MBP + Windows only?

Just curious, I don't see why it wouldn't work but was wondering if anyone has ever thought or tried it If you get a new hard drive or format your old one, can you just install Windows (any version) and run it straight up? Thanks for indulging my random thoughts

 

I'm not well-informed on this topic, but BootCamp is merely an installer that guides the user through the process of creating a dual-boot system. So yes, I think you can install just Windows on a Mac.

 

Yes, it's possible. Format the hdd, and then boot off the windows setup dvd. You will be able to install windows without any issue. But i don't see the purpose of buying a $2000 macbook pro and install crappy windows on it. There's no point in doing so. We, programmers need windows, that's why we either virtualise or use bootcamp.

 

First, you have to boot up with the OS X install disc. Go to Disk Utility, and under your partition, I believe you click Partition. You have to change the partition map scheme from GUID Partition to Master Boot Record. After that, it should work. When you boot up and hold down ALT (option), it will just show Windows as the boot partition.
You can only run XP or Vista though, as you'd want to manually install the drivers from the OS X disc, and that's all that's available at the moment AFAIK.
I don't recommend doing it, but I just wanted to show it's possible. I ran an Ubuntu only partition for a little while, so I'm sure you could with windows as well. Your battery life will suffer though, so if that's important to you, I wouldn't do it.

 

Agreed! Would not say that Windows is crappy though

cheers ...

 

If I ever buy a macbook, i would definetly strip MacOS and run Windows instead because I'm more familiar with it. If I have to use OSX for some reason, I would virtualize OSX on vmware.

 

f.y.i.,you cant do that... also,have you even tried mac os?

 

I've had OSX on my windows netbook for a short period of time to test it out. It's against the forum rules to talk about how to do that, but it can be easily done both in vmware and dualboot.

I've used OSX for quite a while for audio workstations and video editing. For some reason, I just can't get used to OSX and still finds windows' interface much easier to navigate and more logical in my opinion.

 

I'm sorry, i let go of myself. I'm currently having some random lockups on my macbook pro and also some audio crackling when scrolling down web pages. I tried everything from updating drivers to changing web browser but i've had no success. I know everything is ok with my laptop because os x runs FINE. I have exams and thus cannot afford to lose time formatting my laptop and installing vista from scratch. I'll do this when exams are over at uni.

 

There are some low-level compatibility issues, and drivers from the Boot Camp discs don't provide rock-solid (or as rock-solid as other machines in the same bracket) Windows environment.

Many people who're used to blaming their own ignorance on Windows may attribute the less stable environment on Windows - an inspired move on the part of Apple really - but the fact is, that the Macbook Pros aren't real Windows machines - and I'm not just talking about differences in the key legends.

 

Can you please elaborate why macs are't windows machine? I thought macs are made up of the same components as pc's.

 

Mac doesn't have Bios. The rest are essentially the same. Thus Windows installed from bootcamp isn't true native installation. The exact opposite thing (a very tiny difference) to bootcamp is what allows regular windows based computers to run OSX "natively".

 

Well that was a fun little experiment. I did as I said, use the OS X install disk to reformat and change the boot partition table to Master Boot Record. After that I booted from my XP disc and installed as normal. It booted up fine.
I installed the drivers manually, but never could get ethernet to work (although I installed all the ethernet drivers I could find on the disc ).
I read that you shouldn't install the bootcamp drivers, but I went ahead and ran the installer anyway. It still didn't install the ethernet drivers, but then I had the bootcamp control panel so I could atleast adjust the display brightness down (it was at 100% the whole time). I rebooted, only for XP to hang at the welcome screen for about a minute, then I heard the error chime and it finally got to the desktop, but there were no error dialogs or anything (lol ). So that's it, I reinstalled OS X and here I am.

@jackluo, yes it is a native installation. The EFI is backwards compatible with BIOS, that's how you can install windows in the first place (and linux for that matter).

 

The EFI includes BIOS emulation. Apart from problems resulting from that (and generally speaking it is less reliable than a virtualised Windows in OS X), there are also driver-based (and who knows, maybe the BIOS too) power management issues that makes life as a Windows laptop in Boot camp much less useful than it can be, as well as other - much more minor - well-documented incompatibilities.

Apple has done an amazing job of the marketing. In terms of 'out there', no-one - at least, not in the popular tech press, most of whom are drooling Apple Fanboys in any case - even doubts that it's anything less than a totally native Windows platform if you use Boot Camp. Quite apart from the inadequacy of the hardware itself in many situations, I couldn't use a BC environment for production duties.

 

I use BootCamp (easier than formatting, plus you can just shrink the OSX partition down to like 15GB) and run Windows Vista 80% of the time. The only time I run OSX is to take notes in EverNote while in class because battery life is so much better in OSX.

Otherwise, I need my Steam, so Vista stays on while I'm in my room, and it runs great!

 

I bought a Mac to escape Windows, so why would I want to taint my Mac with it?

I did think about doing a dual boot with Ubuntu but decided against it because I don't need it.

 

+1. Yeah, I was under the impression as well that you buy a Mac to escape Windows and the awful PC world.

 

yet...only god knows why many people install windows on their Macs.

 

Hmm, because there are many programs with no mac equivalent, games, or maybe works requires it. There could be any number of reasons why someone may want/have to run windows.
Yet, only god knows why many people in the mac community are so snotty, and anti-microsoft-anything.

 

Windows installed on a Mac is a normal Windows install, nothing is changed with Windows, and nothing is hacked. Bootcamp is a tool to help install Windows, and it is not even required anymore... the first Intel Macs had problems running Windows before Bootcamp was out because Apple did NOT have the BIOS compatibility feature in the EFI... that is no longer the case. Hacking a version of OSX to run on a non-Mac is quite a bit different than running Windows on a Mac. The problems usually come down to power management. Apple does most of theirs in OSX, so the bare minimum it has in Windows works pretty sad.

 

We hope that Apple would invest more to deliver Windows Driver packs better. It would be great if you share the issues, when you have time, to help others to look for better solutions. Good lucks with the exam.

cheers ...

 

I still have an Xbox 360 for my gaming and I'm far from snotty. I just don't like Windows anymore.

 

Under most cases there are Mac equivalents and pretty good ones for that matter. I think your use of the word snotty is displaced however many "switchers" are slightly on the snotty side refusing to accept that there are great if not better Mac equivalents of the software they've been accustomed to. Once they've gotten used to using specific software in their minds nothing on the Mac side would be satisfactory. IMO, it's really about them being afraid to fully switch.

 

No no, I was talking about the mac community in general, not newcomers. (I'm a newcomer and I like both OS X and Windows, well, and linux too ). I've just found that many in the mac community (macrumors is a good example) seem to be stuck up, snotty, and anti-microsoft just for the sake of being anti-microsoft.
But that's beside the point of this thread.

 

True.same applies to M$-we need better office and msn!

 

don'ot think apple will polish out the bootcamp for windows since it is one of the main reason not having any windows running yet, i will however install windows for games later cuz i have made the switch for productivity softwares.

 

Productivity software as in what kind of software?
Generally, productivity software such as MS office 2007 is better than Mac's alternative, iwork or office 2008.

 

No, you misunderstood me. I know you meant by the Mac community and I think your comment about them "us" is displaced because that type of attitude really goes towards the PC community who favors Windows. They feel they are above anyone using Macs because there's more software available. When they decide to switch they refuse to give any Mac equivalent software that they were using on Windows a chance, instead they just say like you say, it's no good which is one of the reasons why they decide to install Windows on their Mac and that's a poor attitude.

Also be fair, you're making generalizations because of a few people on Mac rumors. The entire MR forum does not make up the "Mac community".

 

I believe you are making generalizations as well

Lets see....

Is that to say the Mac/OS X community does not favor OS X? Of course they do; of course most people favor what they buy, otherwise chances are they wont buy it anyway. If one buys a PS3 over an Xbox 360, which will he favor?

I do?

I was pretty sure that I assumed a neutral stance in the Windows vs Mac OS debate due to the fact that everyone has different needs and preferences. I dont need OS X, but many other people do.

Then um...why/how do they switch?

Many who use Windows on a Mac use it because of things that cant done on/with OS X. Usually its due to program compatibility; there are just some programs that arent on OS X that are on Windows, vice versa as well. I know a few people that also must have OS X for a university course as well. Of course other people boot into Windows to game. While its unfortunate, it is undeniable, that Windows has better game support. OS X does have games yes, but not all games are made to run on OS X.

I think you get my point by now; both of you are making generalizations. Each OS has its supremacists, but they do not make make up the whole community respective to that OS.

 

Not just macrumors, it's everywhere.

 

aren't we getting a bit off topic?

 

Yes, we were supposed to discuss about running Only Windows on a mac. Mods, please close this thread. The user got his answer in the previous posts.

 

To address the original question, I would think buying a MBP to run Windows exclusively would be a waste of money. The MBP is a very expensive laptop, one of the more expensive laptops you can buy, short of a few botique models intended for high end gaming.

I won't even address whether or not the MBP is a good value for the money, that's personal opinion, but there's no question that Macs generally cost more than their comparably specced PC counterparts, often considerably more. What you get for the extra money is better aesthetics (again, a matter of opinion) and the ability to run OSX. If you choose not to take advantage of that, you're really wasting your money, and would be better served with a decent PC from a quality manufacturer.

Not to engage in the OSX vs Windows debate, as I use and enjoy both OS, but you buy a Mac to use OSX, there's really not much logical reason to buy one otherwise, they're not great computers from a "hardware for the money" perspective. If you want to run Windows only, you can pick up a great laptop for far less than $2-3000. Faster processor, more RAM, bigger/faster HD, better video card, higher resolution screen. You can buy a low end laptop for a little more than 1/10 the price of a MBP that'll do more than 95% of computer users will ever need (word processing, internet and email, casual photo/video editing).

Buying a MBP to run Windows exclusively would be like buying a Humvee to drive kids to soccer practice, or a Corvette to patrol a parking lot...wait, this is America, LOTS of us do that, haha.

 

Haven't read the whole thread but my 2 cents: Yes it is possible but I wouldn't do it.

2 reasons:
-battery life isn't as good as in OS X.
-touchpad driver isn't as good as in OS X. (last time I checked)

 

Hey guys,

My cousin has a macbook pro 15" and it has impressed me enough to consider buying on. She doesn't want me to test out her macbook too much so I thought it would be wise to ask your guru's. Once windows is installed on a macbook pro is it like normal dual booting on a pc (ubuntu/xp dualboot for instance)? I am planning on using some performance intensive apps on windows (3ds max) so I need the macbook to not suffer performance losses when I'm in windows. Thanks

 

yes.. it boots into Windows just like any other PC does... the only performance loss might be in driver problems, and don't expect many driver updates.

 

Sweet! Will prob do Windows 7 + OS x. OS x updates are free right? Lifetime updates for your version of the OS (version 10 atm I think?!)? How often is a new version of mac OS released?

 

Oh no I just saw that OS X 10.6 is coming out and it requires an additional purchase!! Anyone know when this is releasing? Would save me some money if I can buy a new macbook pro with this already on. Thanks

 

You're hijacking this thread, your post has nothing to do with the forum topic or the flow of the thread.

 

Windows 7 isn't officially supported with Bootcamp drivers, and there might be issues until it is. Don't expect it to be supported until after its officially released.

Mac OS X doesn't use normal versioning numbers. they wanted to call it X for Unix, but it was also after OS9 and X is 10 as a roman numeral. They have kept the 10 for the X and haven't changed it, even though new versions. OSX 10.5 to 10.6 is a new OS version, not just an update. updates are a second set of numbers which are free like OSX 10.5.0 to 10.5.7 were all free updates for OSX 10.5

Thats how they do it, but I think its a really stupid way to number things, they need to just keep OSX and just go with 11 and 12 and 13.. etc... and get over themselves.

 

Sorry for hijacking the thread...and thanks for the info people