15 or 17 inches?

Question

Hey everyone,
I'm doing research to buy a laptop sometime in the next few months, and I'd like your thoughts on the differences between 15 and 17 inch models. I can't decide if it's really worth the extra $300 for 2 inches of space. Then again, I do tend to get a little claustrophobic with screen size...maybe it would be.
I've also looked at the other features that a 17-inch MBP provides as opposed to a 15-inch. My gut is saying go with the 17, but I have a tendency to automatically go for the biggest and best, even when I don't need it...and this time it's a lot of money I'm dealing with. Could anyone offer me any advice about what I should do? i.e...if you have a 17" model was it worth the money, or if you have a 15" do you ever wish you would have gone with the 17"...etc.
I plan to use my laptop for graduate school (psychology program - lots of papers and possibly spreadsheets) and everyday uses like managing my photos and music. I tend to have many programs running at once.
I'd really like to hear any thoughts you have on this!
Thanks -

Answer 1

I got the 17", but I don't really use it as a laptop. in fact, I get so used to the fact that it's just set up in the one place on a stand, with a wireless mouse and keyboard, that sometimes I actually forget I can take it places.
I went for the 17" because I wanted the most powerful one available, with the largest amount of screen real estate I could get. in terms of portability, my needs for this machine are light.. I only need it to be portable in the sense that I can take it from one location to another to work, infrequently, and more easily than if I had a desktop machine. I never need to whip it out and use it on a plane or in a cafe, I just needed something that I could take to other places to work when it was necessary.
so for me, that equation of size vs portability balances in favour of the 17", because my portability needs are easily not hampered by the size of this machine given how rarely I take it anywhere. and the large size never is an issue in a portable situation for me because I don't ever try to use the machine 'on the road', only in different places like studios where there is plenty of room for it to be set up properly. all this factored against the very big advantage of having that large desktop space to work with made it the right choice for me.
all anyone needs to do when choosing between the 15 and 17 is just really address this size/portablity/weight/screen real estate equation, and see what wins. I think for most people, ie people that actually want something to easily use as a regular laptop, it's the 15" that is the best balance most of the time. but other users with needs like mine will know instantly if it's got the be the 17".