How is Windows 7 on the 15 in MBP core i5???

Is anyone running Windows 7 via Bootcamp (not virtualized) on the new 15inch MBP with the core i5?

• How is the performance?
• How is the battery life?
• Any driver issues or other problems of note?
• Does the new MBP still run at 1 million degrees in Windows 7?

I am debating buying the new 15inch MBP core i5 or the Sony Vaio Z for a development laptop to run Windows 7. If the new MBP runs Windows 7 very nicely then I might go with it over the Sony Vaio Z.

Thanks!

 

Don't be ridiculous. If you are planning to use Windows exclusively or at least most of the time, Vaio Z will you a lot more performance, driver support and value.

 

+1

10char

 

Yes, well while I expected the "you shouldn't run windows on a mac" responses, I am running Windows 7 on a circa 2008 MBP and am quite happy with it.

So while I appreciate the opinion that I shouldn't run windows on a mac, I would really like to know the answers to my questions from those who do.

 

1. Performance should be as good as a similar spec'd notebook
2. Battery will be worse in windows since there is no auto switching between the IGP and discrete card
3. There shouldn't be any driver issues; or at least I didn't come across any when I used windows on my previous late '08 umbp
4. It will run hotter in windows due to the discrete graphics card being used and in my past experience, the fan control in windows was never very good and there is no way of adjusting the fan speed in windows.

 

Ah, thanks for the info.

I didn't realize the discrete graphics switching didn't work in Windows. Sucko.

 

this. 10char

 

I know the subject was discussed few times before, yet it never ceases to amaze me how people complain about MBP/W7.

I deleted mac os partition over 3 months ago, and never looked back. My wife has the same MBP13 still running OS X, so I was able to do some comparison temperature/battery wise. They are both more the less equal, maybe with a slight advantage(around 10%) for os x.

Windows 7 is extremely stable, and with bootcamp drivers 3.2 update, touchpad works great. Drivers are ALL there, I don't know what do you mean by drivers support. It behaves like a PC and aside from logo on the lid you'd never guess otherwise.

(Granted that with graphics card running on 15/17 there will be a battery hit, nonetheless it's still a good machine)

 

um...about the touchpad...do you actually get any of the multi-touch gestures?

 

3.2?was this recently released? I know i got the 3.1 which updated the trackpad drivers making it more usable. I havent used bootcamp since..What's new in 3.2? The reason your running w7 fine on your mac is that you have the igp which generates less heat and consumes less power. Still, i believe your gpu temp is in the 60's degrees centigrade? Users have reported these kinds of temps here, using the mbp13. you cannot switch off your keyboard at night.

@OP: If you're seriously considering buying a mbp to run w7, then i suggest downloading lubbo fan control which you can use to decrease the threshold temperature at which the fans kick in. It's 80c by default.

@Generic_User_#2: Only 2 fingers scrolling is available. I havent tried pinch to zoom etc but i dont think it will work. ctrl+2fingers up worked though.

 

how about the three- and four finger gestures?

what does ctrl+2fingers up do? do you need to hold ctrl to two-finger scroll?

also, what kinda touchpad is it? i don't figure its a synaptics.

 

just checked it out. multitouch is disabled. you cant pinch to zoom etc. ctrl+2fingers up increases font size while browsing the web just like ctrl+scroll up. no need to hold ctrl for 2 finger scroll. The touchpad is apple custom made.

 

Okay that means you just spent an extra 800 dollars for a low performance windows 7 laptop with a average battery life. Congrats. Must be great having so much disposable income.

 

That's the truth, whether or not your first reaction is 'trolling post'.

 

I have to agree.

don't buy a Mac if you plan on running primarily in Windows OS. unless you just want the Mac look. but that's not worth $800, people.

think, friends.

 

what do you mean extra 800??? I paid 1099 plus free ipod touch for my mbp 13. Find me a 299 dollars 13inch laptop with similar specs.

You guys are stuck on that idea of "apple tax" too much. Granted it might be slightly more expensive, but you're paying for aluminium unibody construction (any examples of similar build quality? - and don't say HP Envy), largest touchpad yet and many subtle details. In my opinion it's totally worth few extra bucks.

 

Do your math Meever before you start trolling. MBP13 costed me 1099plus free ipod touch, how is that +800 premium? Unless there's a nice 13inch laptop with similar specs for $299...

 

Good point although I still like OS X.
What benefits of Win7 made you prefer it?

 

the hell? when did we start talking about 13" laptops?

*checks thread title*

yep. 15" laptop discussion. would you like me to find you a 15" laptop with similar specs for $1,000? or can you handle that search on your own?

it's not "a few bucks". "a few bucks" is just that. $50. $100. we're talking about several hundred dollars. that's a second 15" Asus laptop. that's a loaded out iPad. that's a massive SSD. so if you're going to consider a Mac, you better have damn good justification for it, otherwise, you look like a tool.

get a Mac because you want/need OSX. the form-factor alone doesn't justify several hundred dollars higher price. but running the apps you want/need do. getting a Mac to run windows is...stupid, to be perfectly honest.

 

Both own a mac and VAIO Z for a while, I still prefer a VAIO Z over a MBP because the VAIO Z run win 7 , better screen under lighting condition, and it has an ssd. With of that reasons, I think it is more than enough to justify the price differences.

 

Is the performance of windows 7 bootcamp that much better than inside a VM, let's say Parallels? For instance, is the HDD access much slower? I would think that at this day and age it should be very close.

Thx

 

bootcamp doesn't run windows 7... it lets you install windows 7.... once its installed an you boot directly into it, its running directly on the hardware just like a "PC"

A VM will not get even close to as good performance. Now some programs are very simple, and do not need the full performance, and will run just fine in a VM. Its not hard disk performance... its CPU and GPU performance mainly... but hard drive and memory performance is lessened some too.

 

Awesome information, thank you! I really appreciate the perspective from someone who has both. I think I will end up just spending the extra $$$ to get the VAIO Z. From all of the research I have done, the VAIO Z will run cooler, have better battery life, has better specs overall and SSD performance.