What to get? 17" or 14" laptop?

[ouch1976]

I need some opinions here. I'm in the market for a new laptop but I'm torn on what size I should get.

First I should say that the only things I'll be using the laptop for is to rip and covert DVDs, manage my pix and music, do my taxes, some MS Office work, Skype, Web surfing, etc.

I really like the look and portability of the 14" models, but I have a few tablets so I don't think I'll need the laptop for travel much. Yet, the 14" models can still be toted around the house with ease and the compact size is appealing.

But, I really like the real estate on the 17" models. Yes, they have a larger footprint on the desk, but maybe it makes sense to have more screen?

What do you guys think?

 

[pantlesspenguin]

Wow I had the same decision as you! Ultimately I decided on the 17" because I thought I'd like the screen real estate more than portability. Well, I ended up lugging it around more than I thought I would, and it was a total drag because it was so big and heavy. I took it to some coffee shops and cafes to do some work over coffee or a meal, and it took up most of the space at the table. A couple years later I got rid of it and got a 14" lappie. If you think you'll do ANY travel with it, I'd suggest getting the smaller one. At this point I really don't miss the screen real estate.

 

[ouch1976]

Thanks PP...I'm surprised at how difficult of a decision this is...

 

[breadnatty08]

Personally, I like my 17" tanker. It rarely, if ever, leaves the living room. Having a large keyboard and a dedicated number pad is great. It's a really cheap Gateway, but it gets the job done.
For portability, I use my Transformer Prime. It's not the best for home use when I could be using a much larger screen, but the keyboard and insane battery life are great.
I'd say, for your uses, if you're ever going to be toting it around, definitely go with the smaller screen (and hey, there are 15" ones out there too!).

 

[9to5cynic]

I have a 17 in and it has stopped moving from my desk. I used to bring it to school, but it ultimately was too big.

 

[ouch1976]

That's the thing. My old 15.6" mostly sat on the desk. We used to travel with it, but since getting a few tablets, there hasn't been a need to bring it anywhere. Now, the 15.6" screen cracked and it was getting a little old anyway, so I want to upgrade. I think I'm leaning towards a 17"...or even consider a bigger all-in-one desktop...too much to consider!!!!

 

[javasirc]

I use a 15.6 inch screen laptop. Once in a while i find it bulky, but when its on the desk at home its perfect. If your going to be taking it out a lot, id probably go for the 14 or 15 inch. If its staying at home on the desk most of the time, the 17 inch will be fine.

 

[SUroot]

I'd definitely go for the larger screen for use at home.

 

[NYCHitman1]

I feel like the 15.6" is the sweet spot.

 

[argedion]

I have a 15.6 and to be honest its great. I almost got the 17'' but I was like if I have to lug that around its going to get heavy. I never have lugged it anywhere. Its setup more like a desktop with all the stuff I have going to it. I have plenty of realestate and Its great size for watching movies. When I watched them on the old laptop (14'') It was ok just felt tiny. With this one they seem great IMO anyways.

 

[TxGoat]

I have an 18.4" laptop that I bought for school and was using to replace a desktop. It was definitely a big mistake on my part. The thing weighs about 10 lbs and while it's "portable", it was a pain to carry around. Another thing, with it being 18.4", it takes a LOT of juice to power so I'm lucky to get about 2 hours on it (And that's in ECO mode!).

If you think the extra size will make it easier for watching movies on the go, then just remember that if it's a big heavy laptop, it's not going to be too comfortable on your lap.

Ask yourself if you intend on taking it places, and if you need long battery life. I picked up a 14" ultrabook like the one below. HP had a $400 off coupon and weren't supposed to have it apply to these particular laptops, but for some reason they accepted orders. I'm still waiting to see if my order will be eventually cancelled or not.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMiaR2eYwao

 

[TxGoat]

Here's a good deal on a 17" if you decide to go with a big sized laptop. Toshiba 17.3" Laptop w/ AMD Quad Core A6-3420M Processor, 640GB HDD, 6GB DDR3, Blu-Ray & HDMI Output

AMD Quad-Core A6-3420M Accelerated Processor
Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit), SP1
Graphics Engine AMD

 

[RazorSharp]

I have a 15-inch MacBook, it's a great size. I feel like 17 inches would be just too big to be portable.

 

[rui-no-onna]

If you don't plan on lugging it around and it's going to be stationary on your desk, then a 17" is nicer. The extra screen real estate is quite useful.

 

[ouch1976]

After doing some research, I'm leaning towards some of the high resolution, 17" models. This computer will probably be a desktop replacement and will be pretty stationary. I doubt we'll be toting it around much because we both have tablets and my wife has a laptop for work. And I think the larger screen will be better for the kids to see the grandparents on Skype and play games.

But there is still something about the sleek looks of the 14" models that is making the decision so difficult...

 

[TxGoat]

HP Envy 14 Spectre Review - YouTube

 

[TxGoat]

Thanks PP...I'm surprised at how difficult of a decision this is...

This made me giggle.......

 

[TxGoat]

From a site that I frequent. The coupon code doesn't last that long, so if this laptop interests you, you might want to jump on it fast.

HP Home has HP Pavilion dv6tqe Quad Core Laptop for $1439.99 - $475.20 with coupon code NBP8784 = $964.79. Shipping is free.

Specs
Intel Core i7-3610QM 2.3GHz
8GB DDR3
1 TB Hard Drive
32GB mSSD Hard Drive Acceleration Cache
15.6" 1920x1080 Anti-glare LED LCD
1GB NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M
Blu-ray Player & SuperMulti DVD Burner
WiFi N and Bluetooth
6-cell Battery
Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
Backlit Keyboard

 

[Android26]

I'm a big fan of 17"

 

[asheehanjr]

I'm looking to buy this Acer AMD Quad Core with 4gigs of ram, 750 gig hd and AMD 650G Graphics, to replace my desktop for now till I find room to set it up. My main concern is will this be able to handle all up to date games at least medium to high settings like MW3 or BF3? Thanks for your input, I appreciate.

 

[IOWA]

Gave this thread a new home in Computers & IT.

/threadmove.

 

[mrspeedmaster]

It depends on the resolution.

If the 17" is 1600x900 and the 14" is 1980x1080, the 14" will have more real estate. If they're both the same res: 900p, Id take the 14.

Physical size doesn't make a difference in terms of productivity. It is the actual resolution that count. Plus, I am always concerned about a laptop's ability to power external monitors.

Now, I am just waiting for the new MacBook Pro with 2560x1600 resolution attached to a 30" and a 27" both running 2560x1600.