MacBook Pro - Dual booting

the mrs needs a new laptop, I'm telling her to get an Apple as I used to have one and in 6 years it never stepped a foot wrong.

Problem is she needs XP to run certain programs for her PhD. I know you can dual boot the new Intel systems but does running an Apple on windows defeat the point of having an Apple? and can it be done with no running issues? how hard is it?

I use VMware on a new macbook pro. It takes a while to boot up VM but runs fine once up and running. I run XP on VM as well.

Love my Mac (even though its not mine but a work one...)

I recon that its pointless. Get a £400 Laptop like this one. Same spec as a £1000 mac and you get windows 7 which is amazing Unless you feel really rich Mac's are just too expensive for no real benefit imo.

Id imagine said XP programs should work on windows 7, though it might be worth finding out, there are a few (not many) that arnt backwards compatable.

[SoulKiss]

Originally Posted by ThEGr33k

I recon that its pointless. Get a £400 Laptop like this one. Same spec as a £1000 mac and you get windows 7 which is amazing Unless you feel really rich Mac's are just too expensive for no real benefit imo.

Id imagine said XP programs should work on windows 7, though it might be worth finding out, there are a few (not many) that arnt backwards compatable.

+1

Sauluk,

There are a few choices besides dual booting, which is not much of a choice IMO.

Alternative software is the first choice where possible.
Wine is useful for many apps - some stuff may not work.
A virtual machine - arguably the most secure way to use Windows
RDP (over ssh) into a Windows box hosting the required apps. Too easy.

[Mr Speirs]

I run and have run a dual boot Macbook for well over two years now.
You just need to install the dual boot program downloadable from apple site. Then it takes you all through the setup which is really simple, just a case of partitioning the hard drive and installing windows on the second partition. You will when have a totally independent PC i.e. not running OSX alongside.


It is not a pointless thing to do. Some people actually prefer to use Mac's, even when running them as PC's.

To those that dont use Mac's I can understand why they think they are a waste of money. On paper I can kind of agree.

But, as cliche as it sounds everything does just work. I have a Dell XPS 1330 which I got at the same time and it does not work as well, had problems with losing internet connection etc.

The Mac works in the real world much better. I feel like using a PC is taking a step backwards.

Thanks all. What's the best laptop for £500 then?

Originally Posted by Son of a beesting

I have a Dell XPS 1330 which I got at the same time and it does not work as well, had problems with losing internet connection etc.

Decided it was too much of a rant:

Edit, it isnt my experience that Mac's just work. I dont actually work on any Mac's at work but still reasonably often get stupid people coming in with Mac problems.

Originally Posted by sauluk

Thanks all. What's the best laptop for £500 then?

This looks pretty nice for the cash, big screen, good processor, plenty of RAM and even a decent (for a laptop) Graphics card!