Is Macbook Pro 13" screen size enough for using Unity Editor?

I will buy a new Macbook Pro and it's primary use will be developing games with Unity. However, I have doubts if the 13" screen will be too small for working comfortable, so I should grab the 15" one.

Choices are 13" vs. 15 " with portability in mind. The hardware is:

a/Macbook Pro 13", 16 GB RAM, i5 2.6 GHZ two cores, 256 GB SSD

b/Macbook Pro 15", 16 GB RAM, i7 2.2 GHZ four cores, 256 GB SSD (the basic one)

The use of an external monitor is discouraged because I will work with the laptop in college and I can't use externals monitors.

 

My unity workspace sometimes takes up 3 screens, at 3840x1024 resolution, so I would heartily recommend going with the larger display if you can. At the very least, you can be sure you'll never find yourself thinking you have too much screen space.

The 13" display does work to use Unity, but I wouldn't say it would fit comfortably. You'd be managing windows back and forth a lot I think.

Short answer, if you can go with the 15", go for it. You won't regret it.

Cheers

 

Thanks for your answer. Maybe, I should grab the 15". Do you think 2 kg is too heavy to carry with a bag?

 

I don't think 13" vs 15" is going to make much of a difference. If you're confined to one screen, in my experience, there's only a very slight advantage to a larger screen.

 

If you have the money for it, more screen real estate is always better. A thing about external monitors, if you don't intend to be doing most of your work "in the field" then there's no real why you shouldn't be thinking that most work will be done in your room.

As for weight, it's not that bad. Unless you have to sprint to class, the extra weight won't be that much of an issue.

 

I went yesterday to the Apple Store but could not try how Unity3D looks there as you need the admin password.

 

Also... I would wait like two days before you continue with this decision. There's a very good chance that new laptops are on the verge of being announced.

 

They won't help all that much.
Although I don't have a HDPI screen, I stil have a resulution that's a fair bit higher than yours (1600x900px @ 13").
Even there, working for extended periods of time is a real eyestrain. Things are just too damn small.
13" are just small; No matter the resolution.

I disagree. Heavier does not equal heavy.
I'd always go for the one that has more performance. The difference in portability between 13 and 15" isn't that much of a problem. If your device's performance becomes a bottleneck, you've got really big problem on your hand.

Having a quick look at it in a store and liking it, doesn't guarantee that you'll like it if it's what you're working with on a day to day basis.
I had to learn that the hard way. As awesome as my laptop is, I still kinda regret buying it whenever I work with Unity.

 

So, in your opinion, is it better 15" right?

 

@jaiser
Yes, no question about that. I tell you that as someone who works with a 13" device. The thing is that the 15" laptops by Apple are pretty light already, so weight really shouldn't be an issue.
You'll get far more out of a bigger screen.

At home you'll want to connect an external monitor and a mouse anyway.

 

New laptops will actually not be announced until February. So you are fine getting it today if you like. (Look at macrumors – its the iPads and iMacs that are coming, not the macbook pros).

 

Don't know that for sure until the event, and more than a few rumors have suggested new laptops. Are you suggesting that two days are too long to wait to possible save hundreds of dollars and/or get a newer generation of computer? That's serious impatience...

 

To be honest that tiny screen would make my eyes bleed trying to read things in my code and in the inspector lol.

 

I feel unproductive on a 17".. so a 13" would be a waste of time.

 

I agree. According to the Apple tech specs, the difference is one pound (0.45 kilograms). At 4.46 pounds (2.02 kilograms), I can't imagine anyone ever considering the 15-inch model to be heavy.

 

It can work, and it's how I do some dev work when I don't feel like leaving bed, but I hook up to a 23 inch monitor when I use my desk because F*** that.

 

my MBP 13" is too small for Unity. It's ok for an hour or so of trying ideas out in front of the TV but for serious work I can't do it. I've been thinking of picking up a 17" MBP but they're slightly older models.

 

Yeah, I love my 17" MBP, and am a little disappointed that a new one isn't an option when I go for an update.

 

My 13" MBA is alright (and has a higher resolution than the old MBP it replaced) but things can get a bit crammed indeed. If you don't need both Scene and Game view at the same time Unity's layout can be set up to be quite useable, though.

 

Yeah I was also disappointed they didn't have a 17" in the new models.

 

I have a 17" MB Pro here, fits well in any backpack, and really isn't heavy at all, considering the alternatives (gamer-line Acers or Alienwares) of similar hardware specs. Those are Heavy. The Macs are pretty lightweight for their specs, which is very good.

In any case, I agree that even 15" is on the small side to do intense dev work. This is a case where the more screen space you have, the better off you are, and there's no upper bound. Even here I'm starting to think about upgrading my 3 19" LCDs for 24" or 26"ers... I'll need a new TH2Go to manage those, but one thing I learned is that you'll never have an excess of screen space.

Between the 13" and 15" options, though (if a 17" isn't a possibility), go with the 15". Definitely.

Cheers

 

my only compaint with my 17" mbp is it gets bloody hot.

 

I've been using my 2011 13" 2.7 i7 duel core Macbook Pro since 2011. Mostly I work with it plugged into a 27" monitor but at least 10 hours a week I'm on the sofa with it, or in a coffee shop, or travelling.

Talking of using just the laptop: Using Unity is OK, the Unity windows are all open (inspector, game view, scene view, Heirachy, Project, Console). I do have to move the grow/shrink bar between the Scene view and Game view when in either of those windows (to move and edit things in the scene, or watch+play the game). Obviously when editing code in MD that is full screen and fine too. Compiling and running my small 3D game is fine also, hitting play and then seeing it run takes about 5 seconds, not bad. Add onto that time switching between MD and Unity, you have to do that whatever size screen you have though. I just wrote all that to let you know what I'm talking about - I do it!

Would I recommend a 13" MacBook for Unity? HELL NO! Get the 15". (1) You will you end up with 4 cores (halve the compile time, I know I said it was seconds but seconds count). (2) You get a decent GPU too, most games will be fine on a 13" GPU (like my paltry Intel 3000 runs games like Don't Starve at 60fps just fine); but you will probably end up editing a game trailer or other videos in iMovie/FCPX and the GPU will make that a lot smoother. And of course playing more demanding games - you are a student )

So 15" Macbook Pro then?! Great machine. You are buying new I see. Maybe have a look at the refurbished list and get one of those, a lot more for the same money. http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/specialdeals/mac/macbook_pro/15

Otherwise, if you don't have to go Mac, consider gaming notebooks, a hell of a lot more for the same money, especially GPU wise. e.g. With the new 980M GPU: http://www.ncixus.com/products/?sku=102708&vpn=GS60 2QE-010US Ghost Pro 3K IPS&manufacture=MSI

Other than that Apple are announcing new hardware updates tomorrow, I personally think they should be updating the MacBook Pro to match current hardware like the MSI above, especially the GPU. They normally update the GPU every 12-16 months (2012 June 650M, 2013 Oct 750M). But it doesn't sound likely, probably June 2015.

 

I also hear (may or may not be reliable) that some of them are uncerclocked to keep the thermals under control.

 

I'll second that, generally the smaller the space the quicker the CPU/GPU will reach max temp and throttle. So the bigger laptop the better, you can't beat a desktop with liquid cooling (obviously). My poor 2011 13" MacBook Pro will have the fan at max revs in 30 seconds of full load with its 2 cores having reached 90-100 degrees and are throttling.

The 13" Macbook pro only has one fan compared to the 15"s two.

Having said that, you don't often max out the CPU or GPU doing normal coding+building (long enough to heat them up). Maybe only when you build a full version or edit video or play some demanding games. Another Note: Nvidia 980M is said to use 30%+ less energy than the 880M and others before it (and hence less heat+battery).

 

I wouldn't go so far as to say that bigger is better. As long as it was fast enough, I'd be more happy with something more portable which allowed me more flexibility. Slower max speed for tasks you rarely do is going to have less of an everyday impact than being bigger, less comfortable to use, etc.

Plus, mobile/low power CPUs are getting more than powerful enough for most people's typical needs.

 

I would, when it comes to Unity. I'm using a 21" screen and I wouldn't consider using anything smaller for regular development...and if it weren't for Exposé in OS X, I would have gotten a second monitor long ago. The OP said external monitors aren't an option, so the built-in screen size would be really important.

--Eric

 

In regards to screen size, sure, within reason. But that tangent was in regard to CPU/GPU and their effect on cooling and carry size.

 

Are you implying a 21" notebook is unreasonable?

--Eric

 

Yes. But I'm not saying I wouldn't go ahead and get one anyway.

 

Why go for bigger when you can simply go for more screens?

http://www.anandtech.com/show/4507/gscreen-spacebook-laptop-with-dual-screens
http://www.netbooknews.com/4074/astonishingly-heavy-3-screen-laptop-puts-our-backs-out-at-computex/

 

Why go more screens when you can simply push images to any nearby screen? Surely that's where we're headed. Near a TV? Put image on TV. At a desk with 3 monitors? Use all 3 monitors. And so on.

 

Near a building? Use the windows as a screen.



--Eric