iphone,Imac g5,Powebook 15" 1.5ghz	01-20-2009, 10:31 AM Personally i would go for the 17". Just because there is such a great difference between a 15" and a 17". But if you need it for more graphics intensive tasks go for the new 15" because it has an updated graphics card. The best option would probably be the new 17" pro but with that price tag its out of my reach.
	QUOTE Thanks

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