A17in laptop?

DO I REALLY NEED...

What does it do?

Popular a decade ago, 17in laptops offered screen space approaching that of a desktop monitor. But as users grew accustomed to compact computers that they could carry everywhere, the practical benefit of fitting more work into the display was outweighed by the inconvenience of a bigger and heavier device. Although a few models remained, the end of the 17in era was marked when Apple discontinued its 17in Macbook Pro in 2012, to the chagrin of graphic designers. At January’s CES 2019 tech show in Las Vegas, however, a 17in comeback was in evidence.

Why would I want it?

With a 17in gaming colossus like the Acer Predator Triton 900, Dell’s Alienware Area-51m or Asus’s ROG Mothership, all announced at CES, you can get full desktop specs in a sortof-portable chassis. The Alienware m17 and Asus ROG Zephyrus S GX701 are closer to normal laptop size, though, while Lenovo’s Legion Y740 will offer only slightly less impressive performance under 3kg g and £2,000. LG’S Gram 17 (pictured) promises an i7 system weighing just 1.3kg for around £1,700.

What’s the catch?

Those top-end gaming laptops will strain your wallet as well as your arms, with prices climbing steeply from around £2,500. As for battery life, expect less than an hour. Even less ambitious models aren’t looking cheap, but if bigger screens catch on again, prices should fall. And if you’re not cramming in a massive graphics card and cooling fans, there should be room for plenty of battery: LG quotes over 19 hours for the Gram 17.

So can I do without it?

Today’s sharper screens can fit as much detail into less space. But if you prefer not to squint at tiny text and icons, a new-generation 17in could be ideal.