Is Macbook worth buying to run WinXP?

last SG · 2009-07-18T15:51:14+00:00

I'm just toying with the idea of using Windows XP Professional on a MacBook....not really looking at MacBook Pro cos I prefer the white casing over the metal...

Herzog_Zwei SG

I prefer not to run C++ compiler on a macbook, cos someone did that before without positive results.

SexyChin SG

for goodness sake, get a pc when you want to use window, get a mac when you want to use os x.

if you want good design with your windows, stick with your sony.

this topic doesn't even require the debate of windows vs mac nonsense. it's just basic common sense.

Raraken SG

Since you haven't bought it yet, just buy a regular Windows Laptop. Like Preternatural.stuff said, the costs of installing Windows on a Mac is prohibitively expensive and not worth the cost. It is harder to install the OSX on a Mac because Apple optimized their OS for specific hardware. It is easier to code for just a few types of CPU, GPU's etc rather than the whole range, right?

IMO, the OSX was such a failure that they had to implement Boot Camp so users could install Windows.

It is up to you. A good Windows Laptop with superior specifications usually costs as much as an entry level MBP.

Preternatural.stuff SG

leapord OS can run window.

How can an OS program run an OS program. Make some sense, use proper English or substantiate pls. Else u're just mis-informing.

I find this aspect of SGForums truly tiring.

If you mean that the Leopard OS can run on Intel hardware, what are u offering that is new? Mac OS on Intel hardware from Sim Lim? Can but again u face many driver issues and compatibility problems, if not now then surely sometime down the road.

SexyChin,

I initially thought like you that it appears counter-intuitive to want to install Windows on Mac hardware. But on 2nd thoughts, it can represent some form of hardware choice, its just whether it is justifiable. There's actually a lot of misinformation and misconceptions/myths about this topic ever since Apple recently jumped ship to Intel. The marketing hoopla is really quite ridiculous and needs to be given a real wallop. Hence this thread is quite useful. If everybody can be constructive, this thread could be of useful reference to a lot of folks so that they dun make the wrong decisions.

Preternatural.stuff SG

Must be able to play games

For this, reason alone, you really ought to get a Windows machine.

Bootcamp and all that crap is marketing tactics to tackle the consumer dissonance that I mentioned - anxiety about not being able to function with the rest of the PC world.

The only implementation I know that seems to work well on a Mac to play Windows games is using VMware, which works at the virtualisation level, basically taking the place of any OS. That's why Microsoft is so afraid of VMware and now beginning to offer products undercutting VMware's prices, while the likes of HP & IBM are investing so much in virtualisation technologies at the enterprise level.

But its the inherent cost and the technicalities lah... not worth it unless you really need to function in both OS worlds.

SexyChin SG

For this, reason alone, you really ought to get a Windows machine.

Bootcamp and all that crap is marketing fraud... running a Windows OS ontop of a middleware like Bootcamp ontop of a Mac OS ontop of hardware is so fundamentally ridiculous.

The overhead on system resources is so bad even a high end system will be crawling, if not hanging all the time. Its Apple's marketing fraud to tackle the consumer dissonance that I mentioned - anxiety about not being able to function with the rest of the PC world.

The only implementation I know that will work well on a Mac to play Windows games is using VMware, which works at the virtualisation level, basically taking the place of any OS. That's why Microsoft is so afraid of VMware and now beginning to offer products undercutting VMware's prices, while the likes of HP an IBM are investing so much in virtualisation technologies at the enterprise level.

But its the cost and the technicalities lah... not worth it unless you really need to function in both OS worlds.

boot camp runs natively on any intel mac. it runs as fast as any windows laptop. (i remember an article in the past that declared the macbook pro the best laptop to run vista)

VMware is just virtualization. it will never be as fast as running native.

anyway, boot camp and the virtualization software are just software to help smoothen the transit from windows to mac. there are still some software/website that only runs on windows/internet explorer. it's not there for people to use windows on mac. (why would anyone do that in the first place? people buy a mac to use a mac, not to run windows)

parn SG

I would love to try out a mac as well when I want to get away from using windows.

But of course I wouldn't be able to tell you what I will be using my mac for......hmm...most probably for entertainment like web surfing, listening to music, watching movies/anime, viewing my photo album and etc...

I'm more proficient in windows than mac, so I thought since I could get a notebook, I might as well try out a mac this time...only if the mac is able to run windows in native mode.

Cost is not really a problem compared to portability, I can get a new copy of windows xp pro if I really need to.

ndmmxiaomayi SG

I can get a new copy of windows xp pro if I really need to.

It's no longer on the shelves for sales, unless you buy a machine (from Dell, Acer, etc) that comes with Vista and choose to downgrade to XP. That's the only way to get XP, and even this method, as far as I know, will expire. End of July if I'm not wrong. Will be longer if they can't clear stocks.

caleb_chiang SG

Getting a Mac to install it with XP is like being a Chinese trying to act like an eurasian...

The key on the mac are different from a normal windows platform keyboard and the mouse only one button... these are the things you have to get used to. Besides, any machine nowsaday can function better with Xp installed rather than vista...

caleb_chiang SG

Or you can check up auction sites for OEM version.

ndmmxiaomayi SG

Or you can check up auction sites for OEM version.

If they have installed it on a machine before, you can't activate this copy without going through all the hassle.

caleb_chiang SG

Well, anyway, Microsoft can give a free downgrade to XP as in free activation using your vista product key. That was what microsoft customer service told me over the helpline a few weeks ago when I tried to change the product key without reinstalling...

And regarding the issue, what is needed is just a phone call away.

ditzy SG

Har? Buy a macbook to load in winxp? Serously?

parn SG

Getting a Mac to install it with XP is like being a Chinese trying to act like an eurasian...

So next time when you marry, would you like your wife to wear a traditional CHINESE wedding gown or European one?

Dilemma right?

ThunderFbolt SG

So next time when you marry, would you like your wife to wear a traditional CHINESE wedding gown or European one?

Dilemma right?

haha, true.

btw, to caleb_chiang: you do know that all you have to do to get your familiar 2-click mouse is to just stick one into the usb?

it is rather expensive to get a macbook to run XP though. if you want a laptop but want XP, get a Sony one or something. if you want a laptop to run Mac OS, get a macbook. you won't usually switch the OSes around anyway, and you can find programs on either OS to run whatever you want. except games, that is.

Preternatural.stuff SG

boot camp runs natively on any intel mac. it runs as fast as any windows laptop. (i remember an article in the past that declared the macbook pro the best laptop to run vista)

VMware is just virtualization. it will never be as fast as running native.

Running natively or not can be quite irrelevant, its the stability ultimately of the system that matters over time. No point having a paper weight when it acts up even though its fast when working on an initially clean installation.

Opinion aside, just google say "Bootcamp problems" and you can see the problems that users face.

VMware is way more versatile and offers functionality and features far greater than anything that Bootcamp can offer, which merely dual boots from different partitions and supplies drivers to the Windows OS. I've seen implementations of VMware to run the latest PC games and other apps really fast. Simultaneous access to both OS offers far more utility and productivity. Of course, its difficult to say if future problems will crop up. As I always say its the drivers that always seem to be the problem with system reliability, if not immediately then eventually, as the Vista problems show. Suffice to say, we're all in agreement that its not cool to run OS on hardware not meant for each other.

As for the article you saw, no lah. Its not the best, just that its benchmark test scores happened to be the highest at that point in time. There are new benchmark champions every other week depending on who has the latest Intel CPU or graphics card or RAM chip or HDD. If ASUS launches the latest Calpella quad-core Intel CPUs onto its gaming lappies with the latest monster nVidia 3-D graphics cards, dual SSDs etc. it'll be the new champion wouldn't it?

Apple has a habit of paying premium prices to Intel for exclusive rights to the first batch of any new Intel CPU. Then they charge premium prices to consumers lor. That was how they could make the Mac Air, using the latest ultra low voltage Core 2 Duos b4 anyone else. But 3-4 yrs prior to Mac Air, Sony used generally available components to create the super razor thin carbon fibre lappies weighing less at 900g-1.1kg WITH/without optical drives and swappable batteries. The world's lightest Toshiba Protege is like 800g with optical drive. That's engineering R&D and expertise.

SexyChin SG

Opinion aside, just google say "Bootcamp problems" and you can see the problems that users face.

let's get some facts straightened out. boot camp allows windows to be run on apple laptop natively. which means that windows will run as smoothly as any computer with the same specs. i seriously have no idea where you get the idea that boot camp is unstable.

and i have no intention in going on a mac vs pc debate here. it is meaningless in this topic and i have no idea why are you doing mac bashing here, when the original topic is whether is it worth it to just run windows on a mac.

ndmmxiaomayi SG

I've seen implementations of VMware to run the latest PC games and other apps really fast.

Because accleration is enabled. Disable it and see the effects yourself.

http://www.vmware.com/support/ws5/doc/ws_learning_prefs_vm_options.html

Preternatural.stuff SG

Then let's get some facts straightened out. I have no idea how anybody knowledgeable looks at some benchmark test scores from websites that do reviews on brand new clean machines and then proclaim that "it is the best to run windows".

For heaven's sakes, any machine that is brand new out of the box and clean, without ANYTHING installed on it except some benchmarking tools will run without problems.

Of course it is never one particular app or software or feature that makes a system problematic. I've never said that bootcamp is unstable, I've always referred to stable implementations of Windows on Mac, and I ultimately strongly recommend against it, short of one being very technical, sibei eng, or rich. I've said before that its often the drivers that cause the greatest problems between the OS and hardware, as the Vista experience shows.

Its everything cumulative over time & it then become insurmountable at some point. Even upgrading Mac OSs on Mac hardware can cause serious problems with bread and butter software like Adobe for many Mac users. Running Windows on a closed proprietary system like Apple exposes one to the highest such risk.

Try running your pet benchmarking tests after a couple of months of real world usage, such as installing all your MS office applications, hardware accessories' drivers, javascripts on your browsers from a million websites, warez, multi-media toys, freeware, bloatware, porn, other misc memory hoggers, a couple of iterations of security patches, updates and service packs from MS and all other said apps, blah blah blah.

Open your eyes, google and see the problems that so ppl are facing running Windows on Mac hardware. Hell juz look at the ppl on this thread who reported problems!

I can't understand the irresponsible posts about benchmarking figures that side track from the real issues of a working computer vs a paper weight costing 4 digits.

Another sensitive soul offended by perceived "Mac bashing" eh? Read the thread title clearly and see what it is about - whether to run Windows for the next couple of years on Mac. Not running a benchmark test result for a couple of minutes. You yourself recommmend against doing so but you sidestep the issue by making naive, contradictory & misleading claims that the "Mac is the best to run Windows". Marketing talk is best found on brochures, not needed on forums!

Pride getting in the way?

candiz SG

getting a macbook to run xp is pure dumbness, might as well buy a normal laptop and mod it to look like a macbook

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