Many of us were deeply disappointed when Apple discontinued the MacBook Pro 17. While the Retina MacBook Pro 15 introduced at the same time offered higher resolution, sometimes there’s just no substitute for physical screen size. Photographers and videographers in particular loved the combination of the sheer size and the option of a matte screen.
I loved mine enough to immediately sell the three-year-old one I owned at the time in order to replace it with the last model made, to maximize its useful life. I still love it enough that I’ve just laid out a thousand bucks on a 2.5-year-old machine to fit 2TB of SSDs, giving it the best of both worlds: lightning-fast performance combined with huge storage that allows me to have all my files with me when I travel.
There may not be too many others who’ll follow my admittedly extravagant example, but I do think it’s time for Apple to revisit its decision and bring back the mobile professional’s workhorse …
I should say that I fully understand why Apple chose to discontinue the machine at the time. It had just introduced the shiny new Retina MacBook Pro machines in 13- and 15-inch sizes, and the cost of a 17-inch Retina screen would, at that time, have been prohibitive.
Retaining the non-Retina model would have been messy – where in the line-up do you position a machine which offers the largest screen size but not the highest resolution? Apple has always liked simple line-ups, not the mass of scarcely-distinguishable models put out by many PC manufacturers, so it took the easy way out and dropped the machine.

The argument many made at the time was that it was in any case a niche product, with some even suggesting that the MBP accounted for just one percent of MacBook sales. Given Apple’s famed secrecy when it comes to sales breakdowns, I strongly suspect that figure was made-up, but it’s undeniable that it was a product bought by a small minority of Apple’s customers.
Some went further and suggested that with Apple now a mass-market consumer company, the business market was less important to the company, and the subset of audio-visual professionals who made up most of the 17-inch machine’s user base was now effectively irrelevant.
That might have been a supportable argument at the time, but no longer. Defense exhibit A: the Mac Pro.

The Mac Pro is even more of a niche market than the MBP 17. The percentage of Apple’s customer base even interested in the machine, let alone prepared to lay out between $3,000 and $10,000 on one, is miniscule.
Yet Apple not only launched a new Mac Pro, but did so with a great deal of fanfare. It put a huge amount of R&D into a revolutionary new desktop PC design. It made a machine unlike any other.
Even today, almost a year after it was first announced, Apple still makes a huge fuss about it. Just visit apple.com and click on any of the other Macs there: Air, Pro, iMac, Mini, it doesn’t matter. You get Apple’s standard white background site.

Now click on the Mac Pro. Apple has sufficient pride in this special machine that it created a whole new site design for it.
Apple launched a new Mac Pro not because the market for the machine was a large one, but because it was an important one. The earliest and most loyal customer base for Macs comprised creative professionals. Graphic designers, photographers, videographers, musicians, writers. These were the people who acted as Apple’s unpaid evangelists in the very early days. It wouldn’t be too great an exaggeration to say that these people helped build the company into what it is today.
In creating the new Mac Pro, Apple demonstrated that its commitment to this market remains alive and well.
Which is precisely the argument for launching a new MacBook Pro 17 today. The machine appeals to a very similar (and in many cases overlapping) market: creative professionals who want a high-end machine with decent screen size when mobile.
While yield rates on a 17-inch Retina screen would have been impractically low in 2012, that’s no longer the case today. The niche demand is there. Apple’s demonstrated commitment to supporting a core niche market is there. The manufacturing practicality is there. It’s time.
And my machine demonstrates just how great it could be. With a 2.4GHz Core i7 processor, 16GB RAM and dual SSDs, the machine absolutely flies.
Upgrading the RAM was obviously trivial on the non-Retina machines, and something I did as soon as I bought it. I initially replaced the 750GB hard drive with two 1TB ones (one in the optical media bay with an OWC Data Doubler adapter), and have now replaced both chunks of spinning metal with shiny new Samsung EVO 840 SSDs.

2TB allows me to have all my files with me all the time no matter where I am in the world.
But that’s two-year-old technology. The SSDs, for example, are fast:

Coming from hard drives, I couldn’t be happier. But stick the latest quad-core i7 CPU in there and make the SSDs PCIe ones, and my machine would look like it was having trouble waking up in the morning.
And imagine the battery-life it would have with a Haswell processor and that massive battery! A MBP 17 with genuine all-day battery-life would be phenomenal.
So, please, Apple: let’s have an all-new MacBook Pro 17. I’d even forgive you announcing it a few days after I’ve laid out a grand on SSDs for mine …

Some users of Apple have been for long time, it means that 25 years after they are getting old. If they need/want a laptop, their best option eye-sight would be the 17″ MBP.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m in the same boat. I bought a Mac Pro and a 39″ 4K monitor; with eyes that are bad (and not getting any better) switching to a 15″ MBP just isn’t an option. You wouldn’t think that 2″ of screen real estate makes that much difference until you try working with a 15″ that’s more than 10″ away from you. It’s quite simply just too small to read.
I’m a long time PC user that made the switch to Mac and never looked back, now Apple is forcing me to consider non-Apple notebook options just so I can get a portable machine with a large enough screen to be practical to use.
Paying extra for the privilege of having a proper mobile platform isn’t an issue as far as I’m concerned. Sure, it’s not going to be a top consumer-market product but for all of us in business who use our mobile platform for more than email and web surfing and for the prosumer marker I don’t think that 15″ is a reasonable alternative.
Please Apple… give us a high end 17″ MacBook Pro option… top end video, big battery life, lots of storage and watch how fast your entire base of existing 17″ MBP users place orders… because I think it’s safe bet, given all the comments on every forum I’ve ever visited, that the existing 17″ base of MBP users are ALL chomping at the bit for a chance to replace their aging MBP’s with shiny new Apple technology.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Absolutely.
LikeLiked by 1 person
AB-SO-LUTE-LY. I am nursing a 7 year old 17″ MBP and it looks battered & beaten but still runs like a charm.
It flies with me al over EU for my work.
I’ve been looking at 15″ and the weight advantage is a plus but you can beat the extra 2″ of real estate.
I would jump up and be running to the Apple Store to have the chance to buy a NEW 17″ inch.
My old dame deserves a more quite life.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yep. I’d buy one.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Yes please!… A retina/4k resolution and a Nvidia Quadro and I’ll be happy.
As a graphic designer, and many of people working in the same area. We where very disappointing of the discontinued 17″. Me and several others have held on to ours 2009 MBP 17″, as of it still can handle all the software and run the latest OS without a problem.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I’d be more than happy to buy one. I miss the larger screen that I had to sacrifice for power.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am stuck with a 3.5 year-old machine. I NEED 17″ screen for the type of work I do. I have been a faithful Apple customer for 25 years. I cannot believe I am stuck in this absolute debacle of bad business. I really don’t care how much a 17″ Apple machine costs. They need to offer one to professional customers.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great article. I’ve been holding out for a new 17″ for about 3 years now. I still use my old 17″ 2.4GHz Santa Rosa from 2007 with an SSD and 2nd HD (which was my 3rd 17″). It works fine but only having 4GB of RAM is getting very long in the tooth. I definitely need the extra screen real estate that comes with a 17″. My stock trading platform adjusts dynamically, so I’m able to have many more charts on there vs. a 15″. A 17″ is also very helpful since I’m always multitasking and need to have a lot of different windows open at the same time.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’d love it if one were available.
LikeLiked by 1 person
YES!! I currently own a 2010 MacBook Pro 17″ and love it. It has a matte screen, an i7 processor and 8GB of RAM, with Mavericks installed. When the time comes for me to upgrade it, I want to be able to get another 17″ MBP and not a 15″. The extra screen real estate is vital to me when I’m traveling. I’m a graphic designer, so the more screen I have, the better off I am, especially for print design work. When in my office I use both a 20″ and 30″ Cinema Displays, so even the 17″ screen seems tiny when I can’t use them. I hope Apple will eventually re-introduce the 17″ MBP (with a matte option). It took Apple several years to finally add anti-glare coatings to the iMac to get rid of 75% of the reflection, so it may be a while for them to get around to the 17″. Actually as I think about it, they could forget the 17″ and jump right up to a 19″ MacBook Pro. The physical size would only increase to 17″ x 11.5″ (approx) from the current 15.5″ x 10.5″, and I’d buy one in a heartbeat. Apple’s current technology would mean it would probably even be lighter, or about the same weight of the current model. Make mine a 17″ or a 19″ and I’ll take it with me everywhere!
LikeLiked by 3 people
Yup, I want one, please Apple?
LikeLiked by 2 people
I’m also waiting for a new large screen MBP. Replaced the hard disk for an SSD drive on my early 2011 machine, it has really transformed the performance. I have no reason to buy a smaller screened device until this one dies. I understand why many prefer to purchase a smaller/lighter machine but the screen real estate is really useful. This is my second 17 inch beast, ideally I won’t have to down size if this one dies or ceases to be useful anymore.
LikeLiked by 3 people
A simple yes will not work, sure I want it back the awsume 17″ mbp.
But what I love about this machine is 2 HD your self to replace by upgrades.
My configuration is the latest mbp17″ early 2011 with 2 1tb SSD mounted.
Till today this 2th gen. 7i is not to be beaten by other hardware. My biggest problem is when it dies, what then? Where can I find a replacement for this 3 year old beast.
APPLE GET THE 17″ please back with all the good features a PRO needs.
The thing that comes close is a X•BOOK 17M59 – GTX860 this machine can handle 1 SSD and 2 msata.
It sound illegal but I am pressed against the wall and will find out if it can become a Hackintosh.
APPLE stop me and get that 17″ retina out for the Pro’s amongst us.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great post! We definitely need the new 17 inch workhorse. I think the matte coating of the current 17 inch MBP is fantastic – one of the best screens I have seen. As to get more power I have looked for rMBP, but the screen has horrible glare and the sharpness does not give you any additional screen real estate. I think there is a huge cluster of professionals waiting for the new 17 inch model to update their current system – mine is alredy 4 years old and counting…
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’d love one. Might just have to get a “Late 2011″ and trick it out if Apple won’t field another 17.”
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have an old 2007 MBP 17″ that needed fixing due to a Graphic Card failure, so when I heard the 17″ Inch model was going to be discontinued in 2011, I went for the highest spec MBP17 with antiglare and Maxed the RAM to 16GB and 1TB HD.Best Investment.
I still hope Apple comes up with a revamped MBP17 when this one dies. The Old MBP2007 still works like a champ with a 1TB drive and 6GB RAM after getting it fixed. To me the MBP17 is the Best Personal Computer ever made.
LikeLiked by 2 people
A big screen is a must have for the garment industry. I never thought I would even contemplate purchasing a non-Mac (I’ve been working on them since 1992) but I need the “real estate”. The cute children working in the Apple stores say, “you can hook it up to one of our great displays”. That doesn’t help on the road, working with customers, or when I am simply too tired to sit at a monitor! I was with Apple when graphic professionals of various types were their earliest loyal customers, and now I am rewarded with the absence of a vital tool! I’m feeling a bit “discontinued” as a customer. Thanks, Apple. (Hey Steve – you watchin’ all this?!)
LikeLike
Right there with you. I just dropped off my 17″ 2011 Matte with SSDs for a Flat Rate repair of the all too common discrete graphics failure. I had to put the Optical Drive back for them to take it. If they offered a new 17 inch with matte display, then I might have upgraded. I won’t buy a reflective screen 15″ I’ll keep waiting…
LikeLiked by 1 person
I bought a 15″ Retina in Jan 2014 to replace my 17″ MBP. Had the 15″ Retina for 12 hours and took it back the next day. It’s not the 17″ plain and simple. I want the extra screen real estate.
LikeLike
17 is Too SMALL we need a 20 inch Macbook PRO AIR!!!!!!!!!!!
seriously I am never going to buy the 15″ it feels like a toy, I love my 17″ 2SSD 8GB ram+DVDrw beast.
but, I’ve had it for 6 years now, maybe more, I need a new one with less weight!!
give it to me APPLE!!!!!!!
LikeLike
Apple “needs” to bring back the 17 inch MacBook Pro ASAP. I would buy 3 of them. I need the screen real estate and yes I could use them with retina screens. If they made it closer to an 18 inch screen that would be even better. I love the fact that I can take it anywhere and have screen space for all of my applications. Please Apple my current 17 in models could use upgrades. If you don’t think it would sell a lot, think again. I personally would buy 3 and I know 3 others that would buy one. The current 15 inch retina isn’t the same.
LikeLike
Me too!! My 2011 17″ with a 1T HD is now full and slowing down considerably – I do not want to have to go to external drives to work / travel with.
LikeLike
I bought my first Apple anything, a 17″ Mac Book Pro, five years ago and never looked back until they pulled the plug on the 17″ MBP. I have always opted for more screen real estate and the older I get the more important that becomes as the screen needs to be easier to read. I gave that five year old MBP to my wife and bought another in 2011. She definitely has trouble reading small print; so, she has to make the fonts larger to read them. My first laptop had a 320 horizontal pixel screen, it was usable but what a pain that was. These smaller screens help make the machines lighter, more portable, with longer battery life. There are many ways to display a lot of information but nothing beats having the real estate to have it in front of you. I certainly hope Apple does something about this before the time comes to replace this laptop. I still have a Windows desktop and was considering replacing that with a Mac Pro. I really don’t want to go back to Windows.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have 2 old ones, one with and one without Thunderbolt. It´s time to replace them. So get movie´Apple.
LikeLike
I would defiantly get a 17″ MBP and my son who is a videographer would too.
LikeLike
if you write text/code then what you really need is the additional screen size not the silly pixels. we need a 17-20 inch macbook air asap
ps
i dont care about your silly apple watch
LikeLike
I would love to see it back.
LikeLike
Same here. I have a 15 in retina for work and here I am using my 17 in. It just allows me to run two apps at once and the screen allows so much more of what I do – more workspace, less toolbars, etc….PLEASE APPLE MAKE IT HAPPEN!
LikeLike
Just put in a Samsung EVO 840 mSata 1TB drive using a SATA adapter (And noticed there is also an adapter for 2 x mSata on one 2.5 SATA). Brought new life to my old MacBook Pro (17-inch, Mid 2010). I refuse to upgrade to a smaller screen. Apple needs to bring back the 17inch.. I dont need retina.. but I do need the bigger screen.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love my 17-inch MBP and the only MBP I will buy is another 17-inch. The only complaint I ever heard was that it’s heavier – but now that we have the Airs, a 17-inch Air would fly off the shelves for mobile professional, especially creative pros and developers, who can always utilize more screen real estate for their work. It would be a smart move for Apple indeed to re-release it.
LikeLike
Last year I broke down and bought my forth 17″ Apple notebook. It was a used 2011 17″ Macbook Pro to replace my aging 17″ MBP from 2007. With 16GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD, it was a well needed upgrade, and it will tie me over until Apple hopefully comes to their senses and release a new one. However, now that Apple Care has run out, I live in constant fear that something will happen to it. Apple, please bring back the 17″! A 15″ display is not a replacement for a 17″! With today’s technology you could make it so light and slim that it wouldn’t even resemble the old 17″ Macbook Pro’s and Powerbooks of the past. The weight was the only drawback of these wonderful machines. Now is the right time to bring them back!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It was time to reintroduce it the moment it was discontinued.
LikeLike
Anyway, I drew some lenormand cards.
Bear (15), Scythe (10), Moon (32).
Hang fire to the cost, it is recognised as needed in the world.
If I am right: You guys are crowdfunding my new 17″ Macbook Pro.😉
LikeLike
I want one.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’d buy one in a heartbeat!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I would also buy a 17-inch MB Pro or Air. The size of the screen being the most important factor! Not the price.
LikeLiked by 1 person
How I long to have another 17″ MBP. It was a tank and the first apple product I ever bought. It went to laptop heaven last month after my wife threw it at me. Italian women….. I’m still holding off on buying anything else for a few more months just in case apple comes back to their senses and wants to keep user like me happy. 15″ is just too small for an old guy like me to play my games and multiple apps on the same screen.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I used to upgrade my Macbook Pro every 1,5 year. Now I own the latest 17″ for over… what is it… four years or so? SSD instead of optical, maxed out RAM etc. Because I just don’t like to ‘upgrade’ to a smaller screen. Retina would come in handy though, Yosemite looks horrible on non-retina displays, and my clients have higher resolution screens than I have. Looking at Apple’s record-breaking profit of the last quarter and their revenue for mac sales also increasing substantially, there’s no reason to leave longtime pro users who like to be mobile out in the cold.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Just managed to upgrade my Early 2011 17″ with a 2T hard drive and 16G of RAM – replacing my full 1T HD & 8G ram…. am soooo happy! Was sick about being out of warranty with a nearly full HD. An external drive would defeat the whole purpose.
I like you used to upgrade every 2-3 years as well. The difference is that I have always had hi-res monitors on mine – even on my 17″ non – intel MacBook Pro that is still going strong for my non intel apps. Why not add a Hi-Res monitor to yours – they did make them – would think you would be able to find one.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Absolute need for a 17 inch Macbook Pro for photos and video! My workhorse is still the 17 inch Macbook Pro late 2009. The 15 inch is far too small for photo sorting and editing.
I love the idea of the 5K iMac, but unfortunately it isn’t portable and I can’t do photo work on location or on the go with it – which accounts for over 75% of my work.
Hopefully Apple will listen to our needs and make another one. I might have to switch to the Dell M3800 upgrade instead this year, which I would hate to do, but if there is not 17 inch Macbook Pro this year – I will have to.
LikeLike
I think you mean the Dell M6800. I’m in the same “boat” you are, and considering the same change. I’m very frustrated with Apple this time around. (Particularly seeing as I’ve had to replace the logic board at my cost ($644 each) in my Late 2011 MBP 17″ twice in the past 14 months.)
They’ve completely left “the professionals” out in the cold, and have been focusing solely on consumers.
I’ve been holding off for the rumored Broadwell-based (Intel 5th gen) M6900 that’ll hopefully arrive later this spring. But now my H, J, & K keys have stopped working, so I have to use an external keyboard. There’s no way I’m taking this back to the Apple store *again*. I’ve paid enough Apple Tax for a lifetime….
LikeLike
I’m in for two! Please, please, please!!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Those of us that work and travel and need all in one place prefer a 17in screen – retina display would be awesome thank you. Its time.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ben.
Have you heard any rumours of the 17″ yet?
LikeLike
Sadly not
LikeLike
It needs to be back before christmas.
LikeLike
I’ve been waiting to upgrade my late 2011 17″ (I DON’T WANT TO USE A 15!!!)
LikeLike
yes, me too, I have exactly the same configuration, I even bought a spare one, just in case of any failure. I am also looking to find a way to upgrade the display with a better one. If apple is not making a nice 17′ laptop soon, They will push me to purchase my first PC in 32 years of macs
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m with you. I’d had 4 consecutive 17″ Macbook Pro’s over the lifetime of the product line. I’m a designer, I run both Windows and Mac products and I need the screen real estate. I am now forced to work on a Dell 17″ that supposedly has a Mac-look. But I just hate it with a passion. I would LOVE to pay through the nose just to have another up to date 17″ MBP. It was and still is in my opinion and unparalleled mobile desktop experience.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have 2 of them from 2010, both with dual SSDs and maxed RAM. Replaced the batteries last year, just holding out until they make a new one. It’s time to bring back physical screen size. The iPhone 6 Plus barely fits in a pocket let’s quit kidding ourselves. No way I’ll ever upgrade to 15″ screens.
LikeLike
Yes, with phone screens becoming ever larger, and now that technology can make phones, tablets and laptops that are both large AND light, it’s crazy that Apple no longer offers a 17″ Macbook Pro. It makes no sense that iPhones (iPhone 6 Plus) and iPads (rumored 12.9″ iPad Pro) are getting bigger, while laptops are getting smaller. A 17″ Macbook Pro with today’s design and technology, would be such an amazing machine. I would even prefer it if they made a 18.4″.
Since I don’t want a 15″ laptop, I’m still holing on to my maxed out 2011 Macbook Pro. But I’m really hoping that Apple introduces a larger one soon! Even if it won’t be their best seller, there’s no way that there’s no market for a 17″ Macbook Pro. But I guess it’s better to sell gold watches for $10K than giving loyal and mobile professional Mac users a proper work machine.
LikeLike
Apple turning their backs of the very creatives that brought them the status game will be their demise.
LikeLike
I have been disappointed with Microsoft for at least 10 years now. I have been meaning to switch to Mac, but either was afraid, or couldn’t afford it. Now, my laptop, yes 17″, is crap because of Microsoft. So what do I get when I’m ready to get a Mac, they discontinue the 17″. I never get a break with computers!
LikeLike
Try a used/refurbished and add ram and a 2T hard drive – just make sure that you are buying an ‘intel’ 17″ or you will be buying something too old to work with current programs…. I have an early 2011 that I just upgraded – still a wonderful machine! Link to Amazon 17″s http://tinyurl.com/kdg7cuc
LikeLike
Forgot to mention – I have a Hi-Res – matte monitor – think I saw one on the link I just posted.
LikeLike
Apple just does not get it .. I need the real estate for work and it makes a huge difference for impromptu presentations which actually give Apple more free advertising and exposure. I would consider a bigger than 17 inch laptop as well if it was portable. Please dont push a mini laptop at me because I *will* eventually move back to a windows only 17″ laptop or find a way to make a 17+ inch hackentosh pro. If I have to move away from Mac then my iPhone’s/iPad’s in my business will follow. The competitors are catching up .. smaller is not always better.
LikeLike
Apple if forgetting who the core customer is/was who built the company it is today.
forget consumer and bring back the appreciation of the professional PLEASE….
I had to defended apple to everyone back in the 90’s+, and for thanks, apple doesn’t give a crap for my professional needs.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I was really hoping that WWDC 2015 was going to have a surprise MBP announcement. If there’s anyone who loves more screen real estate it’s developers. Sadly, it looks like 17″ MBP users are still out of luck.
I bought my MBP maxed out with the fattest i7 proc (which still works well) and 512G SSD (which was a $1400 option at the time) but it’s now rendered almost unusable by an 8GB memory limit. The demands of running Yosemite alone are giving me extended pinwheel-of-wait much less running Parallels at the same time to use the PC applications that I’m forced to run.
I cannot believe that I’m very seriously considering shelling out $2500+ for a used 4 year old 17″ MBP off eBay just to have a workable laptop with 16Gb RAM, SSD, and Thunderbolt. The only other choice is to abandon Apple and buy a top-of-the-line, brand new, Windows 8.1 (yuk) notebook with all the latest features for up to $500 less.
I can’t believe that Apple continues to miss out on what is obviously a hugely unserved segment of their loyal customer base.
LikeLike
Yeah, 16GB is nice (even nicer with my 2TB of SSD storage). You can probably bring in that spec yourself for less than $2500 if you shop around.
LikeLike
I am in the same boat. I have the 2011 i7 17″ MacBook Pro and would hate to have to look to a Windows machine HackinTosh or go backwards to a 15″ screen.
The one thing I have not seen in all of these comments is the suggestion to flood the Apple feedback page with requests. It doesn’t have to be any long drawn out diatribe, just a simple “Please bring back the 17″ MacBook Pro!!” or a link to this and other articles like it.
If, instead of commenting on sites like this, everybody went to the feedback page as often as they could and just submitted the same request over and over, Apple might just get the message. It’s worth a try!
LikeLiked by 2 people
I could not agree more. I know many audio visual pros who would love a 17 inch MAC with ALL the latest bells and whistles including connectivity, 32 gb ram, SSDs, Thunderbolt 2, and the fastest i7 they could stick in it. A not for college kids beast. There is a huge pent up demand, just like there was a huge demand for the the big new IPhone. At 3 to 4 thousand a pop, that seems like it would be worthy of serious consideration.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Retweet me this then: https://twitter.com/funkydata/status/631062218805633024
Maybe the fact that Lenovo is heading in that direction will spur Apple to bring back the king of laptops back?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Please RAID 0 the 2 SSDs together! This build would be so much better with RAID 0
LikeLike
Couldn’t agree more! My 17 inch MBP just broke down and needs a £1000+ fix which I’m going to pay as there is no alternative! Screen size is everything for me in the design industry!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I wish I could’ve had one, I went with 15 inch coming from a macbook white(thinking that in 5 years I’d get the 17 if necessary)😦
LikeLike
Apple, I don´t buy a Notebook which has just 15″. I am Waiting for new 17″ Model. I am also waiting for Aperture to be continued. Photos-Application is really not the Same. Yes and I know some People thinking the same. I think Apple needs such a Professional foundation in background. I don´t want just standard Products, if I buy an Apple, I really want more !
I mean Hardware-Design at topmost Level… Professional Software… at all: Products that I can rely on. This is best for our Planet.
I think many People want Apple to be not just standard… We want a manufacturer that has specialized in quality !
Come on, goe the other Way than nearby all others go. Be strong.
LikeLike
Yes. Count me in on this, please. I also have an early 2009 with maximum RAM and about 2TB SSDs using the the OWC Data Doubler. No valid alternatives at present day. It may be a niche market, but it is an *important* market, made of influencers and tech savvy guys. Do not dump the tech guys, Apple.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Come on Apple- I want to upgrade my current 17″
LikeLike
Apple are you listening to our pleas!!!
what am I going to do?!
please please please a new Mac Book Pro 17inch
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am with you. I need a new Laptop but I am unwilling to give up my 17inch Mac.
LikeLiked by 1 person
As many other users were, I was stunned and disappointed when Apple discontinued the 17″ but I understand why they made that decision. After 4 years mine is now getting beat up. I want a brand new one, with Retina display! C’mon Apple!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Keep trying to make my MacBook Pro (17-inch, Mid 2010) last longer .. upgraded the HD to SSD and I wish it would take 16GB of RAM but seem stuck with 8GB. Every once in a while I poke Apple about bringing it back and send them a link to this page to show everyone else’s interest .. Maybe we need to poke them more frequently.. laptops are getting smaller and iPads are getting larger? seriously? If they made a 21 inch laptop I would probably consider buying one🙂 but I would be so happy to see availability for the 17 inch again .. retina or not
LikeLike
21-inch is probably pushing it on the bag front, but Apple could sell me a 19-inch …
LikeLike
Same here, my 2011 mbp 17″ just got one last on warranty gpu replacement & i threw in a new lcd panel. So i’m likely golden for another few years, but what then? I really don’t fancy paying more than two grad for a 15″ rmbp…
LikeLike
Still Rocking my 2011 17″ – BTO 2.5Ghz, Matte, 16GB, SSD’s, and even USB 3.0 via OS X supported Expresscard/34. Would really like to buy an upgrade from Apple – but they offer nothing comparable. Screen real-estate is everything. The 15″ is only about 60% of the screen, and that’s too much to give up. Just had the dreaded graphics card meltdown fix done by Apple, so I’ll be good for a while yet. But please make a new 17″ Apple…I’ll pay.🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
As it is getting more and more improbable for Apple to make a 17 inch retina laptop (unless we get, at some distant point point, something totally new, like foldable screes or whatever) I think it is time to think what would be, right now, our dream machine’s closest rival from the PC world in power and portability – and buy that. Building a Hackintosh is easy and running it is good enough (for me.) What would you consider the PC with specs as close as possible to a 17 inch retina Macbook pro?
LikeLike
OK, we’ve been very patient on this one. How about now? My 2010 17″ MBP is starting to stutter even with the SSD…
LikeLike
Sadly, I think the best we can hope for by this stage is a 16-inch MBP in a 15-inch form factor via smaller bezels …
LikeLike
Following the current trend in mobile phones (bigger screens hd,4k etc.), Apple should reintroduce the 17 inch model NOW!!! I am talking about 4k screen (at least), 1 TB SSD, 32GB RAM, and the best processor around!!
LikeLike
I’ve owned two 17″ MBPs. I’m ready for another!
LikeLike
Me too – still have two working one pre-intel – use them with a 28″ external monitor when not traveling – even 17″ is not enough when I am working.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I just emailed tim cook, with a link to this forum. Please email him, so he can see the demand to bring this product back with retina, solid state, and latest intel processors.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Just like smartphone customers, there is a significant percentage of people who want larger screens on their notebook.
LikeLike
What a great idea – thank you Raphael!
This from Googling:
‘Like Steve Jobs, Tim Cook’s email (tcook@apple.com) is public and there are multiple stories of him responding to those who email him. During his 2013 address at Auburn University, Cook commented that: “I receive hundreds of e-mails from customers every day, and I read them all.”’
LikeLike
I’d buy one, too. Maybe something up to 19″? Will cost a lot but would be worth it.
LikeLiked by 2 people