Pondering a purchase...
Tuesday, April 20, 2010 at 8:55PM 
My first Mac notebook was one of the first Intel based 17" core duo machines.
A lovely machine but just too big!
Don't forget, this was before the iPhone or iPad, and at that time, a notebook was the answer to your mobile computing. Wherever you went, you had to take the notebook with you.
The original thought process in selecting the 17" beast was that I needed the large screen for creating and editing my video ScreenCastsOnline whilst on the road. In truth, I can't remember ever actually using it for that. In the end, it was used as a general purpose notebook, basic email, surfing, the usual stuff.
Once I came to the realisation that my mobile computing needs were for something portable and lightweight, the obvious choice was the MacBook Air. So I replaced the 17" with the MacBook Air and it did sterling service for a good 14 months or so.
The MacBook Air was a delight to use - light, cool running, just perfect for portable general computing. Great for catching up in front of the TV too.
The only problem was that when I tried to use the macBook Air for the occasional serious task, performance was OK but the lack of screen real estate was a serious hinderance.
So twelve months ago, I replaced the MacBook Air with a 15" Unibody MacBook Pro.
I've been supremely happy with the 15" MacBook Pro, especially since installing an SSD drive. A great combination of portability, performance and a decent amount of screen real estate. Of course, whilst traveling, the MBP can be quite a load, especially if at a trade show or expo where you need to keep your notebook with you throughout the day. I've also changed my workflow slightly to turn the MacBook Pro into my publishing machine. It's this machine I use to update and publish the ScreenCastsOnline website (using Rapidweaver), update and publish my RSS feeds (using Feeder) and some other post production tasks I need to keep the weekly show going. I could try and share these tasks between the desktop and the notebook but it's problematic and just a lot easier to use the notebook for these tasks. Makes it really easy to publish from anywhere.
However, the whole area of mobile computing has been turned on its head with the introduction of the iPhone and iPod touch. On recent trips, I've found that the notebook has remained back at the hotel, and my true mobile requirements (access to email, surfing and twitter) is provided pretty well by the iPhone. Not perfectly, but enough to get by. The only exclusion to that is if I'm speaking or presenting, in which case, the MacBook Pro has to be carried with me throughout the day - a major PITA!
With the introduction of the iPad, it's now my belief that the iPad will fulfill probably well over 95% of my needs whilst out and about (including delivering presentations), although I'll still need a notebook back at base for video duties. Whereas I didn't use my original 17" MacBook Pro for video editing, I've started to do more YouTube and other video production when travelling, resulting in the need for a fairly powerful notebook back at my mobile base, as well as the publishing tasks mentioned earlier.
This change in working practices has brought about the realisation that the choice of notebook no longer needs to be restricted due to considerations of portability. When traveling, the notebook will remain in my carry on luggage, wheeled on and off the plane and decamped to the hotel on my arrival. There it will stay, acting as my temporary "desktop" to use for the processor intensive tasks required to edit and encode video.
The iPad and iPhone will suffice for my day to day computing whilst away from the hotel. Even though the current version of Keynote on the iPad is considerably "hobbled" compared to the desktop version, it's still good enough to do basic presentations and I'm sure that revisions to the app will come in time, making it just as powerful as the desktop version (or at least comparable).
With the introduction of the new MacBook Pro range (and some changes I'd like to make to my setup at the studio), I've been considering if it's time for an upgrade. My existing 15" MacBook Pro is still great workhorse, but the extra horsepower of the i5 and i7 processors are very tempting. Add in the faster graphics and the mind boggling screen resolution of that beautiful 1920x1200 screen, and it just might be time for an upgrade.
Besides which, I have my final Apple Developers discount to use before November which should give me significant discount.
Before making the final decision, I thought it wise to checkout the new machines at my local Apple store at Liverpool One. So off I popped, and was delighted to discover they had both the new i5 and i7 MacBook Pro machines on display, including the latest 17" models.
In fairness, it's impossible to tell them apart performance wise, especially just by trying them in the shop. The i5 and i7 processors are the mobile versions and whereas the latest iMacs have 4 core versions, the MacBook Pro processors only have two cores. Information on the difference between the i5 and the i7 is difficult to find, but it looks like as well as being faster, the i7 Includes some additional features such as Turbo Boost. Still, Apple are promising a 25% speed increase over the Core 2 Duo machines.
One big difference between both machines on display was the screen itself. One had the standard "glossy" screen, but the other one had the "anti glare" screen.
I'd not really considered the "anti glare" as an option as I've been using the standard "glossy" screen for a while now on the 15" MBP and it's not really caused me any issues. However, seeing both displays side by side, really shows the huge difference the "anti glare" makes. I'd seen an "anti glare" screen on the last generation of the MBP and have to admit, I thought the extra silver bezel around the screen was pretty ugly. I'm not sure if they've redesigned the bezel on the new model, but it now looks fine.
The "glossy" option provides a richer display which enhances movie viewing but the "anti glare" certainly looked a tempting option. I've still not decided, but I may go with the "anti glare" option.
So call me impressed with the new machines and based on my specific requirements, along with how I envisage the iPad will be the mainstay of my true mobile computing, I think I may just go with the 17" i7 MacBook Pro. As well as disregarding the need for portability, the 17" MacBook Pro is the only notebook in the range with the ExpressCard32 slot.
As far as configuration is concerned, I'll get the cheapest hard disk option and transplant my existing SSD drive into the new machine. The machine comes as standard with 4GB RAM which I think will be adequate. The faster processor and the SSD will make it fly anyway and I'm not sure I could justify the extra £320 for another 4GB RAM.
So that's the current plan.
I'll probably sit on it for a day or so before taking the plunge, so feel free to comment!
As regards the other changes to the studio I eluded to, I'll leave them for another post!
Don McAllister
Decided to put this on hold until after WWDC. It's quite an expense and now I've decided to go to EEDC, smething had to give.
I still stand by my decision to go with the 17" although it will be interesting to see the 15" with the high res screen before making the final jump.
The upgrade is not just for the sake of upgrading!
I have some plans on rejigging the studio around and I have an need to free up the current laptop for Mrs Don. Hence my need to get a replacement laptop. More on the studio re-jigg another time.
Reader Comments (20)
Why the 17"? It's larger and heavier to carry - won't the 15" do all you want?
My thought processes have been very similar. Bought the Air when it was released and sold it two months' later because it didn't have the grunt for Aperture. I've got the new 15" i7 high-res glossy on order (delayed due to "Natural Disaster" (see my blog)) but I'm planning to take the iPad and leave the MBP at home about 90% of the time.
You probably have different "Express Card" needs to me, but I only used my Express Card to read SD cards from Point & Shoot cameras. If I'm travelling with a DSLR I take the SanDisk FireWire UDMA card reader with me which is blindingly fast.
The 15" is a great machine, especially with the hi res option.
My point was I won't be carrying the 17" anywhere!
When travelling away from home, it will be in my carry on luggage being wheeled about until I reach my final destination. There it will remain until going home. My day to day computing will be done on the iPad, which I will be able to carry everywhere.
I guess it comes down to the difference between a portable (or perhaps we should call it luggable) device such as the MBP and a truly mobile device like the iPad. I can definitely see the situation where the portable device is effectively your on-the-road base station that is moved from one fixed location to another. The truly mobile iPad/iPhone device is what you will always have on you.
Would you ever consider travelling with just the iPad/iPhone? I still see the need to sync at least once a day with a laptop as necessary if only to get my latest fix of podcast downloads.
Travelling with ust the iPhone/iPad.
Most definitely, but probably for no more than a weekend or so, unless there is no need for me to do some heavy duty tasks - editing, web publishing, etc.
The iTunes sync is a bit of a pain, but you can download new episodes of podcasts directly to the device so you can get round that.
I feel an unboxing video on the horizon!!
Seems like you've found the ideal solution to me. The new 17" is the Daddy right now, with your SSD it'll be the one of the fastest laptops on the planet.
The question is, what would hold you back from going for this option?
Also, what would you use the expresscard32 slot for? Another SSD perhaps?
Holding back...
Always good to ponder for a little while. Besides, someone may comment with something I hadn't thought of and change my mind ;-)
Interesting musings, something I have been doing since Apple announced the iPad.
I travel away from home regularly; only for 2-4 days at a time. I always take my laptop (Macbook) - for Keynote presentations, e-mail, Podcasts, surfing and to display my current photographic portfolio. I never need to do any processor intense tasks away from home.
At home I use a 27" iMac for all major tasks such as image editing/video editing/audio editing and website updates etc.
It appears that the iPad will be able to fulfil my requirements easily when away from home. The limited Keynote support concerns me a little though, but apart from that I do not need anything else.
Here is the thing. For me this may well spell the end of the Laptop. What role (for me) does any Laptop fulfill that I cannot have with the iPad? I can think of none. The iPad also has some other advantages over the Laptop.
So, for me at least, this may well spell the end of the Laptop. I do see me buying a Mac Pro however and I will probably buy the top spec. iPad.
Next point. Where does the iPhone now sit in my armoury? Well I have a 3G, and it costs me little per month (O2 Simplicity) now the contract has expired. This device lets me have (intermittently) tele comms when out, e-mail, and I use CoPilot Live on the road as my primary GPS (fantastic APP!). I also use a couple of photography Apps. and listen to Podcasts. Do I really need to upgrade this summer? A catergoric NO. Would I LIKE to - oh yes!
The fact is, in my situation, I could easily live with an iPad, Mac Pro and my current iPhone.
We will see; soon I hope!
Nick
I understand your specific needs specially for your hard needs of video editing and hard tasks. Thats why I do not see this time as the end of laptop. My question is: if you aré currently doing this hard editing work with your current MPB why not only (probably) upgrade your desktop version? Or in othe words and moré specific: is it The new MPB i7 more capable and strong than the top end current iMac with The quad processor? My question is because I do surgical video editing in a high modified Macbook but now I need more capacity. As this hard computer need is only at home and my mobile needs are just keynote presentations email and surf I am deciding between The high end of iMac VS MBP with The new processor. Thanks Don.
Wow lucky you, whatever you decide.
I bought my 17" MBP anti-glare a couple years ago - specifically for the huge screen resolution and display clarity while travelling; it's been used many times to work away from the office.
But now my iPad will be the travel machine; like you Don the MBP will have to come in case I need to work while away, but I see the iPad being the daily web machine.
My next trip to Florida, where there is already a 27" iMac set up ready for use, will leave the MBP at home, and have the iPad only for use during the flight and - just like here at home - for general "browsing-by-sofa" :)
Have you considered the need for the new machine over the next 6-9 months, how mobile are you going to be to justify the real reason you want to get the new macbook pro. I understand the desire to upgrade and would love to be in your position being able to upgrade every 18 months, it just works out too expensive for myself. I am very interested in how much the discount is as a developer? and is the option available with the new pricing structures too?
However why not think of the true need and how often you would use the machine over the current one that you have and then maybe look at this differently and in respect of your mothership studio. How about upgrading or coming up with something different (extra ordinary) for the mothership and maybe consider multiple machine setups etc. Would this not give you more at this time than a machine that really would be used maybe 3 or 4 times in a year (not knowing how often you would be travelling) and for a few hours at a time while away.
When you could probably have a whole new home studio setup and something out of this world......
Something for you to ponder.
I have to agree with David D. Makes more sense to upgrade the existing production setup which would save you few hours / day.
But it's your money (or rather our money since we have subscribed to your podcast :)) and your call!
Really enjoyed reading your experiences with the new MBP 17" i7, I too currently have the June 2009 model MBP 17", with Glossy screen, and have been considering the upgrade option already, even though I'm still quite new to the whole Mac, and MBP world. I have to say, after migrating from a Windows Environment of a few decades, I keep asking myself why I didn't make the move sooner?
Keep up the great Job Don, and keep those updates coming on Twitter, I, and many others follow you, and your opinions very closely.
Regards
@Mickyfin
There's another shoe to drop on the decision on going for the 17" MBP. I'll do another blog post on the changes to the studio once I get this weeks show out of the door!
Don,
Did you get the new I7?!
Still pondering ;-)
My questions are similar to those above.
The 17"? I personally would take some convincing! Too heavy, and I can't use on an airplane.
Can you change drives easily in the new unibodies? add memory easily? I am interested in the answer to those two questions.
the iPad is perfect for using on a plane so no problem there. I believe the newer unibodies back panel comes off once you remove all the screws. Hard drive swap out is easy. Not too sure about memory.
Might check out the 15" i7 hires option in the flesh before making my final decision.
I can't go there on this one Don. Don't see the need. Just saying