I've had two 17" machines, and over time came to the conclusion that the extra screen size + this or that output wasn't worth the hassle.
My wife and I go to Japan frequently, and the first time that I took a 17"-laptop I was sick of it before finishing taxi on the way out. Sucked. Not usable. Bulky. Heavy. Shorter battery life.
And you look like an idiot trying to get that scenario to fly.
Depends on what you want, I guess.
I'm a big fan, if you can afford it, of getting your "dream" laptop for the times you can access the dream, and (if you need it) a travel laptop, for the times you care a great deal about space.
When we go to Japan now, I take my 13" Macbook. It's old, and considerably slower than my current 15", but the 1+ pound difference + the volume of the machine (most importantly, actually) makes the decision.
I think if you're a traveling artist WITHOUT much backup for road crew type stuff, smaller is better than faster in most cases, with perhaps a bit more bouncing/etc. up front to prepare.
I'm no Digweed/Sasha/etc or whatever, and while I do play out while abroad, I'm happily small-time, and all by myself when lugging stuff about, equipment, clothes and all-things travel. For a 3-week excursion, give me a tiny machine any day.
Not to mention that one of my favorite times to work on new productions is when traveling internationally with limited room: a bullet train, a subway, a regional airline, a ferry, etc. It's GREAT for creativity, but doesn't always lend itself where space is concerned.
The new Macs are, IMHO, definitely a step in the right direction: quads, for one thing... 'bout time.
I recently (6 weeks ago) got an i5 dual 15"... decent machine, but compared to my home machine (8-core, gobs of memory), it feels so 2006. Luckily, it's a "work" machine (meaning, I didn't buy it), so now I can spend my own money on the new quads (which I will, as soon as my 'oh sh*t, I have a new kid' economic reality wears off.
Take care,
- zevo
PS (for the OP, since this thread was about the new IO): Don't care right now. My studio has been on essential hardware "hold" for nearly 3 years... meaning, no new non-computer hardware, period. Love it. I'm fine with a major overhaul in another 5 years, but since it will likely be over half that long to get this tech at an affordable price all over the place, I'm good with just ignoring that it even exists. Quads are what I care about.
- z
So many USB devices these days require their own bus (Maschine,Kore,Virus). Pissed off the 17" doesn't have 4 of them. I hear people saying the 17" is too big, and I wouldn't get it if I carried it on my shoulder alot. But really, it is not that much bigger than the 15"
You guys gotta lay off the Kool Aide. Thunderbolt isn't a USB 3 killer. They're going to live side by side in perfect harmony OH LORD WHI KANT WHEEEE?