3 ms·

I can't use a laptop with a screen smaller than 17 inches for at least half my work. On a 13 to 15 inch screen everything is a pain in the behind. CAD (SolidW

I can't use a laptop with a screen smaller than 17 inches for at least half my work. On a 13 to 15 inch screen everything is a pain in the behind. CAD (SolidWorks) is punishing, CAM (MasterCAM, CAMWorks) is just as horrid. Even other applications not at that level become a chore to use. And this is particularly true if you have a situation where you might be referencing website data or PDF's and need to use additional tools. For me the small laptops are tolerable in the context of a trip where you want to check email, do some stuff on the web and maybe some single screen coding. It's very hard to beat the productivity and convenience of a multi-monitor high resolution desktop setup. We don't have any less than two screens on our desktops, with most having three. For all new machines the minimum is three screens. I don't understand why Apple won't make a decent large (17 inch) laptop other than we (technical, engineering, graphic arts users) ceased to be their primary market years ago. What a shame.

grzm 10y ago
I don't understand why Apple won't make a decent large (17 inch) laptop other than we Does Apple ever release sales figures for the breakdown of models? I don't believe they do. If the 17" MacBooks made economic sense to continue to produce them, I'm sure they would have. Since Jobs' return, Apple has tried to keep the product line as simple as possible as well. Another idea is that there may not be suitable 17" laptop displays. From 2012: http://www.zdnet.com/article/why-apple-dumped-the-17-inch-macbook-pro/ http://www.zdnet.com/article/why-apple-dumped-the-17-inch-ma... I don't know enough about the state of display technology, and I'm sure that things have progressed since 2012. I would think in the scope of market, CAD-CAM laptop users is likely a small percentage. It's understandable that you would like to have one, but it may not make sense for Apple to produce them. Personally I'm surprised how much work I can get done with a 13" MacBook.
- rebootthesystem 10y ago
  We probably have a dozen laptops, maybe more. All are PC's. A handful are for travel, which means they have smaller screens. All others have 17 inch screens. A large number of PC laptop manufacturers don't seem to have any trouble selling the larger models. I'm sure it comes down to who and what they are being used for. My guess is that at least three of the categories are gaming, CAD and graphic arts. Not sure why Apple can't justify making them. It is likely true that it is a smaller chunk of the overall market. Apple stopped making products for those pushing the limits a long time ago. They are a consumer electronics company looking for massive markets. It makes far more sense that they'd prefer to sell smaller sizes that might appeal to the vast majority of the users they want to capture.

grzm 10y ago

I don't understand why Apple won't make a decent large (17 inch) laptop other than we Does Apple ever release sales figures for the breakdown of models? I don't believe they do. If the 17" MacBooks made economic sense to continue to produce them, I'm sure they would have. Since Jobs' return, Apple has tried to keep the product line as simple as possible as well. Another idea is that there may not be suitable 17" laptop displays. From 2012: http://www.zdnet.com/article/why-apple-dumped-the-17-inch-macbook-pro/ http://www.zdnet.com/article/why-apple-dumped-the-17-inch-ma... I don't know enough about the state of display technology, and I'm sure that things have progressed since 2012. I would think in the scope of market, CAD-CAM laptop users is likely a small percentage. It's understandable that you would like to have one, but it may not make sense for Apple to produce them. Personally I'm surprised how much work I can get done with a 13" MacBook.

rebootthesystem 10y ago
We probably have a dozen laptops, maybe more. All are PC's. A handful are for travel, which means they have smaller screens. All others have 17 inch screens. A large number of PC laptop manufacturers don't seem to have any trouble selling the larger models. I'm sure it comes down to who and what they are being used for. My guess is that at least three of the categories are gaming, CAD and graphic arts. Not sure why Apple can't justify making them. It is likely true that it is a smaller chunk of the overall market. Apple stopped making products for those pushing the limits a long time ago. They are a consumer electronics company looking for massive markets. It makes far more sense that they'd prefer to sell smaller sizes that might appeal to the vast majority of the users they want to capture.