“If you’ve been reading me closely in recent months, you know I’m becoming more and more interested in Apple Computer Inc.’s impressive Mac OS X operating system — and its notebook hardware,” Scot Finnie reports for Computerworld. “I took the 17-in. MacBook Pro… and have been working on a long-term review for the past three weeks or so. A couple of months back, I broke down and bought a MacBook Pro 15.4-in. Intel Core Duo 2-GHz machine, so I’m very familiar with the particulars.”
“For me, the best aspect of the 17-in. version of Apple’s new MacBook Pro line is the additional vertical screen real estate it affords over the 15.4-inch display. The almost 1 in. of added height of the LCD and the larger 1,680-by-1,050-pixel resolution (as opposed to the smaller MacBook Pro’s 1,440-by-900-pixel resolution) cuts way back on your need to scroll documents and Web pages,” Finnie reports. “By the same token, the biggest drawback to the MacBook Pro 17 is the QE II expanse on your lap and the 6.8-lb. heft. The mitigating factor? The darn thing is still a scant 1 in. thick, and it still fits just fine in my briefcase. I’ve been commuting back and forth with three notebooks in my briefcase (a Microsoft WinHEC bag) for the past few weeks, so I know exactly how portable the MacBook Pro 17 is. It’s actually easier to tote around than my new 15.4-in. Dell Inspiron E1505. In fact, stacking the MacBook Pro 15 atop the MacBook Pro 17 beside the Dell Inspiron, only the MacBook Pro 15 LCD assembly pokes up above the height of the Inspiron — just the base of the Dell (not including its LCD, is higher than the MacBook Pro. For me, that’s a profound difference.”
Finnie writes, “What do I really think? My colleague Ken Mingis just bought one straight out. And it’s hard to argue with the gorgeous screen, rip-snorting performance and the many extras this model offers over it’s smaller MacBook Pro brethren. The only question becomes: How big is too big for you? I have a ready answer to that question. My next computer is a 17-in. MacBook Pro with a glossy screen. Because as far as I’m concerned, you can never get too much screen real estate. And the fact that I can run 1,680-by-1,050 on a bright, easy-on-the-eyes 17-in. display like this one is, well, notebook perfection. You gotta grab that when it comes along.”
Much more in the full article here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Brooklyn NYC” for the heads up.]
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Related articles:
Washington Times: Apple 17-inch MacBook Pro the ‘who’s-your-daddy’ of notebooks – June 06, 2006
CNET review: Apple’s 17-inch MacBook Pro is a dream (CNET rating: 7.3 out of 10) – June 03, 2006
PC Magazine: Apple 17-inch MacBook Pro: ‘offers virtually everything a user needs’ – May 26, 2006
Review: Apple 17-inch MacBook Pro – May 04, 2006
ZDNet First Take: Apple’s 17-inch MacBook Pro 2.16GHz Intel Core Duo – April 26, 2006
Apple introduces 17-inch MacBook Pro with 2.16 GHz Intel Core Duo – April 24, 2006
Not much more in the full article, actually. But thanks MDN for the info regardless.
…unless you happen to click the “next page” link(s), where more there is!
Another convert. . .
Mac Zealot-
Actually there is…. 2 more pages of it.
Oh, I gotta get me one of those hi-rez 17″ MPB laptops, so I don’t need to scroll down and avoid embarrassing myself!
Tried it, the MBP is nothing compared to my 3 year old Duallie G5.
You haven’t lived Macintosh until you got a beast tower, everything else just pales in comparision.
Compare my beautiful MacBook to a Dull . . . . give me a break
that’s darn.
his editors wouldn’t like “damn”
use the MAC OS X zoom feature to zoom in and you can see that is is an “rn” and not an “m” ha. too close to call. thank god for the zoom.
englandwillwintheworldcup-
your name. meet my name.
PissAnt: I’ve got one of those beast towers and am finding that for computational stuff a Core Duo Mac Mini is pretty competitive with it. As long as you have Universal Binary programs, the new Intel Macs kick ass.
PissAnt
the MBP is just a tiny bit more portable for those who need it
Rip-snorting?
Wuh-hell, doggie! That’s as fine as cream gravy. That four-flusher was full as a tick but DAGNABBIT, that powerful li’l scuttlebutt will hobble your lip. Sounds like the whole kit and kaboodle will kick up a messin’ row to beat the Dutch. <bang, bang>
uswon’twintheworldcup
At least you b@stards all qualified for the world cup!
englandwillwintheworldcup & czechwillwintheworldcup
meet my name.
MW=larger, as in “I have larger fish to fry”
…but at least we qualified this time
Oh and to put my post back on-topic – I’m waiting for conroe, then I’ll get a 17-in Macbook Pro
Damn, his shoulder must be all kinds of FUBAR carrying around 3 notebooks.
“Damn, his shoulder must be all kinds of FUBAR carrying around 3 notebooks.”
Probably not FUBAR. More like rebar.
Pissant,
Get a 17″ Apple laptop AND a PowerMac!
Czech will loose the first match….
czechwillwintheworldcup, who’s your daddy?
Question:
How are Windows folk handling this kind of news? The new Mac’s can flat out run Windows really well, and are currently slightly lower in price than really, really bland and horrifically designed PC laptops, so what are they to do?
Answer:
Like a cult member who realizes they have been duped – cognetive dissodence. They will melt down and take up biking, skiiing, skydiving and avoid computers altogether claiming they just don’t need them in their life any longer…
Come to think of it, not a bad idea!
Okay, now back to my Mac! ; )
“cognetive dissodence”
Not to steal your thunder, but I’m a big fan of Jean Piaget. It’s “cognitive dissonance.” Please accommodate. Thanks.
And it’s Macs, not Mac’s. Oh, and don’t forget outrun rather than out run. And skiing has only two i’s (is, eyes, ize?). And, since they are plural, it’s their lives. And cognitive dissonance isn’t something you do, it’s something you experience.
Anyone else want to join this pig-pile on Steven?
Sorry, Steven, couldn’t resist. I’m too cruel, I know, too cruel… It builds up every day, and suddenly I get the irresistable urge to dump it all on some unsuspecting soul like you. Nothing personal.
Does any one know if the MBP can run Windows MCE… don’t ask I am forced to use for a project and currently have to carry around 2 computers.
I have the last gen 17″ PowerBook and the new MBP 17″ crushes it.
I can’t wait to upgrade, but I am waiting for the new Core 2 Duo chips are out. No point upgrading now when the vastly more future proof chip is only a few more months away.
And as for the comparison to the PowerMac, I am skeptical. I own the Dual 2.5, and at best, it’s comparable if the app is native.
MDN, LISTEN TO YOUR READERS AND DUMP THE ADS IN THE ARTICLES. THE 400 HUNDRED ADS ARE ENOUGH.