For those that run Win7 on MBA, what are your experiences so far? I was thinking of installing it but I am constantly afraid of slowing it down especially that I have the standard 13'.
Thanks
Thanks
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Macbook air and Windows 7
- Thread starter qw1478
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
It runs fine for me either on Boot Camp or Parallels on my 4GB 2.13GHz system. If you have a 2GB system, it might run a bit slower on Parallels, but in Boot Camp it should be fine.
I have windows 7 running via bootcamp and it runs fine. I have the 13/128/4gb version.
Yeah it runs fine but there is a huge problem with the trackpad.
FYI, I'm using bootcamp 3.2 with MBA 13" ultimate with Win 7 Pro.
1. 3 finger, 4 finger anything doesn't work. In other words, the only thing you can do with the trackpad with bootcamp Windows 7 is 2 finger scroll up and down and right click and tap to click.
2. Clicking is irregular, especially if you click the bottom left corner of the trackpad.
3. Scrolling is NOT smooth like in OSX. When you scroll, you can see the page move in big clumps. There's also no momentum scrolling.
4. The movement of the cursor isn't as consistent as it is in OSX. Sometimes, when you are using the trackpad, the cursor just stops moving for like 1-2 seconds.
My point is that bootcamp is definitely usable but it isn't as smooth as Windows 7 running on a PC.
If anyone knows solutions to these problems, that'd be awesome. I've also tried installing trackpad++ because lots of people recommended it but again, the trackpad improved but not as perfect as I'd want it to be.
Regards to your points 2,3 & 4 - I have no such issues - The scrolling is buttery smooth - momentum scrolling works fine and there is no jumpiness or jerky pointer movement. I havent installed any special scrolling software either.
As for point #1 - Thats pretty much what i get, but then i dont need more as i use Windows only for work and this is my backup computer.
nobackup
macrumors regular
Mate me thinks you should seek to understand before blowing off... you can only install win7 on the new 2010 Macbook AIRs ... therefore if you upgraded your hardware and wanted to reinstall windows XP ... no go.... not supported by Apple... only way is BUY a BRAND new lic or do as the guy above... very very legitimate as all previous dues paid...
If the Microsoft Police turn up at the door ... here my XP CD, here my Vista and here my upgrade LIC....
People need a route, and you closed the door to them if they follow your post.... seek to understand.. 🙂
Last edited:
nobackup
macrumors regular
My Win 7 Experience..
I have 2x2010 Macbook Airs
11.6 1.4 2GB 128GB
13 2.13 4GB 256GB
On BOTH no issues in bootcamp (BOTH AERO ON)
Parallels Running on Bootcamp
2.13 Fast to load and get to DESKTOP ... (Full Screen) ,,, Fast Response easy to work with... Allocated 2GB.. AERO ON
1.4 Slow to load and get to DESKTOP ... (Full Screen) ,,, Good Response easy to work with... Allocated 1GB ... AERO Off.
Still using Win7 on the 2.13 but now use XP in a VHD on the 1.4 as uses way less diskspace than 7
N.B. on Both I have Coolbook installed so when running "inside" of OSX runs much cooler and has very little effect on overall battery run time...
overall the 2.13 experience in Win7 is about as good as it gets,if not the best, easily out performs my work Thinkpad X201 4GB 256SSD with an i5 !!!
hope this helps😀
I have 2x2010 Macbook Airs
11.6 1.4 2GB 128GB
13 2.13 4GB 256GB
On BOTH no issues in bootcamp (BOTH AERO ON)
Parallels Running on Bootcamp
2.13 Fast to load and get to DESKTOP ... (Full Screen) ,,, Fast Response easy to work with... Allocated 2GB.. AERO ON
1.4 Slow to load and get to DESKTOP ... (Full Screen) ,,, Good Response easy to work with... Allocated 1GB ... AERO Off.
Still using Win7 on the 2.13 but now use XP in a VHD on the 1.4 as uses way less diskspace than 7
N.B. on Both I have Coolbook installed so when running "inside" of OSX runs much cooler and has very little effect on overall battery run time...
overall the 2.13 experience in Win7 is about as good as it gets,if not the best, easily out performs my work Thinkpad X201 4GB 256SSD with an i5 !!!
hope this helps😀
Scottsdale
Suspended
You speak to me as I am ignorant, but I have had Windows 7 64-bit ultimate and professional running on a 2.13 GHz "OLD" style MBA with Nvidia 9400m. You talk only of running it via BootCamp drivers, then you still don't factor in that what you mean is 64-bit.
Wise up before you attack others with your unfounded "knowledge." I don't appreciate it, and you're dead wrong too. It almost makes it humorous. Look at how old the post is too... I hope your tongue lashings backfire against you for talking to people without knowledge of which you speak.
nobackup
macrumors regular
Wow who is striking out then..
Read what you wrote and read what I wrote... mmmmmmmmm Does it state any here that its an old Air... NO .... you just stated that ... don't steal....
I was stating the CORRECT case for the new air.... suggest you get new Glasses
Buy WIN XP allows upgrade to Vista... , or buy Vista ......Upgradable to Win7.... 32 Bit allows also to install 64 Bit.... mmmmm that's still correct
who cares its full legal... you had your say ... allow others there without lowering the tone into the gutter...
so
Closed..
Last edited:
nobackup
macrumors regular
What App are you using ... I have noticed a big difference in "Scrolling" based on the Browser and stuff installed.. If I use Chrome then its not as smooth if there is a lot of FLASH on the site and FLASH BLOCK disabled.
if using other browsers with NO FLASH installed all is smooth as silk..
Scrolling through a 60 page word document or a large PDF ... no issue 🙂 just my 10 cents..
stockscalper
macrumors 6502a
Maybe the scrolling issue is related to memory. I have the 2.13 GHZ edition with 4 gigs and scrolling is smooth as silk running Windows 7 under Parallels 5.
I'm using a 13" ultimate (4GB ram, 2.13GHz, 256GB SSD) with parallels 6 and Win7 ultimate. I dedicated 2GB of ram and 2 cores to parallels.
I'm sorry but let me just clarify what I mean by scrolling. What I'm trying to say is that scrolling isn't smooth as it is in OSX. In OSX, each scroll scrolls down the page by like 5 pixels whereas in parallels or bootcamp, each scroll scrolls down by like 30 pixels. This is normal in the Windows environment because my PC does this as well. Extremely smooth scrolling is a OSX feature which doesn't transfer over via bootcamp or parallels. This is slightly correctable using browser extensions such as "smooth scroll" for chrome but scrolling still isn't as smooth as it is in OSX.
Also, I don't get momentum scrolling to the extent I do in OSX. In OSX, the degree of momentum scrolling is configurable whereas in bootcamp drivers, it is not.
Clicking being irregular and the movement of the cursor not being consistent in bootcamp (not parallels) may be due to me being oversensitive but still noticeable by me.
As a FYI, I'd highly recommend turning Aero off and running Parallels in full screen mode. Running parallels with the "Mac skin" enabled automatically turns of Windows Aero or you can do it via the option menu in parallels. This makes Windows 7 runs noticeably faster. I use spaces to dedicate an entire space to full screen windows and whatever program I need to run and several other spaces divided into apps appropriate for photos, studying, etc.
I'm sorry but let me just clarify what I mean by scrolling. What I'm trying to say is that scrolling isn't smooth as it is in OSX. In OSX, each scroll scrolls down the page by like 5 pixels whereas in parallels or bootcamp, each scroll scrolls down by like 30 pixels. This is normal in the Windows environment because my PC does this as well. Extremely smooth scrolling is a OSX feature which doesn't transfer over via bootcamp or parallels. This is slightly correctable using browser extensions such as "smooth scroll" for chrome but scrolling still isn't as smooth as it is in OSX.
Also, I don't get momentum scrolling to the extent I do in OSX. In OSX, the degree of momentum scrolling is configurable whereas in bootcamp drivers, it is not.
Clicking being irregular and the movement of the cursor not being consistent in bootcamp (not parallels) may be due to me being oversensitive but still noticeable by me.
As a FYI, I'd highly recommend turning Aero off and running Parallels in full screen mode. Running parallels with the "Mac skin" enabled automatically turns of Windows Aero or you can do it via the option menu in parallels. This makes Windows 7 runs noticeably faster. I use spaces to dedicate an entire space to full screen windows and whatever program I need to run and several other spaces divided into apps appropriate for photos, studying, etc.
Last edited:
I know Parallel cost 79$ Apple Store Canada.
Is BootCamp free? Or do I need to purchase that as well?
Thanks
Is BootCamp free? Or do I need to purchase that as well?
Thanks
Bootcamp is free, it comes with your OSX. it's in apps --> utilities --> bootcamp assistant
I dont use any special apps for scrolling function if thats what you meant.
When in windows 7 (Via Bootcamp) I use IE8. The scrolling is as smooth as with OSX. I have aero on and i get the Windows user experience rating of 5.3
I dont really have too many apps installed on either Windows or OSX other than MS Office suite on both sides and some utility applications.
nobackup
macrumors regular
Yep that's my feedback as well, however I have started using Safari (As I can get it to sync all data with my OSX app) Also I use Chrome as already stated I only have access to FLASH via chrome... and even then I have installed FLASH block and ADBLOCK, on both helps keep the CPU cycles down and boosts battery time 🙂
I have all set-up so that I can use is via BOOTCAMP or parallels ... (Saves disk space)... as I need access to OUTLOOK for my work email as OUTLOOK for the MAC 2011 is NOT 100% compatible (cant just read embedded EMAILs from colleges or access old "Archives"....) this helps me also have a third location for my DATA so allows for a greater degree of security 🙂.. or is t a forth as I use MAIL.APP to access work exchange server on the fly.. and fire up "Windows" AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK AND SYNC.... ... GET A HOLD OF THE ABANDON WARE winclone to image the boot camp partition just in case...
I have this all mirrored (DATA ONLY...ensures no rouge updates can lock me out.. 🙂 ) on to the 11.6 as well .... as I travel a lot and cant best the 11 for Airline seats..
x2. It's still available from CNet Download. It's great software (it compresses backups and is easy to use to resize a Boot Camp partition as well), and it's too bad the developer didn't get enough support to continue. I'll miss it once a version of OS X or Windows comes out that renders it incompatible.
Too bad the developer didn't leave a site open for donations.
Has anyone thought to try PenDriveLinux? I don't mean a Linux distro, but rather the USB disk maker that they create? I remember when I was making a USB system rescue disc that Windows 7 ISO was in the list of options.
I do not know if this is Mac-bootable or not. And at the moment, I'm not able to try because of lack of flash drive.
I do not know if this is Mac-bootable or not. And at the moment, I'm not able to try because of lack of flash drive.
nobackup
macrumors regular
I tried to get things bootable from external USB but its not supported natively from the
AIR, I was however able to get my USB pen drive bootable.... but I needed to install refit bootmanger... google is your friend.. 😱😉I even got True Image Rescue Disk to work this way 🙂 ... belt and braces I use True Image to make a post installation (but pre and the +300 meg patches for win 7 & office) BIT COPY.... just makes it easier to reinstall if I need to go all the way back... post "Updating" I use WinClone ....
your mileage may vary...