Joho the Blog
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I did the switch from a Vaio subnotebook, which was ideal for airplane travel, to a 15" Mac Book Pro earlier this year. My *single* regret is that I've lost the ability to work comfortably in coach.

I have to tummy type even with the MacBook in coach on most airlines.

David,

The normal Macbook isn't exactly shy of power. No, it doesn't have as good of a video card, but a Core 2 Duo, 2g of RAM and a 120G drive in a very compact package is awfully nice (says the man typing on one). It feels very solid, the screen is great. The keyboard takes some getting used to coming from Thinkpads (I had a T42 before this), so make sure you play with one for a bit.

Since you can't change form factor I'd think long and hard before get a Pro - there's no point to lots of power if it's annoying to use.

The regular macbook is probably fine; it has fewer pixels on the screen, but speedwise, it's very nearly as fast as a pro. Given the better size, I would almost certainly prefer a regular macbook.

The one big advantage a pro has is the new PCI expansion card that can be used for a high-speed broadband wireless card.

I've been carrying 15" Pros for about 6 years now, on many many trips including long ocean-crossing slogs... and despite similar reservations about the size, having come from several years and models of Vaio. Had a Titanium and now an Aluminum - about to upgrade again. It's become absolutely essential, the one gadget without which I would truly be handicapped and my life less pleasant and productive. In fact, it's become my "one true box for everything." I don't even use a desktop any more, though I do have a mini at home and at work --- I use them for running "static" or passive apps, i.e. media stuff, storage, networking and server things.

It's also coloured my attitude about Web apps --- many kinds of Web-available app really only solve the problem of needing to access the app / data from multiple machines. As such, those kinds of Web app are often far less compelling when you have a truly capable desktop-replacement that you take literally everywhere. A smaller Pro or MacBook wouldn't be measure up on that front, for me at least. And I'm a small guy, so a 17" would look like a real-life parody of that Mac commercial a few years back... :-)

The solution to the airplane problem is simple: fly business class. ;-) Seriously, you can use it in coach --- but why would you want to? You'll be more productive and comfortable in business class anyway. And if the use-in-coach is the only thing hanging you up on the 15" Pro, the advantages far outweight the disadvantages...

I mostly fly on Southwest Airlines and I have had no problems using my MacBook Pro at all. The MacBook Pro takes up the entire tray table but it fits comfortably, even if your front neighbor decides to recline.

On smaller, regional aircraft like the Dash 8
you'll have trouble even using a MacBook.

On United and American Airlines, the coach seats are usually so uncomfortable and the seat pitch so bad that I don't even think about taking out my laptop. On a recent trip to Brazil on American Airlines my back hurt for a week but at least the crew was awesome. :-)

I use a MacBookPro on coach all the time. Benefits:

- screen is wide but not that tall

- hinge is below the top so it hinges *down*

- the big area in front of the keyboard means that typing off the table tray ("tummy type"?) isn't that bad, if you have to resort to that

The net out is that it fits a lot better than you would think; I haven't had to resort to working with the tray up for a while, except when the person in front of me is fully reclined. And in those cases no laptop is small enough!

The "instant on" and "instant sleep" way that macs handle sleep mode is also great in the travel situation.

I made the switch over two years ago
The Mac screen overcomes some of the problems - but I would not go back. I've also dropped the beast three times from a height and it is still going strong.

You do need a bulkhead or exit row seat if in economy though.

I usually take my iBook when traveling, but on at least one recent trip I took the MBP and managed OK. With the amount of traveling you do, and for the traveling only, I'd guess the MB would do OK. But I doubt you'd be stymied either way.

I know you asked about Macs but the Sony Vaio subnotebook series is the best travel computer I've ever had. It particularly behaves well on planes and has good battery life.

I've been flying with my souped-up plain-old MacBook for about 16 months now, and it does the trick. Keep an extra monitor (17-19" LCD) on your desk, and pop 2 GB of RAM in it, and you've got yourself an ever-so-slightly slowed down MacBook pro.

I rarely use my MBP on a plane because of the tummy typing problem. It's just not comfortable at all.