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    Windows on the MBA - Multi Touch and battery life

    Discussion in 'Apple and Mac OS X' started by cantona2k, Jan 20, 2008.

  1. cantona2k

    cantona2k Notebook Enthusiast

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    Hi,
    i plan to buy a MBA when it comes out to replace my existing notebook.

    I am dependant on various windows applications so i plan to either use XP or Vista in parallel to OSX (via bootcamp).

    My questions are:
    1) Will the multi touch and gesture system work in windows or is it Mac only?
    2) What are your experiences with the battery life in Vista/ XP compared to OSX? Is it comparable (5h OSX = 5h windows) or significantly lowered?

    Thanks for your input!
     
    cantona2k, Jan 20, 2008
    #1
  2. Conscript

    Conscript Notebook Geek

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    I can imagine Apple will have Bootcamp drivers for using those gestures within Windows at least within time if not right away.

    As for your other question, Mac OS X handles most system resources better so I think it will be more efficient on the battery. If anything, it will be close.

    I think the MacBook Air is a fine choice for a speedy laptop (1.6 Ghz Core 2 Duo is by no means a turtle and 2GB of RAM is nothing to sneeze at) on the go that won't break your back. You will be happy with your purchase I am sure, as I hope I will be with mine. :)
     
    Conscript, Jan 20, 2008
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  3. Thomas

    Thomas McLovin

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    1) 99.9% sure no.
     
    Thomas, Jan 20, 2008
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  4. blurb23

    blurb23 Notebook Consultant

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    I can't speak from personal experience, as I don't have a Mac yet (waiting for updated MBPs), but from what I've read, you can expect comparable results, although you will get slightly lower battery life in Windows.
     
    blurb23, Jan 20, 2008
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  5. Sam

    Sam Notebook Virtuoso

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    Well, looking at current MBPs and MacBooks running Windows as well, they say that Windows runs down battery life faster.

    And as for whether multi-touch gestures will work in Windows, we don't know at this point.
     
    Sam, Jan 20, 2008
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  6. 00fez

    00fez Notebook Deity

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    I'd be willing to bet that they won't. I mean, they can't even get two-finger scrolling to work as good as in osx, but somewhy I have a feeling that it's on purpose.
     
    00fez, Jan 20, 2008
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  7. trueintentions

    trueintentions Notebook Evangelist

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    Not necessarly, noone's sure yet. Sure, Apple is a company that, in the end, wants the financial gain, but they do want to satisfy their consumers. You can't really say that they won't because noone knows.
     
    trueintentions, Jan 20, 2008
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  8. HLdan

    HLdan Notebook Virtuoso

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    Yes, however also in the end Apple as a company wants Mac OS X to be the primary OS and to extend all of the extras to the Windows side will lessen the user to want to run the OS X system. While there's no guarantee I don't think Apple will extend the multi-touch gestures to the Windows side, honestly, why should they as long as Windows runs and the basic needed trackpad functionality is implemented?
     
    HLdan, Jan 20, 2008
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  9. cashmonee

    cashmonee Notebook Virtuoso NBR Reviewer

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    I would not plan on running Windows on the MBA until it is out and people confirm it is possible. There is no guarantee yet that Remote Disk will allow you to boot from a Windows disk.

    Of course, if you plan on getting the external SuperDrive, you should be fine.
     
    cashmonee, Jan 20, 2008
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  10. Arquis

    Arquis Kojima Worshiper

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    1) I'd say no, since I can't even use the tap clicking in Vista.
     
    Arquis, Jan 20, 2008
    #10