Windows 7 works great on the MacBook Pro

[raj11650]

As a registered Microsoft developer, I had early access to the final release version of Windows 7, which I installed on my 17-inch MacBook Pro. I chose the 64-bit version of Windows 7 Ultimate. I'm happy to report that it installed smoothly and worked great for the past three weeks.

Here are some tips and observations:

• Installing 64-bit Windows 7 on the MacBook Pro was easy, just use the Boot Camp Assistant that's bundled with Mac OS X.
• After installing Windows 7, install the Boot Camp drivers from the Mac OS X installation disc. The drivers are needed for operating the special function keys, like for controlling screen brightness and keyboard backlighting.
• The Mac OS X Snow Leopard installation disc (just released last week) comes with updated Boot Camp drivers. You should install these drivers so that you can access your Mac OS files from Windows. Also when I upgraded my Mac OS X to Snow Leopard, I was able to access my Windows files from Mac OS X. Very useful when you need to work with both Windows and Mac OS X.
• The MacBook Pro was able to run Windows 7 on battery power for roughly 3.5 hours, while running Microsoft Outlook and a HSPA Mobile Broadband Modem. This is roughly half an hour of battery life less than Mac OS X.
• The backup utility bundled with Windows 7 Ultimate couldn't backup my hard drive for some reason--the backup always failed with the error "The system cannot find the file specified. (0x80070002)". I'm still looking for a solution to this problem.
• The Cisco VPN client is not supported on 64-bit versions of Windows. Fortunately Windows 7 provides a Windows XP Mode for running legacy applications. The Cisco VPN client works fine in Windows XP Mode on the MacBook Pro.

Overall, 64-bit Windows 7 works very well on a MacBook Pro--Windows 7 boots quickly, feels very responsive, and it seems to take full advantage of the fast solid state hard drive and the huge amount of installed RAM (8GB). Kudos to Microsoft for an operating system that's very nicely done.

Source

 

[raj11650]

but the opposite doesnt seem to work
(SL on PC):sarc:

 

[Dark Nova Gamer]

but the opposite doesnt seem to work
(SL on PC):sarc:

Not all PC's at aleast *cough* OSx86 *cough*

 

[Sevenfreak]

just for fun

One thing PC users can do that Mac users can't...

 

[7Dreams]

Not all PC's at aleast *cough* OSx86 *cough*

mine works 75 %

 

[jfar]

just for fun

One thing PC users can do that Mac users can't...

:shock:

 

[7Dreams]

!

just for fun

One thing PC users can do that Mac users can't...

 

[TheTeZ]

but the opposite doesnt seem to work
(SL on PC):sarc:

Its been working for a few years now... just takes a little.... ever since macs insides started to look like a PC's insides

 

[brewerma]

MAcBook Virtualization

Does the XP virtulization technology work for the MacBook?

 

[Jordus]

I use 7 Ultimate on a new Macbook Pro (provided by work)

It does work well. That doesnt mean there arent better laptops to put 7 on, however.

I find having to rely on some of the bootcamp stuff to be fairly annoying.

 

[Boris]

I use 7 Ultimate on a new Macbook Pro (provided by work)

It does work well. That doesnt mean there arent better laptops to put 7 on, however.

I find having to rely on some of the bootcamp stuff to be fairly annoying.

You can always use virtualbox and run W7 on a other screen in expose.

 

[Jordus]

I use 7 Ultimate on a new Macbook Pro (provided by work)

It does work well. That doesnt mean there arent better laptops to put 7 on, however.

I find having to rely on some of the bootcamp stuff to be fairly annoying.

You can always use virtualbox and run W7 on a other screen in expose.

I prefer not to be booted into Snow Leopard. Its an incredibly short sighted OS that I find lacks any ability to facilitate productivity for me.

Then again, I am a Windows Systems Administrator so maybe thats why

 

[Mjcanton]

I love how everyone hates on Macs.. there new line is pretty amazing.. and they always work.

that website was stupid.

 

[macgyver2]

I love how everyone hates on Macs.. there new line is pretty amazing.

Its a bitter Apple and frustrated windows users at it again. I respect the Apple hardware and would love my laptop to be all compatible.

If I could afford a Macbook Pro I would run both OS's just because it could.

I also have to say 7 is impressing me with all the laptops its been able to run on.

 

[Jordus]

I love how everyone hates on Macs.. there new line is pretty amazing.. and they always work.

that website was stupid.

Thats an uninformed comment to say the least. You should at least do some research and quit relying on Apple commercials for your information.

Apples do NOT "just work"

Where I work we have nearly 50% apple machines compared to Dell, yet we have twice the service calls on Apples and it costing us 10 times as much per apple machine to integrate them into an enterprise environment properly.

Yeah thats just working alright.

 

[Mjcanton]

I love how everyone hates on Macs.. there new line is pretty amazing.. and they always work.

that website was stupid.

Thats an uninformed comment to say the least. You should at least do some research and quit relying on Apple commercials for your information.

Apples do NOT "just work"

Where I work we have nearly 50% apple machines compared to Dell, yet we have twice the service calls on Apples and it costing us 10 times as much per apple machine to integrate them into an enterprise environment properly.

Yeah thats just working alright.

What are these "service" calls? I'm basing it off of personal use too, so no need to assume I gained my knowledge based on commercials.

All i was saying is that I do not understand why so many people HATE apple. So they are a little more expensive..? you get what you pay for.

I happen to own a PC because I am a poor college student and it fits my budget.

I love working with Apple machines and using them. Build quality is much better IMO and not to mention that they are usually faster given they have the same specs.

 

[BCXtreme]

you get what you pay for.

Exactly. In Apple's case, you are paying for (and therefore getting) little more than a brand name and a cool factor. This coming from my experience working on both PCs and Macs (from time to time).

I love working with Apple machines and using them. Build quality is much better IMO and not to mention that they are usually faster given they have the same specs.

You may just be noticing the difference between 32-bit and 64-bit (if you use 32-bit Windows). If the machines have the same specs, then the hardware of one cannot be faster than the hardware of the other. If you're referring to software ... well, load up Linux on a PC and its speed will beat the crap out of both Windows 7 and Snow Leopard.

 

[Mjcanton]

I have 64 bit, and I am referring to the software. Boot times and load times are still lightning fast on snow leopard compared to Windows 7

 

[BCXtreme]

I have 64 bit, and I am referring to the software. Boot times and load times are still lightning fast on snow leopard compared to Windows 7

Funny, Windows 7 boots almost instantly on my netbook. It is possible that your PC actually does have lower hardware specs than the Macs you've worked with?

I also have to say that after 20+ years, Mac OS still can't do as much as Windows. The fact that they restrict the hardware, and also restrict third-party software development, has really hindered the platform.

I think Mac OS looks really cool, but I would never use it, simply because it does not have the versatility I need. I would not recommend it to anyone else because of the needlessly higher price.

 

[Mjcanton]

Well I'm thrilled your netbook can boot so fast, that would be wonderful for class, what makes it boot so fast?

And sure maybe SL can't run every program, but they sure make it easy to run windows on a Mac..

I'm not trying to get everybodies undies in a bunch, I simply asked why so many people hate Apple.