Mac Laptop, Windows Desktop

I was just wondering if anyone here has a macbook pro, but uses a windows desktop. I was thinking going with this set-up because I like windows, but mac-os and the macbook pros in generally seem to be great portable machines compared to other windows laptops. I just want to know how this works out and if its worth doing.

 

You can install Windows on any Intel Mac. Macs don't come with Windows built-in. The system is designed with the Mac OS in mind so using it solely has a Windows machine is not advised. You can't get firmware updates through Windows, the trackpad is limited in features and fluidity and the battery life drops using Windows. One of the major things is the keyboard, it's not a Windows keyboard, it's completely designed for Mac OS X. No page up/down, no print screen, no delete key. The main reason to install Windows on your Mac is to bridge gaps such as certain software that doesn't run on Mac so you can have the best of both worlds.
If you want a true Windows experience then buy a Windows machine, otherwise you're only buying the Mac for the "pretty" if you only want to use it for Windows. You're paying a premium to use an OS that's runs and is considered second-class on a Mac.

 

I don't think HLDan read your post, but to answer your question succinctly:

Yes. I've recently migrated to an air and a windows desktop, but I've used your precise setup in the near past.

 

I use a Windows main machine for gaming (somewhat desktop replacement) and a MacBook Pro for when I don't feel like hauling my Asus around. I do have Windows 7 on the MBP, but like stated above, the battery sucks and support for some stuff is garbage. I am thinking about deleting my Windows partition for the sole reason that the battery life is so awful (like 4 hours tops, as opposed to 7+ on OSX).

 

Yeah I kinda gave up on the windows thing on my mac as well, the Mac laptop was built to run OSX not windows 7 and through some minor details you'll notice this when using the machine. I've recently decided to just use windows on my alienware machines and just OSX on my mac. But I still love my Mac

 

Pro: Windows 7 looks *so nice* on a MBP (glossy). The screen really pops the colors, and it's easily superior to any other laptop I've used.

Con: The trackpad driver for Windows needs refinement to be truly usable. Mis-clicks and inadvertent actions are very common.

Pro: 1920x1200. Apple is basically the last company making laptops with this screen size.

Con: Several missing keys.

 

For three years, I used a Dell Optiplex desktop at work and a MacBook Pro as my personal machine, and traded files between the two. It worked just fine. The only issue I might see are if you're using OS-specific applications, like iPhoto to manage photos, Windows Media Player to manage music, or Pages for word processing. Solution--rely on programs available for both OSes, like Microsoft Office (as your office suite), Mozilla Thunderbird (email client), Picasa (for photos), iTunes (for music), etc.

 

For some reason I don't find the Apple Screen to be That.... great. I suppose you haven't looked at an IPS or an RGB LED. I use an anti-glare sceen matte on my MacbookPro only because reflections suck especially when you're watching video's.But the RGB LED is alot better looking screen IMO. And my alienware for windows looks ALOT better then my macbook pro or any macbook pro for that matter.

 

Case and Point.... now if you can see the difference in camera images, just consider the naked eye will see an even higher difference. Posted from right here on these boards http://forum.notebookreview.com/del...sion/333840-m4400-wuxga-vs-wuxga-rgb-led.html

 

I'd rather NOT have the reflection, than be able to see colors "pop out" 10% more, though I really don't see the difference. I have a matte on Mac and a lenovo that has a matte for one year, where I put in the matte screen after mu glossy one got a white spot in it.

 

Actually the pics don't look too far off from what I see on my matte display. Matte display also has a higher resolution, so I guess that might make up for an glossy "pop out" of colors.

 

Give man image to put up I'll put up a side by side photo of my matte macbook pro and my alienware m17x R2 RGB LED. For my own comparison. Non of those images were mine. I suppose I'll put up a few images of my own up.

 

I wish Apple would do a "mildly matte" coating like my Vaio F has. It's enough to cut out most reflections, but not so matte that it causes the colors to wash out at all. It's not obviously matte when you look at it, but it has most of the benefit of a traditional matte screen. And putting my Vaio F next to my dad's glossy MBP 17, I thought our screens were equally vivid.

(Of course, his machine is 1/3 as thick and made of aluminum instead of plastic, but that's another matter entirely).

 

You must not have used many laptops.

In comparison to other laptops, the MBP's screen is decent, but not the best for visual quality.

Here is another opinion on the 15" model.
Review Apple MacBook Pro 15 Early 2011 (2.0 GHz quad-core, glare-type screen) - Notebookcheck.net Reviews
(the screen used in the late 2011 model is the exact same one)

Basically, I agree with the reviewer... yep the screen is better than the lower-end of laptops, but does not even begin to compare to premium screens found in other manufacturers' laptops in the price range of the MBP.


As for the OP, a few of our users do exactly that... however, there are some unfun interoperability issues for people who actually work on their home PCs as well. (MS office for Mac/PC is still not the same.)

 

It's not the same, but it's close enough so that I haven't had issues. For me, the problem was never "modern MS Office for OSX" versus "modern MS Office for Windows." The big problem was "modern MS Office for either OS" with "Office 2003" (Office 2003 is still widely used in my industry, and the lack of backwards compatibility between modern MS Office and Office 2003 is shocking).

 

depends on the camera.. angles.. and more...

I've looked at some side by side before and they aren't as far off as your pictures there. There are parts washed out looking that aren't even being captured correctly by the camera.

 

Oops, you're right, I misread his post. He said Mac laptop and Windows desktop. I thought he said Mac laptop with a Windows desktop installed. Had a bit too much to drink tonight.

 

Hi Dekabal,

You have gotten a few replies to this, but I thought I would add some personal experience to the info. I have been a "mixed" computer household for a while now. My family memebers are all on Windows machines (a mixture of laptops and desktops), while I personally have a 3 machine setup. I have an customized Alienware "Star Wars" edition desktop which I use for major gaming and "heavy lifting," which of course runs Windows 7 Home. I then have two laptops that I alternate between depending upon my task. I have an Alienware M15x that runs Windows 7 Ultimate, that I use for "portable" gaming. Finally I have an 13.3" MacBook Pro that I use for general protability, and primarily for my graduate coursework. I have found that having a laptop that does not need constant virus scans and other day-to-day mantenance hassles is great for doing schoolwork.

Plus, the MBP is so small that it is easy to tote around, and has decent specs for what I do with it. My MBP actually serves as my "netbook" which it replaced. When I was doing my undergraduate studies, I primarily used a 15" MBP, which was my only laptop at the time. I soon discovered that if you are a gamer, it is not practical to only have a Mac, as the majority of games that I play are Windows only. Both platforms have their place, and I have found a comforable mix of the two. Good luck!

Rich S.

 

My home setup is a custom built Core i5 Sandy Bridge system with three monitors, 16 GB RAM, SSD + HDD, dual video cards, 750 Watt Power Supply, etc. My office system is a Nehalem Core i7 with three monitors - it's a Dell Server system. I use my 17 inch MacBook Pro with these two desktops for work as the MacBook Pro holds a lot of my work status and work product (it's backed up daily of course).

I use Synergy so that I can use the Windows machines' keyboard and mouse to control the MacBook Pro. I get the power and performance of a custom rig at home and the ability to upgrade it to Ivy Bridge in 2012 at a price point far less than a Mac Pro and something that runs Windows better. The office system was a cheap refurb, $575, but packs a lot of compute power for its age. It has 12 GB and can go up to 24 GB. I have a second one of these in the office running Oracle.