Does Windows run well on the 2015 MacBook without any hiccups or performance issues in general? How is the trackpad performance on Windows? Do the gestures work as well and as consistently as it does on OS X? Also is it better to install Windows 10 or 7 on the MacBook?
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How does the 2015 MacBook run Windows?
- Thread starter saintforlife
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The only way to install Windows 7 on the MacBook is through virtualization (Parallels Desktop, VMWare Fusion, or VirtualBox). Boot Camp requires at least Windows 8, and you might as well just upgrade to Windows 10 at that point. I am running Windows 10 in Parallels Desktop. It works fine for what I need it, which is Quicken for Windows (the Mac version still isn't up to par).
In Parallels Desktop, the trackpad works just as it does on the Mac. From my experience with Boot Camp, the gestures are more limited, and importantly, Apple's drivers don't support "natural" scrolling.
In Parallels Desktop, the trackpad works just as it does on the Mac. From my experience with Boot Camp, the gestures are more limited, and importantly, Apple's drivers don't support "natural" scrolling.
I use Windows 10 exclusively on the 2015 MacBook, I don't know how to use OSX and don't want to. I've had that combo running since May and it is perfect, couldn't be happier. No crashes, no hiccups, the new MacBook is simply the best ultralight for Windows ever made. To answer your questions:
Trackpad: Extremely accurate, zero issues.
Trackpad Gestures: These do not work natively but can work with a free add-on program that many of us use.
Version: Windows 10 is what you want as it's the only one compatible, and let me tell you as a Windows power user since 1995 that Windows 10 is fantastic, best and most stable version ever. You'll need to pay $120 for a copy from Microsoft, and as a bonus that version will be 'virgin' won't have any adware or free trialware on it. There are some in this forum who think the RMB runs Windows better than OSX if you can believe it, it's that good.
Like I said, I don't use OSX and don't want to so I have chosen to install Windows 10 via Boot Camp which is a free utility included with the MacBook. My RMB boots directly to Windows every time, it's like OSX isn't even there.
Feel free to ask questions, I can answer anything you've got concerns about.
BJ
Ditto to what BJ said for me to 
Additionally no need to buy parallels etc and use up extra resources just get a Win 10 Pro licence Key for around $48 and install via bootcamp and never look back.
All your bookmarks, contacts photos etc from Apple are also sync'd in Windows via icloud app for Windows and bootmanger app easily lets you swap back and forth to OSX if you really need to.
Additionally no need to buy parallels etc and use up extra resources just get a Win 10 Pro licence Key for around $48 and install via bootcamp and never look back.
All your bookmarks, contacts photos etc from Apple are also sync'd in Windows via icloud app for Windows and bootmanger app easily lets you swap back and forth to OSX if you really need to.
Thank you for the detailed reply. Do you ever feel like you miss the touch screen when running Windows 10? I think Windows 10 was designed keeping a touch screen interface in mind and am wondering what the UI navigation experience is like on the 2015 MacBook with just a track pad (and possibly an external mouse)?
I use Windows 10 exclusively on the 2015 MacBook, I don't know how to use OSX and don't want to. I've had that combo running since May and it is perfect, couldn't be happier. No crashes, no hiccups, the new MacBook is simply the best ultralight for Windows ever made. To answer your questions:
Trackpad: Extremely accurate, zero issues.
Trackpad Gestures: These do not work natively but can work with a free add-on program that many of us use.
Version: Windows 10 is what you want as it's the only one compatible, and let me tell you as a Windows power user since 1995 that Windows 10 is fantastic, best and most stable version ever. You'll need to pay $120 for a copy from Microsoft, and as a bonus that version will be 'virgin' won't have any adware or free trialware on it. There are some in this forum who think the RMB runs Windows better than OSX if you can believe it, it's that good.
Like I said, I don't use OSX and don't want to so I have chosen to install Windows 10 via Boot Camp which is a free utility included with the MacBook. My RMB boots directly to Windows every time, it's like OSX isn't even there.
Feel free to ask questions, I can answer anything you've got concerns about.
BJ
Also what is the name of the free add-on program for enabling track pad gestures?
You're welcome, we're here to help, glad I could be of assistance.
Even though I had a Sony Pro 13 Ultrabook with touch screen I never used it, I found its more confusing than helpful on a notebook. With the new MacBook I use a Logitech M557 Bluetooth mouse and am very happy (space grey, matches nicely). What's great about Windows 10 is that it has a dedicated "Desktop Mode" and "Tablet Mode" which have subtle differences. Instead of trying to make one OS work for both device types, they kept 75% of it the same and then changed the rest so that it's mouse friendly in Desktop configuration.
The free ad-on program for Apple trackpad gestures under Windows 10 on the new MacBook is Trackpad++. Gives you swipes and pinches for every imaginable gesture like a 'back' button, showing desktop, navigating between desktops, etc. My mouse firmware also allows for side button and wheel button gestures, I use those for back buttons and app switching etc.
If portability and screen clarity are important to you, you'll find that the RMB is the very best Windows 10 notebook on the market. Trust me on this one. I've seen 'em all.
BJ
!00% ditto again even including the Sony Vaio, this could get embarrassing, thankfully BJ has a BMW and I have an Audi
This is exactly why the IpadPro makes little sense to me when having a KB attached, who wants to keep touching the screen when there should be a trackpad or a mouse. The surface pro 4 does and is 100% like any another other laptop/notebook with KB attached and when detached still gives IMO the best full functional OS in tablet mode providing you need phone type apps like a hole in the head
If you do not need a tablet and/or heavy processing then the rMB is probably the nicest 12" footprint ultra's around running OSX or Windows 10
This is exactly why the IpadPro makes little sense to me when having a KB attached, who wants to keep touching the screen when there should be a trackpad or a mouse. The surface pro 4 does and is 100% like any another other laptop/notebook with KB attached and when detached still gives IMO the best full functional OS in tablet mode providing you need phone type apps like a hole in the head
If you do not need a tablet and/or heavy processing then the rMB is probably the nicest 12" footprint ultra's around running OSX or Windows 10
!00% ditto again even including the Sony Vaio, this could get embarrassing, thankfully BJ has a BMW and I have an Audi
LOL, American computers and German cars rock.
BJ
I also use to buy German writing instruments "Mont Blanc" but so many of their newer lines have cheap plastic components inside them you get a repair/service bill every few years of $100Watches, count me in
Q-6
I just stick to their leather or travel goods now and I have never been tempted by their watches
How do you Win10 & Bootcamp users find battery life?
(From a surfing, Word Pro etc point of view, nothing overly taxing).
(From a surfing, Word Pro etc point of view, nothing overly taxing).
Funny someone asked me that yesterday so I timed 3.5 hrs use which took me down to 51% at +90% brightness and just web, email and couple of hours YouTube/video reviews
At a more modest brightness you should be approaching 8hrs which is no real difference to OSX according to a friend
Hibernation seems better than sleep in Windows. I left it in that mode for 20hrs and it went down 2% I think OSX would be a little better in the equivalent sleep mode.
How well does Win10 handle high resolution? Do you feel it is easier to read documents on Windows or OS X boot? Does Microsoft still offer free trial?
+1
Hibernate is the right 'off' mode for Windows 10 on the RMB. Sleep kills battery life too quickly for some reason, Hibernate is just right.
BJ
Watches, count me in
Q-6
Must as I adore my 3 Sport Rolexes, it's my 1964 Omega Pre-Pro Pre-Moon Speedmaster that gets ye ol' heart racing.
BJ
Yes I do not know why the rMB sometimes throws a wobbly running bootcamp utilities it should be the 3 simple steps it says
ie DL Win 10 64 from MS and save to your desktop, run bootcamp utill which should save a copy of win support drivers to your USB, create win partition and copy iso file to the usb drive, then re boot you into windows setup ready to format your new partition and install windows
I suspect there is nothing wrong with your iso file just OSX util being funny but it's quite simple how to get around this
Copy your windows utilities from the USB drive back to your desktop, so now you have them and the iso file there
Google how to mount an iso file in OSX using the osx drive util (very simple), once done copy the windows utilities from your desktop to the same usb drive
Go back to bootcamp util and only check create windows partition, create the drive, reboot from OSX and hold the alt key down till you see the select drive to boot from screen and select the usb
Win 10 install should start, you may get a problem where you can't select 2 options as the trackpad is not recognised yet (not always), pull the usb drive out, plug in any usb mouse, click the 2 options, language and one other, quickly stick the usb drive back in and win 10 will continue and the trackpad will work, use options to format the new drive you created in boot camp and win 10 will install, once win 10 is completely finished just run the windows support drivers exe file to install all the correct apple drivers etc then your wifi, screen function keys etc etc will be fine
Download icloud util for windows from apple for synch contacts/bookmarks/photos etc and install trackpad+++ if you want all your gestures and there is iTunes for windows if you use that
In C:\Program Files (x86)\Apple Software Update you will find an exe file to run to check for updates it will also install iTunes and Quicktime plus updates
Use the bootmanger icon in the system tray to boot back to OSX or re-boot and hold the alt key to select drive
PS Download AVG free edition
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Not quite sure why you think there is any real difference I understand Win 10 actually handles it better and faster
You can install Win 10 without a product key just use the little skip/later button at the bottom of the install screen, not everything will work but enough to play with.
You can get a licence key for around $48 if you are happy
Where do you get a license key for $48 from? On the Microsoft store page it says a copy Windows 10 is $120.You can install Win 10 without a product key just use the little skip/later button at the bottom of the install screen, not everything will work but enough to play with.
You can get a licence key for around $48 if you are happy
As a matter of interest can you resize the Windows partition size at a later date after installing Win10?
No unfortunately you would have to wipe it and do the process over again and the longer you have had/used your OSX partition the harder it is to give larger partition to Win 10 from the available space
So choose you Win partition carefully unless you want to spend a few hours to re-size it
Note to remove the partition and integrated back in to OSX is a very simple one click operation
If it's one of those rainy Sunday mornings and you want to see what all the fuss is/is not about have a quick play with Bootcamp/Win 10 as you can always revert back in a few mins
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Hi Steve, thanks for this link. Is it really genuine? The site looks a little bit unprofessional/dodgy.