My work offers a couple laptop options, but the only one that has both my preferred resolution minimum (1080P) while staying portable are macbooks (pro and air). Now we require windows to get our work done so anyone that gets a mac of course uses whatever the virtualization software is (parallels or boot camp or whatever). However I'd like to just wipe it out and install only Windows 8 since as far as I'm aware Apple is using industry standard hardware these days. I'm not a Mac guy nor do I care to learn. How much hardship am I going to have, and does anyone have any links to reviews or procedures to get this done? I believe some of my choices include retina displays, any wonkiness in Windows 8 with that higher resolution on such a small screen? Is this entire idea something that's going to be more pain than worth it?
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MB to Windows 8 conversion (not virtual)
- Thread starter oldpablo
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Spicedaddy
Weaksauce
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Bootcamp is how you install Windows natively. Virtualization would be with Parallels, VMware, etc.
Follow the Bootcamp instructions, and just select Windows as the default OS. I wouldn't bother deleting the Mac OS X installation.
Follow the Bootcamp instructions, and just select Windows as the default OS. I wouldn't bother deleting the Mac OS X installation.
DeChache
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With Win8 you should just be able to boot off a windows disk and install. Worst part is downloading the bootcamp drivers off of Apples website.
SuperSubZero
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The MacBook Air is not 1080p. The only current MacBook Pro that could be considered as "supporting" 1080p is the Retina line.
Firmware updates only install in OS X. There have been a handful already since the Retinas started shipping.
Lenovos that are great, but they are all 1600x900. I work in putty and I'd like more vertical.
DeChache
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As long you dont mind missing firmware updates you can just boot of the windows disk and then your off to the races.
Did it to a couple of our Mac Pros at work that where getting re purposed and just recently with my old White Mac to play with Win 8.
Heh, I'm only a couple years overdue. I'm using the original T42 my company furnished me 7 years ago. I didn't like the 1600x900 of the new models so I put off asking for a replacement (I'm currently 1400x1050) to wait for next round. It was just more 1600x900.
Given the fact that I've never had to update any firmware on my PC except the BIOS occasionally, do you really need firmware updates regularly with Apple stuff? Is that because they are bad at hardware or because they are always improving?
DeChache
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Heh, I'm only a couple years overdue. I'm using the original T42 my company furnished me 7 years ago. I didn't like the 1600x900 of the new models so I put off asking for a replacement (I'm currently 1400x1050) to wait for next round. It was just more 1600x900.
Given the fact that I've never had to update any firmware on my PC except the BIOS occasionally, do you really need firmware updates regularly with Apple stuff? Is that because they are bad at hardware or because they are always improving?
My 2010 MBP has had a handful of the them. Kinda like bios most of them are to fix little bugs. The only one that I remember being semi major is the one that made the Thunderbolt to gig-e adapter work correctly.
If you want to just run windows on the hardware I would just run Apples updater to make sure it has the most current firmware and not worry about unless you are having an issue.
Just like you would a bios on a windows machine.
TBH I would just run Windows in a virtualized environment. There are many benefits in running your workstation virtualized and you do not have to deal with a lot of the issues running Windows on Apple hardware (mostly driver issues). It doesn't seem like you would need every drop of performance from a rMBP considering you have co-workers that run Windows virtualized.
SuperSubZero
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Depending on the particular product line, 1920x1080 can be an option. The 15" T, W series ThinkPads have such an option, for example.
The only Mac with 1080p possible starts at $1699. If your company will throw that much money at you, you can likely coax a $200 screen upgrade on a T530 out of them as well.
If you're going to run Windows, get a Windows laptop. You'll save yourself a lot of headaches.
Dan
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Metrocall
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Haha, I wish my company had been willing to get me a Retina Macbook Pro(the only 1080P+ MacBook), all they did was get me a 720p Dell Latitude which I put in my desk and forgot about until now...