"Should I replace it with 17 vs 15?" ~~~~~
I have (and constantly use) both 15 & 17" MacBook Pros -- and the 17" has the 1920 X 1200 pixel ultra-resolution display. Some "+/-" points to consider about the 17" MBP:
- + The Utra-res screen allows me to run two full-sized pages side-by-side. Right now I have the FR "My Comments" page on the left (with the "Forum" page "behind" it), and FR's "slave" screen for the selected thread on the right. That is a real convenience.
- - The higher resolution for a given screen size, the smaller everything (including text) appears. Today's my 72nd birthday, and I am finding that some smaller online font sizes are getting hard to read on the UHR 17". Fortunately, the Multi-Touch keypad allow you to "zoom in" with a "pinch out" gesture -- and Safari has a text-size tool you can add to the menu bar.
- - the 17" MBP is definitely chunkier to carry around. Sometimes when I'm sliding it out of the case, it feels like it wants to slip out of my fingers.
- - (...a point not often discussed...) The 17" probably will not fit your 15" carrying case, and all the 17" cases I have seen are much bigger, heavier, and clunkier. For traveling, my 15" with its sleek Targus soft leather case is much nicer.
- + I am a cartographer mapmaker) who does lots of GIS work making composites of overhead imagery with map feature overlays. The ultra-res 17" works great for my purposes -- and the LED backlighting allows me to work in the field doing archaeological surveying with GPS coordinates, waypoints, and routes displayed live, on a georeferenced map/aerial image. Nice!
- - I do lots of "PowerPoint-like" presentations (directly from Canvas) using video projectors. Projector technology seems to lag behind laptop display sizes, aspect ratios and resolutions. I have to "throttle back" to using less than the full capability of the 17" UHR MBP screen (smaller page sizes) -- because most projectors you encounter will not match the resolution or aspect ratio -- or both... The 15" seems to "match up better" with more common projectors.
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The 15" MBP is, for me, my "all purpose tool". The 17" serves more specialized needs..
...just $.02 from a guy who started with a 16K Apple ][+ -- with a Radio Shack cassette tape for a "hard drive -- and who is very happy with both sizes of MacBook Pros... '-)
First of all, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
Secondly, some really great advice to consider especially the resolution screen. Must admit I don’t even know what the current one has.
Not near 72 but do find myself squinting sometimes.
With the exception of the weight, really leaning toward the 17”. Again, thats if they cannot fix the current one. I noticed I did have the Apple Care.
If I didn’t have this HP dv 3000 as a back up, I probably would just get the 17” if they couldn’t fix the 15” and maybe get the airbook for travel.
Have at leat 4 backpacks for travel. I would think the 17” should fit in the two primary bags I use. When I bring in laptop wil make sure to bring in backpack to make sure it fits.
Really appreciate your $.02 and everyone elses.
Again, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!