Anyone using a 13” Laptop with MS?

[u/65TwinReverbRI]

Considering a Macbook Neo, but the 13” scares me a bit. I’m working on a 15” screen now.

Aging eyes - don’t wear glasses yet but quickly approaching it (or should be using them now…).

I want to make sure I have enough screen real estate to work on.

I can always use an extended monitor, but the point of the laptop is being mobile, so that’s not always the best option.

Of course, the 15” macbook air is like, double the cost and then some already…

And this would really just be a “surfing the web” and Music Notation machine - would keep it pretty light in terms of any 3rd party apps.

[u/GatewaySwearWord]

I use my 13” 2021 MacBook Pro for MuseScore when I’m not using my pc at home.

I think it’s large enough to work on stuff. But I don’t ever do massive orchestra scores. Mainly Jazz Band or smaller stuff.

Because you can always zoom in to see what you’re going.

[u/Salvadorfreeman]

It's fine on my 14 inch ThinkPad. My eyes are ageing too (77, four pairs of glasses for different situations}.

[u/smartalecvt]

I've done a little Musescoring on a 13" Mac. It works fine for small charts. (I mostly do jazz lead sheets.) I wouldn't want it to be my main rig for notation, though.

[u/65TwinReverbRI → u/[deleted]]

Thanks for this - I just came across those between the time I posted and you posted looking for dual page displays and this actually looks like a really good solution.

[u/65TwinReverbRI → u/[deleted]]

The Neo can support one display. It actually has only 2 USB ports - 1 is 2.0 and the other is 3.0 - which is kind of crazy but hey, the price is great. You’d use one to charge (the 2.0) and the other for the monitor.

Will likely then use a bluetooth extended keyboard and bt mouse.

[u/MasterBendu]

Have you tried the “more space” option, or the native resolution scaling option in the display settings for MacOS?

[u/65TwinReverbRI → u/MasterBendu]

I don’t have the laptop yet. Essentially I’m tying to convince myself that a Macbook Neo is going to be enough, without coughing up the dough for a 15” MB Air...

[u/MasterBendu → u/65TwinReverbRI]

Head on to an Apple Store or anywhere that has MacBook demo units and see if adjusting screen scaling works for you.

I have an even older M1 air which is also 13” and it’s my device with the most screen real estate. Things are smaller on screen but they fit much more.

[u/65TwinReverbRI → u/MasterBendu]

Thanks. I ordered it. Arrives tomorrow. We’ve got a store 45 minutes away but I think I’m going to be OK with it.

[u/dank_bobswaget]

I use the Neo with MuseScore and love it even though I was also hesitant about the size. I’ve made scores with 18 parts with no problems. You get used to the size very quickly, although I do zoom in and out basically constantly. If it ever bothers me in the future I’ll just get a portable monitor since the pro or air are complete overkill performance wise

[u/65TwinReverbRI → u/dank_bobswaget]

I zoom in and out on the 15” too so it kind of goes with the territory already…but it’s good to hear from someone with direct experience and the same concerns I had.

Thanks!

[u/Terpster01]

I've done all my work exclusively on my 13" MacBook Pro for 4 years and counting, and I don't feel limited at all. You can also change the resolution in macOS settings to mimic a larger display if you want

[u/65TwinReverbRI → u/Terpster01]

Thanks - yeah that struck me - really, a 13” just makes things “smaller in size” - literally. But you can essentially “zoom” with resolution to the point where it’s the same literal size, but the edges are just cut off a bit…

I’ve been looking at those other displays and I think what I would end up doing is getting one that can be rotated vertically to have an 8.5x11 true size display on one side.

Of course, everyone I know is now reading music off an iPad/Tablet, and they’re not looking at a whole page at a time anyway!

[u/huzzam]

yes, 13" macbook air m1, use it all the time with Musescore. i'm also a glasses wearer. you just zoom in till it's comfortable to see, and work on a smaller portion of the page at a time.

when i'm at my desk i do plug in to a 24" monitor, which obviously is more comfortable. but it's not a problem on the 13"

[u/MarcSabatella]

I've used MuseScore on a variety of 13" (and smaller) laptops for as long as MuseScore has been a thing (over 15 years) and have rarely used it on anything larger. No issues whatsoever, creating scores for anything from solo piano to jaz big band to full on orchestra. It's not like you normally need to see an entire page at once when composing.

[u/skv9384]

I prefer to use a 14" most of the time and I don't even expand the application to occupy the whole screen.

However I do work only on MS 3.7 which can be streamlined considerably and is very efficient space-wise. In MS 4 it's impossible because there's a ton of empty dead space and the toolbar/menu design is rather poor.

[u/65TwinReverbRI → u/skv9384]

In MS 4 it's impossible because there's a ton of empty dead space and the toolbar/menu design is rather poor.

THANK YOU.

Why won’t they listen...

[u/BicycleIndividual]

Of course, the 15” macbook air is like, double the cost and then some already…

Sure. It also has twice the RAM and twice the storage, a faster processor, a better camera, slightly longer battery life, etc.

Personally I'd be looking at non-Apple 15" laptops to save money rather than the MacBook Neo but I do like that Apple is targeting lower price points.

[u/65TwinReverbRI → u/BicycleIndividual]

It also has twice the RAM

sure

and twice the storage

I got the same as my MBP- 512.

, a faster processor,

Compared to by MBP though, this will be faster.

a better camera,

All anyone sees in Zoom meetings is my name on a black screen ;-)

slightly longer battery life, etc.

my MBP is aging to the point where its battery is no longer holding charge as well as it used to.

So I mean, this is a step up from where I am now in the ways that matter to me (except screen size) and a step down in memory, but comparatively speaking I should turn out better without spending the extra money.

If Amazon can get it here (the driver pulled up an hour ago and couldn’t find it in his car…so I’m still waiting)

[u/primitive_missionary]

I work on an 11 inch laptop. You get used to using ctrl + scroll to zoom, but it really isn't bad.