“During the WWDC in the summer of 2012, Apple unveiled its newest versions of its MacBook lineup,” Justin McGee writes for Apple Gazette. “The 13-inch version was a combination of power and portability, and the 15-inch model packed just as much of a punch as the 13-inch notebook, but the extra screen space gave you just a bit more real estate to work with. Missing from the lineup? A 17-inch MacBook Pro model.”
“Since then, the 15-inch model has been the biggest screen that Apple offers in a notebook, and while 15 inches is plenty of room for most people, for power users, it leaves something to be desired,” McGee writes. “Even still, for some other users, 15 inches just isn’t big enough to use comfortably for long stretches at a time.”
McGee writes, “There are obvious reasons why the 17-inch MacBook Pro isn’t in the MacBook lineup anymore — mainly battery-related issues — but there’s a case to be made for why we still need the 17-inch MacBook Pro.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: We remember the days of lugging around 17-inch MacBook Pros. One computer to do it all! Yeah. We much prefer our setups today: 27-inch iMacs with dual monitors on our desks and 11-inch MacBook Airs (soon to be new 12-inch MacBooks) and iPad Airs in our our Crumpler backpacks.
I miss my old 17″ MacBook Pro. I switched to the 13″ MacBook Air but I am about to switch “back” to the 15″ Pro. The screen is everything for me and a 17″ would be fantastic!
Same here. The new 17″ one should be much lighter and more compact (lose the margins). It would be great.
My fear is that Apple would do the thing to the 17′ as they did to the Powermac, pretty to look at but overpriced and limited compared to the previous model.
Count me in as a person dying for a 17″. I want that power and screen size in an Apple laptop.
Weird, I thought maybe I wrote this without realizing it. I’m in the same boat and if a 17″ is around when I make my choice I’ll probably go for it.
We know what Apple will do. They will build the biggest, most luxurious, most golden, thinnest laptop. We will have them in our setups! Our setups will have 2 17″ MacBook Pros, 3 iPad minis, and 4 Mac Pros with 18 (count em, 18!) 4K monitors. Our setups will Trump your setups!
I totally miss my 17″ MBP !!! Bought it in 2003. Sold it (for recycling…) in 2010. The chip just got really slow, otherwise it was working fine. Amazing machine. Great form factor.
The 15″ MBP is not the same…
A modern version of the 17″ MBP could probably be lighter and have better battery life, too.
There’s no such thing as a mac book pro in 2003.
There was a Powerbook G4 , but in 2005 Apple switched to the Intel CPUs , that in 2005 was the beginning of the MacBook Pro line.
In May 2003 I bought a fully loaded 17-inch Mac laptop that I still use once in a while (vintage software) to this day for almost $4,000.
So, not a Pro?
Semantic naming conventions aside … yeah, right.
Nah. I’ve been suggesting a 15 or 17 inch macbook air. It would become the machine of choice for graphic professionals everywhere.
I don’t think it’s structurally wise to make the main body too thin when you’re trying to support a 17″ screen. Durability matters.
Forget the Air if you want nice profitability too. If users are going to pay for the premium screen, then they are also most likely willing to pay for the best capabilities in other areas too. That means a nice solid chassis that houses a battery capable of all-day work, a real GPU, and significant onboard storage and RAM.
Apple needs to step up and start making new pro-level Macs across the board. They have too many Airs in the lineup already.
There is plenty of room for a huge battery in a 17″ MBP, if Apple didn’t try to make it too thin.
Imagine the room available for a battery and SSD and ports, if Apple didn’t try to make it as thin as a sheet of paper.
I want a new one! Where and when can I order?
I am using my 2010 17″ Mac Book Pro, is was a nice up grade from my 17″ Power Book. Please let them make a new 17″ Mac Book Pro.
MDN, most people don’t have 27″ monitors everywhere they go. When they have work to do away from the office or home or whatever, the big screen has to be attached to the MacBook Pro.
I have said for years that Apple is missing a golden opportunity offering a modern 17″ MBP.
But I also realize that there is nobody in Apple leadership listening to Mac users anymore either….
MDN can like what you like, but there’s nothing like a 17″ Macbook Pro for editing video in the field.”
The 17″ Was a beast! I miss it all the time… Long days editing at Starbucks just isn’t the same! LOL
Screw 17″, go 18, molded battery, SSD, you could put a lot of power in there… I never even minded plugging it it because it was practically a workstation!
I love my 17inch Macbook Pro! Wish they would update it as mine is getting old and slow! I upgraded the SSD, but still getting slow!
Still using my 2011 17″ MBP. Occasionally, I jokingly call it the “Last of the V8 Interceptors”. BTO 2.5ghz quad i7, matte screen, 16GB, dual SSD’s, even OS supported USB3 via Expresscard/34. There is nothing really for me to buy from Apple to replace this, and I would instantly if there was. I do very much wish Apple would bring back a modern 17″ Macbook Pro – no need to get too thin – I plant this thing as a portable workstation.
I still have my refurbished 17″ MBP that I bought back in 2011. In fact, I’m writing this on it. HDD died on me once…replaced it with a fusion drive. maxed out the RAM to 16 GB. I know it’s only supposed to be 8. But, OWC ensured me that it would work. Lo and behold, it’s still working. AWESOME!!!
I’m waiting for the 27″ Mac Book Pro so as I carry it under my arm I can knock people over as I walk by. Fun!
I’ve settled into a 13″ MBP and 27″ iMac Retina for my go-to computing environment, and for me this is the optimal sweet spot. I keep my working data in the cloud, so am very flexible with where I work. At this point I consider both machines indispensable m.
I bought the fully loaded 17-inch Pro laptop the first day it was available in 2003 for several thousand dollars.
In 2004, attended an international design conference in Washington, D.C. and the White House Press Photog gave a stunning presentation on his Apple 17-inch laptop.
Absolutely love my trusty portable running Panther natively, and Tiger + Snow Leopard on an external disk is exceptional for a portable computer emulating a desktop.
Use it weekly for some gem favorite programs that have been rendered OBSOLETE like Freehand MX 11.
That said, the latest portables I also own are mighty fine.
Sorry MDN, but a super thin full featured 17-inch MacBook Pro would make me pull the trigger and load it to the gills on DAY ONE.
Bring it on, Apple!
17″ MBP but it also needs an extended keyboard so that I can use all my “Pro” key commands.
I am using a mid 09 MacBook Pro 17″, over the years just upgraded to add more ram and a SSD. Still working pretty good, will keep using it till it breaks!
Still running two last model 17inchers maxed out. Still use the 30′ display. Very nice for photography. Runs Photoshop just fine. Then again I try not to print anything longer than nine feet.
It wasnt selling at tge end i sold i every four or five months at one of the most successful stores and i was the highest in sales. It just makes no sense to build what doesnt sell. For that one person out of thousands it made no sense.
Remember when Apple was all about changing the world and pleasing users? The new Apple, putting short term profit ahead of the health of the Mac ecosystem, is shooting itself in the foot. Apple needs to expand the Mac lineup, and this is a great place to start.
There are many reasons a product may not sell. Price is what killed the 17″ model, not desireability.
Apple does need a 17-18″ pro laptop, and they need to stop overcharging for SSD and RAM options.
This is why Apple is losing the creative professional. If you are a traveling video editor, you need all the screen size you can get. And so creative pros will leave the Mac platform. Sad.
MDN isn’t in tune to what people actually need. When you’re traveling, you don’t carry around 23″ monitors. If you’re flying, you want a laptop for not only full-fledged real applications, but also a keyboard.
Then again, Apple isn’t listening to what people need, either. How much pain do they need to suffer before learning to listen to their users again?
Is there anyone listening at Apple any more?
MDN, users interested in a 17″ MBpro typically need a little more from their computers than someone who just posts links and copy from other peoples content. How does final cut pro look and perform on your MacBooks and Airs?
I bought a last-model 17″ Macbook Pro just before it was discontinued and it’s one of my favorites. It sits on a rolling table in my living room and is perfect for couch surfing. I have 3 other macs at home, each with a distinct purpose, but the 17 is my favorite. I don’t travel with it, that’s what the 13″ MBPr is for.
How about we start putting in suggestions to Apple, maybe even a direct email to Tim …
An updated 17 for 2017. It’s got a certain synchronicity to it.