I'm curious, why do people still buy 17" Macbook Pros and pay just as much as the new Macbook Pro 15 Retinas?
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Just my guess, but maybe the keyboard on the 17" MBP is better than the island-style keyboards on the current (or near-current) models. -
The late model 17" MBPs have island style keyboards too.
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kornchild2002 Notebook Deity
There's probably several reasons. One, although the display is lower in resolution compared with the 15" MBPr model, it is still two inches bigger. To many people, they value the size of a display over the pixel density. Second, the 17" MBP can be upgraded with all sorts of aftermarket options. You don't have to pay Apple's high fees to upgrade the RAM to 16GB, you can slap an SSD or SSHD in there, and you can even swap out the optical drive for more storage. All of that now comes in a package that costs less than even a new 13" MBPr. To most people, if they can get a system with a much larger display, quad-core processor, and have options for upgrading parts for less than $1500, they will take the offer even if it means buying a system with slightly older hardware.
Apple no longer makes the 17" MBP though so you might see their values increase on eBay and other markets. As of now, the only regular MBP that Apple still sells is the 13" model. The largest notebook they sell is the 15" MBPr. If Apple continued to offer it, I likely would have gone with a 17" MBP with Ivy Bridge hardware. They didn't upgrade the 17" MBP beyond Sandy Bridge though so I didn't really want it. That and I really wanted a MBP with USB 3.0. -
I wouldnt mind them bringing back the 17 with the slimmer design of the retina's, but without a retina display. They could keep an anti-glare screen in it for all I'd care.
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hence why I still run FCP-S / FCP-X on an Elitebook hackintoshZero000 likes this. -
I have never owned a MacBook Pro and when I was finally seriously thinking of purchasing the 17" MacBook Pro they discontinued it. I wanted the Retina Display 17" inch, they could have offered it with or without the Retina Display as a option. I would like for them to bring it back slimmer and with the latest hardware also however, I for doubt they will bring it back.
From what I heard the 17" models were not selling well (not sure if that's why they discontinued or not). If that was the case what I have said is they could have (and still could) offer the 17" for those who would purchase one. By that I mean if you want a 17" retina (or non-retina) you could order one over the phone, on the apple website or at an apple store. then Apple would ONLY have to make/produce them on request. That means they don't have to mass produce them or the screens and lose money just produce upon order of the customers who want them.
Now I am not sure if that scenerio could be done am I missing something? Anyone else see why that could not be done? -
saturnotaku Notebook Nobel Laureate
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ok that makes sense, I didn't think about it like that however I guess if it were possible and I see your point its not the end user (who requests the 17") would be made aware of the astronomical price I mean there should be something or someone the could say hey the price of the notebook could be X amount of dollors. I wouldn't pay it but maybe someone would.
btw - any estimates how much that price would be? -
I can see a market for it, however Apple seems to be much more content shooting for the 90% of people whom want the 11-15" market segment and not trying to compete in the workstation department in which to be honest ..... they have had their rear ends handed to them for a few years. and outside of gamers and designers / etc there is not normally a large call for 17"+ laptops normally.
Just my $0.02 -
Eh, for me at least, the resolution counts a lot more than the physical size. If I had to choose anything in Apple's laptop lineup, it'd have to be one of the rMBP models over the 17" MBP.
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kornchild2002 Notebook Deity
The market for 17" notebooks seems about as small as the market for gaming notebooks. Sure, it's there but it isn't large enough for Apple to support. Some companies (like Dell and Razer) continue to support this market but the costs are really high. The baseline 14" Razer Blade starts at $2000 with the 17" Razer Blade Pro demanding an astonishing $2500 starting price. Alienware charges $1000+ for their 14" notebook which really has no business being a gaming machine (the CPU starts at a dual-core Core i5, 8GB of RAM, and the GT750M should be a free option) while their 17" system starts at $1500 with, again, an underpowered GPU. So yeah, the market is there for gaming systems with higher displays but the costs put them in an extreme niche market. Factor in OS X and the market for a 17" MBP with that type of performance would be even less. I really don't think it was enough for Apple to continue investing in that market. Even the 15" MBP was discontinued and that was, really, the perfect notebook for my needs. I could upgrade the hardware using aftermarket parts for less than paying Apple's upgrade fees, it is thin and light enough for me while being more powerful than all of the desktop systems I use at work, and the battery life is great. I am in a niche market though and, whenever the time comes to buy a new notebook, I will likely have to change my outlook whether I'm buying Apple or a Wintel machine (unless I want to pay $2000). -
We'll if not Apple does any think we will see a thin 17" with a 2k or 4k screen resolution? I think that will happen (not sure when). The reason is last year there were screen resolutions with the Dell XPS 15 and, Precision Notebook and I believe MSI have a 15" or two. I know they 15" inch screens but someone Razer? Alienware, Asus? MSI will have a 17". Razer started the thin 17" last year, then MSI followed that and this year at CES Maingear, did I miss any?
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This being said, i would personally pick a 1900x1200 MBP 17 over a rMBP 15. Especially if the 17 can fit 2 hard drives. -
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Apple simply gets rid of anything that's not efficient and the they can't capitalize on. Workstation laptops are a small market for any laptop manufacturer.
Especially since most folks are convinced they can't carry any computer over 6lbs. Funny, they still carry other heavier items without hesitation. Anyway, 17" laptops simply aren't nor have they ever been big sellers.
Apples only produces unit when they can be exclusive and win. Not when they're at the bottom of the barrel. The worst type of advertising they certainly don't need. -
I've seen some of the older crowd hovering towards the larger screens and less interested in the resolution.
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Too many apps/games (Unity3D being one I'm sure of) still don't play nice with HiDPI displays. I can understand why some people would rather have a lower native resolution display.
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I have a 2008 17 inch MBP with the Penryn processor and use it daily at work. I added a 1 TB WD drive and an ExpressCard SSD and it has 4 GB of RAM. I have considered upgrading to 6 GB of RAM to go to Mavericks. I've also considered going all SSD. The screen is great as is the keyboard. I much prefer the rounded full-size keys to chiclet keys. My home keyboard has Cherry-MX switches and I love the feel of that - I like the extra travel-length of the old MBP keys.
That said, I'd be happy with a 15 inch screen too; I could always hook it up to an external monitor if I wanted a bigger display.
I'm rather amazed at the longevity of the notebook - I didn't expect to keep it that long but I don't have a big enough reason to upgrade it and it does what I need it to do quite well. I think that these run about $600 on Craigslist these days. -
Most people I know want the 17” inch as a Desktop replacement they don’t carry it around outside the HOUSE they have other devices for that (see above)
I know some will say buy a desktop we’ll you may not want carry a Desktop around even though theses days we have all-in-ones. Also, Desktops seem to be more of an endangered species then 17” inch notebooks.
Also, in regards to the weight of a 17” There seems to be a bit of a trend (at least as far as 17” gaming notebooks of producing thin/light 17” notebooks side and I would think this could be the case for any new non-gaming 17” notebooks also. First there was Razer then MSI brought out a thin 17” and recently Maingear so it’s not like it’s the year 2000 or 2005 or even 2010 when 17” notebooks weighed 8, 9, 10lbs or more it's 2014.
I think the MSI 17” (the new thin gaming one that was introduced last Aug/Sept? is less than 6lbs I could be mistaken though and I ‘m not sure how light/thin they could go with a 17” but anything is possible I guess. Even though the 17” notebook will probably remain a small notebook market I just hope they don’t go way entirely anytime soon. -
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I never had a problem with carrying my 17" around. I'd even put it in my bookbag and jump on my motorcycle and head to work with it.
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I usually carry about 30-35 pounds of gear with me to the office - so it would be nice to have something lighter but 3 pounds wouldn't matter that much.
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The Razer Blade (2013) is just 0.66 inch thin and 4.1 pounds.
the MSI GS70 (2013) weighs a hair less than six pounds. And instead of nearly two inches thick, it's a slim 0.85 inch.
Maingear Pulse 17 laptop weight is less than six pounds and 0.85-inch thick I believe this notebook was introduced in November.
The Aorus X7, sporting a 17.3-inch a 0.9-inch thick, 6.4-pound case I think this was introduced last month (thisis the heavy one
This is why I am curious if this part of a trend in 17 inch notebooks. Keep in mind I am just emphasizing the thickness and weight not whether these are good notebooks to purchase or not. -
Who was it who told us our laptop were too thick and heavy? Mac? And its not like they accomplished that through technology. They just began the trend of leaving stuff off. Where were they all those years I've had to lug big thick text books around with me all day?
Remember when cars went form full-size spare tires to space save spares? Then run flat and no spare at all?
Plastic bumpers replaced metal ones and cars got lighter still. Really? Didn't bumper impact standards also go down too? Along with more expensive repairs?
Pity ten pounds is beyond most peoples lift capacity these days. One has to wonder how they would have fared through daily life a century ago? -
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kornchild2002 Notebook Deity
The truth is that many people carry their notebooks either under their arms or in a small over-the-shoulder bag. There is a comfort level to the weight of notebooks when doing this. I could easily carry around my 13" MBA under my arm all day. However, it gets uncomfortable doing that with my 15" MBP. Yes, I can still carry it but it becomes less comfortable. Instead I now have a messenger bag that I throw it into and I can carry that around all day. Either that or, when I really have to trek it long distances, I use my backpack. Flashback to 2005 with my 17" Dell Inspiron XPS Gen. 2 notebook and I wouldn't have dared to put that in a messenger bag. It was twice as thick as my current 2012 15" MBP, it weighed almost three times as much, and the power adapter alone weighed almost half as much as my MBP all together. That would have been extremely uncomfortable in a messenger bag and it would even weigh down a backpack when I had to travel across campus (about 5 miles down, 5 miles back up). Again, I could have carried it those distances but why go back to the stone ages there?
If notebooks can get thinner, lighter, last longer on a single charge, and either retain their current overall power or gain some, why should we even focus on going back to 2.5" thick notebooks that weigh 17 lbs? Just so we can have some slight interpretation that we aren't somehow weak or as "strong" as we were 100 years ago? No, that's just dumb. -
too many people skipping leg day, sigh..
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I am not complaining about people picking up an 11” ultrabook that’s fine if that’s what they want and I apologize if I gave anyone that impression. amI just saying there are a overwhelming amount of choices for portables smartphones, phablets (yes I include those because they get more power every year and the screens are getting bigger) tablets, Ultrabooks, Hybrids to other lightweight notebooks to the 15” which you eluded to and again that’s fine. I was talking about the people I hear who still complaining about 17” notebooks in spite of all the other portable choices to chose from to purchase that I mentioned. I just don’t want to see the 17” notebook market go away completely and with the rapid decline of pc/notebook sales as a whole and the (17” notebooks) already being a small market if there is a market that going to be shut out completely they could very well be it. -
saturnotaku Notebook Nobel Laureate
There will always be a market for 17-inch notebooks, but it will be limited to the desktop replacement segment, eg professional workstations and gaming. A niche product or two will pop up (Razer Blade) but eventually you'll see the elimination of this size of notebook from the general consumer space.
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kornchild2002 Notebook Deity
As it stands, the 17" market was always a niche for gamers, people looking to replace entire desktop systems (monitors and all), or people who required workstations. Current models produced by Dell look like dinosaurs and many people, even those looking for a gaming machine or a workstation, will turn to something that's thinner like the Razer Blade. The 17" market was never mainstream to begin with. The only difference between 2005 and now is that less companies make 17" notebooks and, the ones that due, have made them thinner and lighter while still offering desktop replacement/gaming performance. I'm not sure it will ever completely go away but, as consumers start picking up more ultrabooks and tablets, it will definitely dwindle. -
makes me wish I held on to the two I had in 2011 instead of selling them for cheap... who knew they'd become collectables?
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3x usb ports, 1920x1200 display, upgradability, and the COOLNESS factor - this thing is sweet, currently using.
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You can find 17 inch MBPs on Craigslist in the Boston area from $500 - $1,500 depending on the year, condition and options. I still have mine and just bought an Intel SSD that I plan to put in and then upgrade to Mavericks. The 1920x1200 display is great for development. Yeah, these things are not light and the battery life is generally awful but they're great if you can put up with those other issues. I have a bunch of Mac power bricks so I leave one at the office, one at home and I can leave one in the car if I'm going to be working in a mobile setting for a while.
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Once I get a decent monitor I won't have much reason to keep the 17" around. The ACD 30" I got is a bit too old to get the job done. -
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Honestly, I was trying to find one on eBay, mainly because I'd like to use OS X at a true 1920x1200 resolution. Using a Retina Mac is awesome, but the resolution on the 15-inch ends up being 1440x900 with scaling, which is not much room. The 17" MBP is thin for a 17" laptop, it's powerful, nice screen, and now that they don't make it anymore, it's a collector's item
So I still may end up getting one...
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Try Microcenter, if you have one local. They apparently got shipments of the second to last models (video card is the only difference between these and the last 17s made) and are clearancing them for $1100-$1300 depending on the screen type. Full warranty applies. -
System Preferences > Displays > Scaled. -
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The performance drop is there but in my 1680x1050 usage I rarely notice it. Besides, you can't buy a high res laptop from Apple anymore that isn't a Retina. -
With all of that said...while I'm the farthest thing on planet from an Apple fanboi - not that I'm a hater either - I honestly wouldn't mind owning a 17" MBP.
Here, I've said it. Bring out the torches and pitchforks, tar and feathers... -
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Nearly 2 1/[SUB]2[/SUB] years after getting my MacBook Pro and it still runs just as good as it did on day one. I also haven't been able to find a single computer that can rival my MacBook Pro in terms of build quality and performance. It probably doesn't help either that I've been spoiled by the massive 17" 1920x1200 display that she packs.
As for finding a 17" system these days, I'd suggest looking into the third-party reseller market. I know Mac of All Trades has some 17" systems available from time to time, but their cost is usually around the cost of a brand new 13" Retina MacBook Pro. -
There are 8 17 inch MBPs in my area (Boston) for sale on craigslist from $300 to $1,400. Some need work, some appear to run fine. I've worked on mine before and it's a lot of work taking them apart but they are out there in major metros.
Why Do People Still Buy 17" Macbook Pros
Discussion in 'Apple and Mac OS X' started by smcgil9899, Feb 3, 2014.