Who's Running Win 7 / Vista on MBP?

Just curious how many people are running Windows 7 and/or Windows Vista on their MBP?

How's the performance of Windows on MBP through bootcamp? Any compatibility issue? I have a few software for PC (i.e.: Nikon Capture NX2, Lightroom, Photoshop CS4, etc.,) and would prefer to run it on Windows w/o having to rebuy it.

Mainly would use the laptop for those purposes, but MBP has that cool factor vs PC laptops heehhe

I might use it occasionally for games (i.e. WOW). Ofcourse surfing the internet on OSX is not an issue. heeh

 

You can play wow on osx fine, you can just get parrallels or vmware fusion and run those program on os x.

 

You don't have to rebuy any of your software from Adobe. If you have a Windows license just call them up and they will do a transfer of your license to run it Mac OS X. If you're going to buy a Mac, use it as a Mac. If you prefer Windows, buy a machine that has it preinstalled and designed for it. Running Windows on a Mac is more for convenience, not to make it a full time Windows computer, because it's not. Aside from the driver issues there's more to it. The keyboard layout on a Mac is designed for the Mac OS amongst all the other features your paying for which won't be used while you're running Windows.

This is not to knock the OP per say, but I find it interesting that almost daily people are saying you can get much more and better in terms of specs on a PC notebook for a lot less money and that Apple is extorting money from us, but then you'll see posts like this, people want to spend all that extra money, plus a Windows license to run Windows on a machine that's less feature rich over a similarly priced PC. Go figure. Buying it for a "cool factor" is a bit over the top. Under those circumstances, you just want to show off your pretty box to fit in the crowd, that's not cool.

 

Lol! I see your point on the reply. For me, I've used MAC in the early years in life like most people in school. In the professional years, PC has been the primary usage.

I am not saying that I never used a MAC before and only buying a MAC because to run Windows only. I do want to use OSX and eventually port some of the function I have over (i.e. Aperture, Photoshop, etc.,) But there are applications that runs only on Windows or run best under windows. So for the most part, while have absolutely no MAC software yet, I will find myself using Windows more than 50% of the time on the MAC.

 

to answer your question, I've run Vista 64 bit in bootcamp with 8GB memory and it is very sweet. Was playing Crysis and it was a blast. WoW would run great.

I've since uninstalled Vista under bootcamp to free up that partition space for the OS X and my VMs. I run windows through the OS X via Parallel's VM now. If you decide to go the VM route it is very nice but your games would definitely do much better in a native partition with bootcamp. FYI, Parallels5 wins over Fusion3 in my opinion, I just switch from Fusion to Parallels last weekend and it uses less resources

 

I saw on that sticky thread, a few people have been saying Parallels 5 is much better. That is good to know.

 

ah, just saw that you posted this the same time I posted mine. ha. I'm in the same boat as you. I use Windows quite a bit for my business work... somethings just simply require windows. As I mentioned, a bootcamp partition for your Windows of choice would perform great. Also, I'd recommend a VM inside of OS X for those times when you don't want to reboot your laptop to run a quick windows app.

 

I have tried them both. I like vmware more.

 

to each their likings. personally, i have used parallels since 4 and i liked it a lot. i have found parallels 5 snappier than fusion 3.0.

 

I have Fusion 3 installed but prefer to use Parallels 5 over Fusion just like you.

I was an OSX only but recently installed win7 Ult x64 via BC to be able to play various PC games while I'm in VA. Since my win7 gaming desktop will be staying at my parents house in CA until I fully move everything to VA. A little PC gaming on my MBP is better than none.

 

I read this from time to time but what never seems to get posted is which applications? I mean, if you referring to gaming, those aren't applications. What actual applications are you referring to? That argument held plenty of water 10 years ago, but today? No. Aside from a specific piece of software that your company or your school uses, there really isn't much on Windows that's not written for the Mac OS, and for the most part the Mac OS equivalents are written better, especially when they are Mac only. So could you please address my question in that regard?

 

what is meant here is that WIndows is required for certain purposes... not just a few applications that won't run under OS X

I have 4 different business contracts/clients and they each require Windows for me to be compatible with them. These clients usually send me preconfigured HP laptops for me and my employees with windows and all of the necessary software development tools preloaded on them to avoid any compatibility problems.

But I prefer to use my own machines so I've got their PC/Windows laptops stockpiling in my office. lol. So to be compatible with their environments I need to be working in a Windows OS. Oracle Apps using JInitiator requires IE7 in a WinXP environment for example. I use MS Office to get my emails from their exchange server... I use ATT Global Network (windows only app) to connect to their servers via VPN. My favorite text editor is UltraEdit and they have not released an OS X version yet (soon though they say). And there are slim to none Oracle database administration/development IDE tools out there for OS X. And I have my favorites anyway (TOAD by QUEST and PL/SQL Developer by AllRoundAutomations).

there are lots of other reasons people prefer or are required to use WIndows. But in my case, it is mostly just so I can stay compatible with my various business clients.

Ben

 

Did anyone mention that there is a WoW version for OS X?

 

Can you use both Bootcamp & VMWare/Paralle?

So since you create a separated partition with Win7, can you access it in from BootCamp and if you choose not to reboot, still access it via VMWare/Paralle?

As for application. From what I've read, Nikon Capture NX2 runs better under Windows than OSX.

 

TBH, I would prefer the poster that I was asking the question towards to answer. Your needs may be different from his, I'm trying to help resolve his software concerns. I can't even count how many times people think there's no Mac version of a specific piece of software on Windows when there ARE choices and very good ones for that matter. For example that poster thought he had to rebuy all his Adobe stuff to run in OS X and that's not true, all he has to do is call Adobe and they will transfer the license, might be a small fee but if he's going to buy a Mac, he may as well use it as a Mac, not just a pretty low functional Windows machine to look "cool" as he put it.

In terms of Exchange Server 2007, Snow Leopard handles that quite well and has received quite a bit of praise. Yep, I know about Exchange 2003 but that's getting old and will be gone over time. Come on dude, a Text Editor??? If I was switching from Windows to Mac I certainly wouldn't install Windows just to use my favorite text editor, and I certainly wouldn't count that as a piece of software that can't be run on Mac, it's not that serious. There's tons of very needed Mac software that's not on Windows, but if I was tell that to a Windows fan they would laugh and say it is in fact available even though it's not the exact one I want. Everyone has to expect to cross over and make some sacrifices if they are going change platforms.

 

Yes you can with vmware, probably with parallels too.

 

but that text editor is pretty special to me if it were just that text editor I would of course find something else in OS X to use... but it's a culmination of things, the big one being my Oracle development tools.

*edit: I do agree with your point about not wanting people to assume they have to use Windows just because that is where they've had all of their software tools previously... for most people, they can find an alternative solution, like contacting Adobe to see about getting the licensing switched to the Mac OS X (thats a great idea that I wouldn't have thought to try) that works equally well or better in OS X. I desperately love to do all of my work in the OS X, believe me... and someday it will happen