MBP 13" - Windows 7 and Key Shortcuts

So I'm in need of a new notebook, and I'm thinking about trying out Apple for once. But the funny thing is that because of work I plan to run Windows 7 x64 almost exclusively on the MBP.

Before you think "no point in getting a Mac" or something, I've thought this out.

But what I can't figure out...is how to you install Windows 7 x64. I've read that x64 doesn't have driver support and/or there are problems with x64 and EFI. I also can't figure out how I would go 'Home' or a 'Page Up' or a 'Page Down' or to the 'End' from within Windows 7. 'Delete' and 'Backspace' are a concern too, but I seem to have found out how to do that already. I live by these keys (yes, I'm a PC ) and I need them.

Anyway, this is just one of about three notebooks I am considering at this point so thanks for helping me out.

 

firstly i must point you to this thread here..

I personally haven't installed w7 x64, but one thing i'm sure is that it is compatible(i read that from the forums)...just launch bootcamp assistant, install w7 and then pop in the snow leopard dvd to install the drivers...For end: fn+right arrow For Home: fn+left arrow For page up: fn +up arrow For page down: fn+down arrow Delete is fn+Backspace... for a better guide on the different shortcuts available, go there: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1167


if you are going to run windows exclusively, i would suggest you to buy a windows certified notebook...there are many reasons for that...if you ever get a problem on your windows side, MS will tell you to contact your hardware supplier and you won't receive any help from apple...sad but true...hope this helps you in taking a better decision...Macs are designed for mac os x whereas notebook pc's are designed for windows..

 

I am writing this on my mbp w/ x64 w7 no problems at all-just 2 things
1)battery life is about 10-30% shorter under w7(depends on what you are doing)
2)it gets quite warm if you play games

What I do ATM is run W7 through parrels. This gives me decent battery life, performance(with 4gb ram) and best of both world w/o problems I stated above!

 

yes, using parallels is a good way of conserving battery. Hey, it seems we're one of the rare persons using parallels as most people prefer vmware fusion..i don't know why...

 

I wouldn't worry about support with Windows 7 on a MBP. If I'm calling Apple about a problem, that is because I know it is a hardware problem.

As far as battery life is concerned, a 10% drop is probably okay. 30% though? I'll have to do research on that one.

Big problem with me running W7 on a VM...is that I also need to run XP in a VM in a manner that allows me to access USB devices. Running a VM from within a VM is going to...well...drain battery life more. Its strange, I know, but my choices on laptops right now are limited to ones that I can actually order and get on my desk within a few days. The MBP13 is one of them.

 

I just installed win7 enterprise 32bit and kind of like running vista and xp battery life is shorter in windows than in mac and the mouse drivers are iffy (using 10.6 Snow L bootcamp disc drivers).

I've tried 64bit vista and xp before with the same battery life issues and nothing to really remedy it.
The shorter battery life is consistent when the os is empty vs fully loaded with my software and files.

There's no 64bit driver support off of the osx discs so its up to you to find a way around it.

The 30% decrease in battery life is pretty accurate.

Running at max and minimum settings my meter in windows 7 reads 2hr 50min and 3hr 40min

vs snow leopard i get 3hr 20min and 5 hr

 

This is exactly what I've been doing. I've been running 7 from the first day I've had this thing, and so far the experience has been pretty smooth sailing. I think I haven't even spent more than an hour under OS X; most of it was getting Boot Camp set up.

The OS X disc does have Boot Camp 64 bit drivers. Everything works except for display, which wasn't an issue since I was going to update with the latest version anyways.

So that's how you do Print Screen without pulling up the virtual keyboard. Thanks!

 

it's alright .. you people have the 9400m which is pretty nice. the 9600m gt drains battery like crazy overheats like crazy...apple should fix all these...also my windows vista would keep on freezing...i hope the future bootcsmp revision is stable...an efi update would be nice too..

 

why would XP have to run in a virtual machine on Windows? Can't you use VMware and run 2 virtual machines on OSX? One Win7 and one WinXP?

If you really want to run Windows full time, a Mac is not a good way to go.

the 13" doesn't have the huge battery difference that laptops with the 9600GT have, it should be closer to the 10% side.

 

because no matter how much Parallels lies about it and makes rigged synthetic benchmarks, VMware is faster.... it is also more stable, and simpler to use.

 

have you ever tried parallels? it's funny, but i have tried both and parallels has been better, with better visual effects and more stability, easier to setup...

 

Used Parallels from when it was released through version 4 ... 4 is where the stability problems happened. Ran it on 4 machines, and all 4 run much better with VMware. 4 has been anything but stable... but glad it worked for you.

Been using fusion 2 on 1 and now 4 machines for a long time (pretty much since 2 came out) and its never messed up, crashed or anything, ever... its been 100%... 2 did have some graphics anomalies on certain games, but it was unsupported games I never expected to work.

 

Alright, I got a chance to check out a MBP. The hardware was nice, and actually I was fairly happy with how everything was working under Windows 7. That was without SL's Bootcamp drivers, I think it was running Tiger's bootcamp drivers.

Anyway, I'm still thinking about. Right now it is MBP v. ASUS UL50...

 

Maybe you mean leopard drivers? SL drivers are nicer IMHO! better battery and lower temps!

 

You'll have to excuse me on not getting the operating systems straight. I know the guy doesn't have SL, that much is for certain. Given the driver versions he did have though, it might have had leopard.

Right now we've got a few options open, but the Apple machine has a restocking fee if I don't like it. The store doesn't even have one of their demo machines showing Windows running under bootcamp . You would think they'd be able to show a demo of that when it is a feature this particular store really likes to advertise. So for the moment, I think I'm going to be exploring one or two other options now...options that don't fine me with a restocking fee for trying the product.

 

What about buying from bestbuy if you are worried about a restocking fee?

I run Win 7 64-bit and do not have any problems.

About Win 7/XP VM, Win 7 pro and ultimate will have that XP mode, it's a VM I don't now how well it will run.

 

nono, i was just checking bc AFAIK, tiger didn't have bootcamp

 

Tiger did have bootcamp. I was using bootcamp in 2006.
http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2006/apr/05bootcamp.html

 

I meant this

 

Well, for what it is worth...I've spent two days with a MBP 13" and I can safely say one thing:

I'm a PC.

There is just too many Windows applications I constantly run, and Windows 7 battery life with a Mac is just bad. I'd rather not spend $70 for the privilege to run W7 in a OS X VM. I can get all the functionality I need from Linux in a VM within a PC...oh, that is free by the way to set up!

Thanks Apple for writing those terrific drivers that suck battery life away! Between those issues, faulty hardware out of the box...yeah, this little one is going back tomorrow.

So the search for the right PC continues. I will say I wish the PCs I've been looking at had the same quality LCD screen and touchpad though. The MBP touchpad seriously rocks.

 

uuhhgg.. that MS "I'm a PC" thing gets on my nerves so much... it doesn't make any sense. You're not a PC, your a human! Your also not in a commercial where your pretended to be a computer.

 

That's so TRUE!!!You're my new best friend!!!

 

Actually, Apple started that one with the "I'm a Mac, I'm a PC" advertisements. Its a joke, get over it.