As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases @AMAZON
Choosing which MacBook Pro Model
See also how I configured my 17" MacBook Pro.
I opted for the 17" model because even a 15" display feels cramped when working with images, especially with palettes in Photoshop, etc.
For a slightly smaller form factor, the 15" model is excellent, but I do recommend getting the high resolution anti-glare screen option (which then brings its price very close to the 17" model).
The 13" model is a great choice too, with no compromises other than dual cores instead of quad-core. Those are fast dual cores, so for most users this is not a serious issue. Video users should stick to quad-core.
Key feature differences among the MacBook Pro 2011 model | |||
13" | 15" | 17" | |
---|---|---|---|
CPU | dual-core Intel Core i5 @ 2.3 GHz dual-core Intel Core i7 @ 2.7 GHz |
4-core at 2.0/2.2/2.3 GHz | 4-core at 2.0/2.2/2.3 GHz |
CPU cache memory | 3MB for 2.3 GHz CPU 4MB for 2.7 GHz CPU |
6MB with 2.0 or 2.2 GHz CPU 8MB with 2.3GHz CPU |
6MB with 2.0 or 2.2 GHz CPU 8MB with 2.3GHz CPU |
Max display resolution | 1280 X 800 | 1680 X 1050 | 1920 X 1200 |
GPU (graphics) | Intel HD Graphics 3000 | Intel HD Graphics 3000 + AMD Radeon HD 6490M /256GB OR AMD Radeon HD 6750 /1GB |
Intel HD Graphics 3000 + AMD Radeon HD 6750 /1GB |
Anti-glare option | no | yes | yes |
SDXC card slot | yes | yes | no |
ExpressCard/34 slot | no | no | yes |
Weight | 4.5 pounds | 5.6 pounds | 6.6 pounds |
Dimensions |
12.78 X 8.94 X 0.95 | 14.35 X 9.82 X 0.95 | 15.47 X 10.51 X 0.98 |