New macbook pro + bootcamp = still problems?

My new notebook might just be a macbook pro. But I'll also really really need Windows for some stuff. So that's bootcamp then. But I heard there might be several problems. Especially with the multitouch trackpad (not being able to tap to click, right-click, (right)drag. Is that still an issue?
Also, is all the hardware fully available under windows? Like the graphics card and the DVD burner?

 

The trackpad is still an "issue" (if you wish to define it as such) because of software provided by Apple.

To be perfectly honest, I think that's a great move from Apple. The trackpad is something that should be (and is) working and behaving perfectly under OS X, and not under Windows.

Everything else including the 9600M GT and the DVD burner is supported.

 

An issue? I'm getting a macbook pro this weekend....what issue... does it not work or something or just crappy buggy drivers? Also, if it was compatible hardware, why wouldn't windows detect it as a standard pointing device anyhow?

 

While expecting 3+4 finger gestures is a little extreme, I would expect at least double-tap right-click to work, and two finger scrolling. While the trackpad drivers *do* this to an extent, the lack of an "avoid accidental trackpad input" toggle causes the use of the trackpad in Windows to be tricky at best and dangerous at worst.

If Apple doesn't want to support the trackpad, they should not release any driver for it at all, and require the user to purchase a mouse. By making a driver at all, they infer a certain level of functionality.

For the record, on my three-year old Dell, Ubuntu unlocks two-finger scrolling and other interesting tricks and does it perfectly. Apple can't do on their own new hardware what open source programmers do on old hardware. That's kind of an insult given that Apple *is* a hardware company.

 

Hehe, will stick to my logitech mouse then I think, or get a new bluetooth one for the macbook.

 

I don't use the tap in Windows (haven't actually tried it), just click. Left and right (one and two finger clicking) work fine for me. The lack of functionality would probably irritate me if I spent longer periods of time in Windows but as it is, if I'm in Windows, I'm working and with programs that require a mouse.

 

That's the most ridiculous thing I've heard in a while...

Hardware should behanve normally if the operating system is fully supported non-the-less. There's absolutely no reason why any of Apple's product that supports Windows Boot Camp should not have a working and behaving perfectly under that operating system, especially if they have and still advertise that they do.

On top of that, why would Apple shun their own users who have already bought their hardware? I use both operating systems, OSX and Windows and honestly there are benefits with both. I truly believe that Apple going with the Intel 86/64 platform was the best thing for Apple and supporting windows have converted many PC users like myself as a new customer base, not supporting Windows would be a really bad move. Now I hope that they do put a little more time on their drivers and a Boot Camp driver update sometime soon

To Answer to OPs question, it totally depends on the Operating system. If you're intending to run Vista, expect a number of known issues, there are fixes but it will not be an Apple solution and would require downloading and installing 3rd party drivers. I've heard good things with Windows 7 on the MBP, so that looks promising, and XP seems to be the best Boot Camp solution at the moment.

 

They're donig it right now with that firmware upgrade; not letting users use thier own hard drive, now thats rediculous. I was just about to order 320gb drive for the macbook I'm getting but debating now whether to do it; don't really want to end up with a £1000 worth of paper weight...

 

Bootcamp problems I know of so far on new MBP:

-Speaker volume too low (left speaker louder than right)
-Keyboard backlight won't shut off (boots at full brightness)
-Red optical audio light won't shut off
-Microphone distorted
-No "dim the display" in Windows 7

I'm sure there are more problems as well.

As far as trackpad, it supports all the scrolling, clicking, and tapping functionality.

 

thanks for replies guys.
and wow, those are quite some problems. I hope we'll see fixes.
Do those issues also occur when running windows under parallels?

 

wha?!?

lol.

reality distortion field at its best, ladies and gents. right here.

let me just note that i stick up for apple for many of the things they do well. but this attitude is just hilarious.

 

Well, let's face it. Apple introduced bootcamp so they could get more Windows users to switch to OS X.

That does not entail, by any means, that supporting Windows is now something that Apple should focus on at the same level as they do with their own OS.

Don't get me wrong, bootcamp was the thing that switched me over. So I have nothing against that, or any kind of "attitude" you wish to point out.

But then again Apple will never support Windows as they do OS X. It would be ridiculous.

 

Apple introduced Boot Camp so even people who use Windows could buy Macs. Apple is a hardware company, they probably don't care what OS you run as long as you run it on hardware you bought from them. Apple will happily produce software that encourages purchase of their hardware (see: iTunes for Windows).

 

I disagree wholeheartedly. Apple cares enough about their software. Enough to banish the hackintoshes (that's why they have the EULA, right?) and enough to bring iLife, Snow Leopard and pro apps such as Logic and Final Cut to their hardware.

 

I also found that the trackpad is alot more sensitive in Bootcamp. It seems like every time you drag your finger around on the trackpad it registers as a tap.

 

It's amazing, it's only the PC fanboys that are upset that Apple isn't giving the "best" drivers for Windows. It blows me away how some of you are acting like Microsoft is now the poor victim and Apple is the evil giant. Let's not forget that Microsoft's own office suite is dumbed down on the Mac version. It's slower than the Windows version and the UI is not as well thought out as the Windows version and we PAY for MS Office for Mac. You're not paying to have Windows on the Mac. Let's not forget how horrible Messenger is on Mac. Microsoft wants you to stay on Windows which is why they do this crap. Apple created Bootcamp to bridge gaps and not so you'll have a completely perfect Windows machine on Apple hardware.

Not mentioning names but that was a stupid post from the poster who said that Apple should be happy for it's users to use whichever OS they want as long as we buy their hardware. Apple is a hardware and software company.
Get over it, Windows is not a priority for Apple and neither should it be.

 

So they should stop advertising Windows as working perfectly on a Mac. Oh, and you forget Apple software for Windows in your comparison... iTunes and Safari are atrocious for Windows. Maybe on purpose. Maybe kbdmgr.exe screws with performance randomly on purpose as well?
Neither side is without fault in this matter...

Another thing not mentioned is that it appears that Apple isn't providing a battery controller driver for Windows in the closed-battery MBPs...

This would account for the wide discrepancy between Windows and Mac OS battery performance of the laptops as shown by Anandtech.

 

I got my macbook pro today and I can confirm that the trackpad acts a little different in Windows; such as registering movements sometimes as taps, etc, as someone else posted earlier.

 

How big is the chance of those issues getting fixed in a new bootcamp (new version in snow leopard perhaps?)

 

Umm.. they banished the Hackintoshes because they aren't hardware purchased from Apple. One of the stipulations with the whole Hackintosh thing is that even a valid OS X purchase is not enough to count as a license to use OS X on non-Apple hardware. Nobody mentions that Psystar throws a paid-for retail OS X install disc in the box with the machine they sell.

Your second comment reinforces my point. They brought iLife, Snow Leopard, and pro apps (expensive pro apps) to OS X to.. get people.. to buy.. Macs! Ta-da! Big pro apps requiring lots of Mac power and did we mention the Mac Pro can really tear through Final Cut Pro? Get the RAM upgrade and the faster processors and video card for even MORE Final Cut Pro awesomeness! Don't forget your 30" Cinema Display and Mighty Mouse! Our Apple Stores have all this in stock right now, and iPhone accessories too! There's an Apple Store right near you!

The apps Apple makes for OS X have the solitary function of selling Macs.

 

Microsoft office for Windows and Microsoft office for mac is made by two different groups of developers. They may share some similarity, but they're almost completely different product. It's like comparing Microsoft Works vs office 2007. You paid for Microsoft Office for mac and you get exactly what you bought. You didn't buy Microsoft Office for Windows which is a completely different product.
And yes.. you're suppose to pay for Windows to install on a mac.

 

To be honest, Office for Mac is a pretty shoddy product. The mail client is so banged up they didn't want to dirty the name of Outlook so they call it Entourage. Will Exchange Web Services for Entourage EVER get out of beta?

 

Yes, because any move by Apple/Steve Jobs must be in the users' best interest.

/s

 

What do you mean here? Can't you change the HDD in a macbook(pro)? I find it hard to believe.

 

He is referring to the speed limit imposed on some of the newer macbook pros that has since been fixed via a firmware update. Rest assured the hard drive and ram are replaceable by the user.

 

Why should I care who makes it?I want it to work...

SL has exchange function built-in,if that is what you mean...

 

No, it's just a personal opinion. I am entitled to one after all.

 

No, I mean Exchange Web Services for Entourage.
http://msexchangeteam.com/archive/2009/01/20/450473.aspx

SL can have all the Exchange support it wants. I *need* to be able to hit the exchange servers via the web. I can do this with Outlook, and in fact in Outlook it's stupid simple to set up. Entourage's weak web support barely supports older Exchange, much less 2007 and up.

 

The only problems with Windows in Bootcamp are driver issues.

The trackpad and windows management of system cooling are the only known issues. The trackpad is temperamental and windows makes the hardware work harder than it needs to while not turning on the fans soon enough or at a high enough speed.

If apple are going to support windows they really should work on providing adequate drivers for their hardware, so yes, this is apple's fault.

 

I second that. Having my macbook 13" for only a day, I've seen it reach hot heat when under Windows XP and 7. I have no idea why Apple didn't give better drivers to their touchpad, as it is really sensitive and I sometimes find it quite a pain.

My 2 cents.

 

You should be able to do this with the Mail app in SL.

 

to answer your question... using VMware or Parallels inside of OSX to run Windows doesn't have any of these issues because its a virtual machine, not running directly on the hardware, so it doesn't use the same drivers, it uses VMware or Parallels drivers for the emulated hardware.