It depends what you need to use it for and how large a screen you need. The 17 inch is pretty big to carry around; my main computer is a 15-inch MacBook Pro which does everything I need. My daughter does well with a 13 inch MacBook (about $1000). If I was looking for something very portable, I would consider a MacBook Air (if I didn't need a disc drive). What are you planning on using it for?