Help me decide, 17" MBP 2.66ghz or 15.4" MBP 2.8ghz

So I'm looking at buying a MBP and I noticed a model at BestBuy that wasn't on Apple's website. Here are the two models.

17" MacBook Pro(March 2009)
- 2.66ghz 6MB L2 Cache
- 320GB HDD 5200 RPM
- 4GB DDR3
-Geforce 9600M GT 512MB
-1080p screen

Price: 2,449$ CAD

15.4" MacBook Pro(June 2009)
- 2.8ghz 6MB L2 Cache
- 500GB HDD 5200RPM
- 4GB DDR3
- Geforce 9600M GT 512MB
- 1440x900 screen

Price: 2,599$ CAD.

So my question is. Is there any difference between the March 2009 and June 2009 models(I think no), does the battery last as long on the 17" and does the March 2009 model also have the 9400 chip in it? For 150$ less I can get the 17" with only a minimal difference in CPU.

What do you guys suggest?

 

what do you plan on doing with it? what do you want it for?

 

It's for school, multimedia entertainment, a bit of gaming maybe. Kind of a replacement for my desktop which is 6years old. But I want it to be portable too, I will be bringing it to school everyday so I need the battery to last long enough.

 

i would say go for the 15" pro. why because its lighter and a little faster then the 17" pro. if on a budget then go for the 17" pro on the plus side on the 17" you get the higher screen resolution 1920 X 1200!

 

Price is not an object. Lets say they both cost the same.

 

I say high end 15in, give you more portability for school, sd card for multimedia, decent card if you wanna play games, and 7hour battery if you need it to last awhile,

 

me personality, i would go for the 15" faster processor even tho its not that much of a difference in "real world performance" i would take over the 17" just because it is lighter and easier to take with you to school. if you don't need the high screen resolution then go for the 15". if you want 8 hours of battery life go for the 17". i would take the 15" for portability.

 

It's a very tough call, I actually have the reverse, an older 15" and the new 17". I love the performance of the 17; not only is having all that screen real estate a treat but the speakers play louder with more clarity. On the other hand were I carrying the thing around all day I'd be sorely tempted by the 15; in your case you're actually going to be getting better processing performance and longer battery life as well. I think that tips it: buy the 15.

 

I personally prefer bigger displays. I have the 17" unibody and I love it. I use a 1440x900 display at work and everything seems to crunched and strained for space by comparison.

(PS- The 17" MBP is not '1080p', it's 1920x1200)

 

Good grief. Looking a the specs, (hard drive space aside), the 17" is a better system if you want a 17" 1920x1200 display. I switched from the 15" model because the 1440x900 res was REALLY starting to bother me. So if the resolution bothers you, get the 17". If it doesn't, get the 15". Nobody can decide this for you. You won't notice any difference between 2.66ghz and 2.8ghz, that's for sure.

 

17" doesn't scream mobility.

the 15" mbp is really about the largest laptop around that i would consider portable. i know many people who have a 17" mbp, but i don't know any who bring it outside their room.

i see a ton of 13" machines, and sometimes the occasional 15" (very rarely a 17")

 

My recommend would be a MBP15" and an external monitor.
If I were you, MBP13 for mobility everyday and a desktop.

 

I agree for REAL mobility the 13" is the way to go, though that doesn't appear to be in your list. Given what is I'd clearly go with the 15" because the 17" is way to be to be portable! I don't know anyone that uses at 17" as a portable on the go all the time for school.

 

Ok guess I'll go with the 15" then. I already have a 32" Samsung LCD on the wall in my room and a 22" Samsung computer screen so I guess I can output there for my multimedia.

 

I would definitely get the 17inch if its a desktop replacement. 17inch is a MUCH better display, you'll have to spend $300+ to get a external monitor with the same resolution. Besides I have a 1920x1200 17inch res screen and compared to my roomates 1440x900 15inch mbp, mine is a lot sharper. Plus you can view 1080p one it two. I have a 17inch 2inch thick clevo laptop (8lbs) and I take it class all the time and its not a problem. Just put it in my back pack and there's no problem. The only portability problem with my 17inch is on planes, but unless you fly a lot that's not a problem. I'd highly recommended the 17inch, its only like 1 inch wider and .5inch deeper than the 15inch. So unless you really need that mobility, its a much better screen.

 

if you like higher resolutions.. thats great.... me I like slightly smaller resolutions, and smaller laptops, so I'd never get the 17", as 1440x900 is a great res and the size of the laptop is better.... even when I use anything with super high resolutions, I cannot stand them, and just make the resolution lower, which doesn't look as good as a screen made for lower resolutions.

But it all depends on what you like and need...

 

Well I'd consider 10-13inch small laptops. There isn't much difference between 15.4inch and 17inch:
15.4 - 14.35w, 9.82d
17 - 15.47w, 10.51d

You get so much more screen space on 1920x1200, I can write a document while reading another side by side, or maximize a website to view the entire thing at once. When I used to use a 1440x900 screen I would always have to maximize my windows and could never view things side by side, you get so much more room with 1920x1200. Although your right, if you have bad eyes or don't like small text then you'll have to lower it a bit. But since he siad he would be doing multimedia entertainment and gaming, I think he would benifit from a high res screen.