Laptops: 15.6 vs. 17.3 Screen Size

[Weaver]

Hi Everyone,
I'm looking to buy a new laptop. I've narrowed my search down between two of nearly equal power at nearly equal cost.

However, one has a 15.6" screen and the other has a 17.3" screen. Both these screens are 1080p.

Some things to note:

1) Both of these laptops seem to have pretty good keyboards, with the 17.3" obviously being more like a "real" keyboard.

2) I am using my laptop for backend programming and front end web development; I'll be reading a lot of text (which is why I think the bigger screen might be better).

3) In day to day usage I will nearly always have a power outlet available.

4) I will be taking this laptop with me to work in the morning, and home in the evening. I will be walking about 15 minutes each way. The laptop, currently, cannot remain setup in my workspace (long story, I'm working at a software startup incubator); as such for lunch and what not I'll need to pack it up. The big laptop is 4.5kg (9.9 lb). The smaller one is 3.5kg (7.7 lb).

5) I will be sharing table space with others.

Do 17.3" laptops have difficulty fitting in laptop bags?
Does 4.5kg seem too heavy? It doesn't sound too heavy to me, but maybe I'm wrong.
What would you prefer?
How much of a "portability" difference is there between the two?

 

[Dirty Hipsters]

I have a 17.3 inch laptop, but I would have preferred to get a 15.6 inch one (the one that I have just had a deal way too good to pass up).

Yes, 17.3" laptops have trouble fitting into normal laptop bags. I had to buy a new backpack to carry mine, which was kind of a pain in the ass. Also buying accessories like cooling pads is a bigger pain in the ass for larger laptops, because for some reason every company assumes that 14"-15.6" are the "standard" laptop sizes. Definitely the worst part was having to fit this huge laptop onto the tiny desks at my university.

As far as weight goes, I don't really mind the weight increase much. I'm not an 80 pound asian girl, I can handle my computer weighing a few extra pounds.

The bigger screen size is better for gaming, but not really for much else. I do game on my laptop a lot, so it's worth it for me to have the bigger screen. If you're just going to need to read text the bigger screen isn't going to help you.

 

[thesilentman]

I say get the 17 inch. You get more space to view anything critical and reposition any windows you might need (bane of my existence and the reason that any work I do is on my desktop).

As for portability, it all depends. I was able to take an old Powerbook G4 in my bag (not a backpack) just fine. Depending on the length and width of the screen, all that changes is an extra 4.5 kgs, which doesn't affect anything unless airports don't take off if your bag is 0.5 kg more than expected.

All your choice. Out of curiosity, can we get the laptop models? If you know the length and width of the monitor for each laptop, that may help you.

 

[antidonkey]

I have a 17.3 laptop. I have a general purpose laptop. One that's good enough for all tasks, even gaming, though the settings must be reduced a bit. I like it quite a bit but there are some concerns.

At the time, several years ago, 17.3 laptops were a new thing so I had trouble finding a bag to fit it. I found one but it's a bit of a tight squeeze. I'm sure it's less of an issue these days.

The extra two pounds doesn't sound like that much until you're lugging it around an airport all day. That extra size can get highly annoying very fast. I don't travel much.....maybe twice a year so I deal with it.

I'd say if you're going to be traveling with it a lot, then go with the 15". If travel is only an occasional thing, then get the 17. Either should suit you well regardless.

 

[Esotera]

17 inch is just excessive unless you're using a lot of graphical applications, where a case could be made for it. 15 inch laptops are the standard & are about the right size for portability & usability.

A kilogram for an extra two inches is quite a bit...only get it if you really need it.

 

[Weaver]

Thanks for the input so far everyone, gives me lots to consider

All your choice. Out of curiosity, can we get the laptop models? If you know the length and width of the monitor for each laptop, that may help you.

Sure!

15 inch: MSI GT60 0ND-250US
17 inch: ASUS G75VX-RH71-CA

I know many question the point of a gaming laptop, but I can afford them and wouldn't mind some gaming options when I'm visiting my parents or whatever. That being said, it's difficult for me to find laptops with as good specs in the area that aren't "gaming" branded unfortunately.

 

[DoPo]

Got a 15.6'' one - it's OK. If you're doing web dev, it should be enough - mine is 1366x768 and this fits all websites I see. OK, unless somebody is doing anything "creative" with the background - I can't see the whole background here on the Escapist unless I zoom out but that's alright - main viewing content is what you're after and the standard is, like, 900-1000 px right now, so whatever. Keyboard is fine, albeit it doesn't have the numpad, which is annoying - I like using the numpad. But I do have a separate keyboard I plug in - it's literally the cheapest one I found that was a USB not a PS/2 keyboard and it works great.

Honestly, a bigger screen would look better but 15.6 works, so whatever. However, if you're used to a bigger screen, I guess you should take the bigger screen. I used to have a 17'' monitor but I felt no change when I got the 15 inch laptop.

Size/bag-wise, I guess the 17 inch laptop would fit more awkwardly into laptop bags, however, I suggest just getting a backpack. I carry mine in one - there is spare space and I like the backpack. The laptop messenger bag always felt slightly "off". Dunno, you might feel otherwise. I also get more space in a backpack for more stuff.

Weight-wise, I'd suggest you don't bother - I barely feel mine at 3kg and I usually have notebooks and charger and other stuff in the backpack and it's still not an issue. Frankly, while I was at school, I carried heavier things in the same backpack - I recall around 5th-6th grade my entire load was over 10 kg, so 5 or so (3 for a laptop, then charger, books and notebooks something above 1) is not an issue nowadays. Erm, also I'm sort of a big guy, so 5 kg compared to me aren't really significant, so to say, dunno about you.

 

[loc978]

I have a 17" laptop... and it has a few problems. The screen being as heavy as it is managed to seize up one of its hinges within the first two years I owned it. Mind you, it's an HP from 2008 (dv9700, for the curious. Never again), and that's an Asus from 2013... but it had a similar style of hinges. 2 small ones on a screen that size tends to be no bueno. It also doesn't fit in a lot of laptop bags. The backpack that came with it works great, but none of my other bags fit it. As for the weight... I'm the wrong guy to ask, I'm still okay with a 120lb rucksack.

So my recommendation is for the 15" MSI. Probably has a sturdier case (though it still has that shitty double-hinge system... at least the screen is unlikely to be too heavy for it) and definitely fits in standard laptop bags.

 

[Baneat]

You should go look at them in a shop? also tenkey laptops suck cause the letter keys are off to the left of the center

 

[PFCboom]

I have a 17.3" but I had it in Afghanistan, where I couldn't have a 32"+ TV, so I really had to make the screen as big as I could, to enjoy the games and movies.
Yes, you'll have to make sure your bag/backpack can hold a large laptop, since 75% of the off-the-shelf bags aren't meant to. I've gone on vacations more than once with a laptop backpack loaded down with laptop, oversized power brick (designed to power a GTX580) and a few accessories, but still, plenty comfortable.
IMO, I'd encourage the 17.3" screen, simply because you'll be looking at so much on it. I've had great joy being able to put two windows side-by-side, watching something in one window, monitoring hardware temps in one corner, and having Cheezburger in another window.

 

[Evil Smurf]

Go the 17 inch one. The screen real estate will thank you. I've a 13 inch MacBook Pro and would have gotten the bigger 15 inch if I had the money.

 

[Mr Fixit]

I have an Asus 17" laptop & I love it, but finding a bag for it that didn't cost $40 or more was a pain in the ass. I got mine for graphic design stuff that I do at work, so the big screen is very nice & once you get used to it a 15" screen feels tiny.

 

[bojackx]

I've got a 15.6 inch laptop, and my stepdad has a 17.3 inch laptop. The latter seems to be unnecessarily big, unless you want to game on it or something.

For general portability? Definitely the 15.6 inch.

 

[Angelowl]

I had the same dilemma. ALthough the difference of roughly 200 euros made it fairly simple on my end. As I still got a full keyboard and the same hardware. And I was more or less used to a 15.6 screen.

15.6 screeen can seem a bit small at times, it depends on the use. Mine is a gaming laptop. Strategy games work just fine with increased resolutions. FPSes work fairly well, although the screen size can break the immersion at times. The only thing that made it feel to small was watching movies, due to slightly larger distance and more people wanting to watch. But honestly, just plug it into the TV and that problem is solved.

That is cheating btw, my best friend does that. Uses the 30" TV as the primary computer screen. I find it a bit hard on the eyes for general stuff. But it's pretty nice for high-end games. That's some sweet graphics.