> they /really/ lost me at the drop of the MacbookPro17"
I feel your pain! It was the only laptop with enough screen real estate and power to work as a desktop on the road.
But lately with the increasingly draconian carry-on restrictions I've downsized my luggage, and turns out my MPB17 just barely doesn't fit in a 16x13x7 bag (that fits in the new commuter jet regs). The MBPr15 fits, has more screen res, and is lighter. So I had been planning an upgrade. If the new MBPr13 had dual graphics I'd be willing to even go with that as it would fit in my puddle jumper bag's outside pocket.
But... This past year the outsized MBP17 had me trying out my iPad 3 instead, and now I'm not sure I need a laptop for travel at all.
Yeah I'm closely watching the tablet space, if I can get a 17" tablet with ultra-high res, plug in a PC-on-a-stick, and use a keyboard with it, I'll have my development machine again. I just can't really sit there for long on a 15" screen, its not wide-view enough for my liking .. and the MBP17" was, ultimately, my main machine. Oh well.
I feel your pain! It was the only laptop with enough screen real estate and power to work as a desktop on the road.
But lately with the increasingly draconian carry-on restrictions I've downsized my luggage, and turns out my MPB17 just barely doesn't fit in a 16x13x7 bag (that fits in the new commuter jet regs). The MBPr15 fits, has more screen res, and is lighter. So I had been planning an upgrade. If the new MBPr13 had dual graphics I'd be willing to even go with that as it would fit in my puddle jumper bag's outside pocket.
But... This past year the outsized MBP17 had me trying out my iPad 3 instead, and now I'm not sure I need a laptop for travel at all.