Macbook - 13" screen too small?

chrisdb89 · chrisdb89 #1 (**permalink**)

07-24-2006, 03:20 PM

I'm thinking about buying a Macbook after Christmas (once the new software is released). I will be using the laptop as my main computer when I go to university, which would mean that I would use it for watching DVDs as well as the usual study-related and general internet/IM usage.

My one concern is that the 13" screen will be too small to watch DVDs on comfortably, and would prefer to have a 15" screen, but alas this is not available in macbook form.

What do you think - will 13" be too small to watch DVDs on comfortably, or do you think it will be alright?

Thanks,
Chris

taseal · taseal #2 (**permalink**)

07-24-2006, 03:33 PM

well I just watched a movie and honestly, when i'm in bed laying down and the laptop is on my lap, I cant really tell the diff between a 13 and a 15...

honestly, I prefer the 13 because its so nice and compact, yet not too small

baggss · baggss #3 (**permalink**)

07-24-2006, 03:34 PM

My 14 inch iBook seems good for DVDs and my daughter 12 inch iBook is good too. It's a matter of personal preference though.

Aptmunich · Aptmunich #4 (**permalink**)

07-24-2006, 04:50 PM

Nah, you can always hook up an external screen for your desk work, the rest of the time OS X makes working with little screen real estate a breeze (expose, spring-loaded folders etc)...

And you usually sit fairly close to a laptop, so it's fine for DVD's as well.

cazabam · cazabam #5 (**permalink**)

07-24-2006, 05:24 PM

Don't forget that the macbook screen is 16:10 aspect ratio, which means that 16:9 movies display much bigger than on a standard 4:3 or 5:4 ratio screen that's slightly bigger. In my opinion, the 13" widescreen is perfectly OK for watching movies on, and beats my 14" thinkpad standard aspect screen into a cocked hat

avcabob · avcabob #6 (**permalink**)

07-24-2006, 05:48 PM

For movies 13" should be fine I think. But when I had my 12" powerbook as my main computer, I very quickly wished I had gone with a bigger screen. I like having many things open and being able to see some part of just about everything. Chatting with 2 or 3 people, while having iTunes play something, and browsing 2 or 3 websites, the screen can fill up quickly. Expose does help a lot but personally I like having a lot of screen.

AnatomyOfARyan · AnatomyOfARyan #7 (**permalink**)

07-24-2006, 06:08 PM

ive got a 17" imac and a 13.3 inch macbook, and i dont have any issue with the macbook being to small. youd think after sitting in front of a widscreen 17" screen going to a 13" it would be small, but it doesnt bother me at all. go for it.

taseal · taseal #8 (**permalink**)

07-24-2006, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AnatomyOfARyan

ive got a 17" imac and a 13.3 inch macbook, and i dont have any issue with the macbook being to small. youd think after sitting in front of a widscreen 17" screen going to a 13" it would be small, but it doesnt bother me at all. go for it.

yeah same here... I havea 21" widescreen, and going to the 13" macbook really makes a small diff... maybe its because ummm... I really dont know why lol

I do like having the extra space/resolution with the 21" though

PumpkinLand · PumpkinLand #9 (**permalink**)

07-24-2006, 06:25 PM

\Na, it's not small at all. I just came back from the Apple store and I used one. It is compact which would be good for a university student, also the display ratio is good.

kaidomac · kaidomac #10 (**permalink**)

07-24-2006, 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by taseal

yeah same here... I havea 21" widescreen, and going to the 13" macbook really makes a small diff... maybe its because ummm... I really dont know why lol

I do like having the extra space/resolution with the 21" though

Same here, not much difference. I love the size, it's perfect. I just wish it weighed a pound or two less. What would machines be without qualms?

oldnews · oldnews #11 (**permalink**)

07-24-2006, 07:38 PM

I too love the size. Very compact and tiny but still big enough to watch a dvd from a few feet away comfortably.

Katie · Katie #12 (**permalink**)

07-24-2006, 11:07 PM

I'm having the same dilemma too... I want the pro because of the better processor offer and because of the 15.4" screen. whenever I played around with the 13" macbook in stores and at a friend's house it just seemed almost TOO tiny! I'll be going back to the store on Wednesday though, so maybe my mind will change if I observe it some more.

D3v1L80Y · D3v1L80Y #13 (**permalink**)

07-24-2006, 11:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrisdb89

I'm thinking about buying a Macbook after Christmas (once the new software is released)....
Thanks,
Chris

What new software is due out after Christmas?

NikBhat · NikBhat #14 (**permalink**)

07-25-2006, 12:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by D3v1L80Y

What new software is due out after Christmas?

presumably Apple will be releasing or previewing OS 10.5.1 during the convention in San Fran from Aug 7th - 11th

jhelm007 · jhelm007 #15 (**permalink**)

07-25-2006, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrisdb89

I'm thinking about buying a Macbook after Christmas (once the new software is released). I will be using the laptop as my main computer when I go to university, which would mean that I would use it for watching DVDs as well as the usual study-related and general internet/IM usage.

My one concern is that the 13" screen will be too small to watch DVDs on comfortably, and would prefer to have a 15" screen, but alas this is not available in macbook form.

What do you think - will 13" be too small to watch DVDs on comfortably, or do you think it will be alright?

Thanks,
Chris

I have only watched a few DVDs, but I never felt like it was too small. I would gladly trade the screen size for the better portability and smaller price tag of the macbook.

chrisdb89 #1 (permalink)
Member Since: Jul 24, 2006 Location: Glasgow, Scotland Posts: 13	07-24-2006, 03:20 PM I'm thinking about buying a Macbook after Christmas (once the new software is released). I will be using the laptop as my main computer when I go to university, which would mean that I would use it for watching DVDs as well as the usual study-related and general internet/IM usage. My one concern is that the 13" screen will be too small to watch DVDs on comfortably, and would prefer to have a 15" screen, but alas this is not available in macbook form. What do you think - will 13" be too small to watch DVDs on comfortably, or do you think it will be alright? Thanks, Chris Christopheros
	QUOTE Thanks

taseal #2 (permalink)
Member Since: Jul 21, 2006 Posts: 286	07-24-2006, 03:33 PM well I just watched a movie and honestly, when i'm in bed laying down and the laptop is on my lap, I cant really tell the diff between a 13 and a 15... honestly, I prefer the 13 because its so nice and compact, yet not too small MacBook White [2Ghz] [2Gb RAM] [60Gb HDD] [Super Duper Drive] People that keep telling others to search = a**holes, instead be positive, and help, if you have nothing to say, leave the thread alone
	QUOTE Thanks

Aptmunich #4 (permalink)
Member Since: Mar 09, 2004 Location: Munich Posts: 9,075 Mac Specs: Aluminium Macbook 2.4 Ghz 4GB RAM, SSD 24" Samsung Display, iPhone 4, iPad 2	07-24-2006, 04:50 PM Nah, you can always hook up an external screen for your desk work, the rest of the time OS X makes working with little screen real estate a breeze (expose, spring-loaded folders etc)... And you usually sit fairly close to a laptop, so it's fine for DVD's as well. Mac-Forums Twitter \| Mac-Forums Blog My Twitter \| Jetplane Journal
	QUOTE Thanks

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cazabam #5 (permalink)
Member Since: Jun 06, 2006 Posts: 1,153 Mac Specs: MacBook 2.0GHz White, 512MB RAM, 60GB HDD	07-24-2006, 05:24 PM Don't forget that the macbook screen is 16:10 aspect ratio, which means that 16:9 movies display much bigger than on a standard 4:3 or 5:4 ratio screen that's slightly bigger. In my opinion, the 13" widescreen is perfectly OK for watching movies on, and beats my 14" thinkpad standard aspect screen into a cocked hat
	QUOTE Thanks

avcabob #6 (permalink)
Member Since: Sep 21, 2004 Posts: 199 Mac Specs: MacBook Pro 15" 2.16Ghz Core Duo 1GB Ram 80GB	07-24-2006, 05:48 PM For movies 13" should be fine I think. But when I had my 12" powerbook as my main computer, I very quickly wished I had gone with a bigger screen. I like having many things open and being able to see some part of just about everything. Chatting with 2 or 3 people, while having iTunes play something, and browsing 2 or 3 websites, the screen can fill up quickly. Expose does help a lot but personally I like having a lot of screen.
	QUOTE Thanks

AnatomyOfARyan #7 (permalink)
Member Since: Jun 02, 2005 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 504 Mac Specs: 15" 2.2GHz MBP w/ 2GB of ram and 320 GB HD, 4GB iPhone, 60GB iPod	07-24-2006, 06:08 PM ive got a 17" imac and a 13.3 inch macbook, and i dont have any issue with the macbook being to small. youd think after sitting in front of a widscreen 17" screen going to a 13" it would be small, but it doesnt bother me at all. go for it.
	QUOTE Thanks

PumpkinLand #9 (permalink)
Member Since: Jul 15, 2006 Location: Tampa Posts: 255 Mac Specs: Stuff	07-24-2006, 06:25 PM \Na, it's not small at all. I just came back from the Apple store and I used one. It is compact which would be good for a university student, also the display ratio is good.
	QUOTE Thanks

oldnews #11 (permalink)
Member Since: Nov 28, 2004 Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia Posts: 358 Mac Specs: Macbook 2.0ghz, Ibook G4 1.33ghz, Powerbook Lombard 333mhz	07-24-2006, 07:38 PM I too love the size. Very compact and tiny but still big enough to watch a dvd from a few feet away comfortably.
	QUOTE Thanks

Katie #12 (permalink)
Guest Posts: n/a	07-24-2006, 11:07 PM I'm having the same dilemma too... I want the pro because of the better processor offer and because of the 15.4" screen. whenever I played around with the 13" macbook in stores and at a friend's house it just seemed almost TOO tiny! I'll be going back to the store on Wednesday though, so maybe my mind will change if I observe it some more.
	QUOTE Thanks

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