New 12" MacBook Strictly For Windows - Powerful Enough?

[boltjames]

It's my job to. I'm responsible for delivering I.T to one of the largest companies on the planet. I have nearly 75,000 users across the globe and I not only understand their needs, I deploy services & solutions to enhance their I.T experience. Giving someone a Mac just to run Windows doesn't make sense which is why we don't do it. They get a ThinkPad that I can manage from top to bottom.

That's a nice soapbox you have there, but it doesn't apply. I am not getting a rMB from my in-house IT department. It's a personal purchase for personal reasons.

Your company is doing it wrong. As a SVP you should really know better than dishing out vanity products to people who's business requirement is to run Windows.

It's not "my company" that's doing anything. I am allowed to indulge myself with a personal notebook of my choosing at my own expense; they merely provide me with a copy of Office and a signon.

It's not a "vanity product". I need something extremely lightweight to make Powerpoint presentations, run a spreadsheet, and FaceTime the kids thousands of miles from home. That's what the new MacBook is for. Someone who values form factor above all else.

I literally chuckled at this comment:

Did you write that without making your own toes curl?

I don't expect you to understand or empathize with the needs of the executive business class traveler. Those in your role cater to the lowest common denominator, bring consistency to thousands of nameless faceless workers in grey cubicles so that configurations and corrections are quick and painless. You're driving Ford's when we're discussing BMW's. You're the antithesis of the person that the rMB is designed for. That's why you don't understand it's value.

BJ

 

[TheOakTrail]

Seems like you need the $80 dongle to install into bootcamp? Did you install this directly from the internal SSD or hook up a CD Drive?

Thankfully you don't need a CD drive anymore, as Microsoft officially distributes Windows installation ISO files. To that end, you need some sort of USB device to create installation media, whether it's USB-C or USB-A. There might be some weird way of keeping the installation media on the local drive, but it would surely involve a weird partition.

 

[ZipZap]

Thankfully you don't need a CD drive anymore, as Microsoft officially distributes Windows installation ISO files. To that end, you need some sort of USB device to create installation media, whether it's USB-C or USB-A. There might be some weird way of keeping the installation media on the local drive, but it would surely involve a weird partition.

So cheapest approach for bootcamp install:

USB Drive
$19 Apple Dongle for Plugging in the USB Drive
Fully charged Macbook as it will be running on batteries

Or the more expensive dongle if you want to be on AC while installing.

 

[boltjames]

So I took the plunge today, found an Apple authorized reseller in Manhattan that had a Space Grey 512GB 1.2GHz and it's coming overnight, I'll have it tomorrow. Found the Apple HDMI/USB Adapter too, so I'm all set for tomorrow.

Does the rMB come with Bootcamp or do I have to buy that too? I have to download Windows 8 from Microsoft too, yes?

BJ

 

[PBG4 Dude]

So cheapest approach for bootcamp install:

USB Drive
$19 Apple Dongle for Plugging in the USB Drive
Fully charged Macbook as it will be running on batteries

Or the more expensive dongle if you want to be on AC while installing.

There are USB drives with USB Type C connector available to buy.

 

[ninja2000]

So I took the plunge today, found an Apple authorized reseller in Manhattan that had a Space Grey 512GB 1.2GHz and it's coming overnight, I'll have it tomorrow. Found the Apple HDMI/USB Adapter too, so I'm all set for tomorrow.

Does the rMB come with Bootcamp or do I have to buy that too? I have to download Windows 8 from Microsoft too, yes?

BJ

Bootcamp is free, it is in utilities. Just click it and follow the prompts, it is really easy.
With regards
to windows, just download an ISO, either from MS or there are other sites usually but if you have bought a license from MS then they should give you a link to download the ISO

 

[Miltz]

When it comes to iOS devices, I'm an Apple guy but when it comes to my PC I'm a Windows guy, just too much of my work life fits comfortably there.

I've been a Sony VAIO guy for decades as they made the slimmest/lightest notebooks for Windows but now they're done and sold the brand to the Chinese.

I'm giving very serious consideration to dumping my 2 year old Sony PRO 13 ultrabook for a new MacBook but before I do I could use your help in understanding if the MacBook has enough RAM and processing power to run Windows under Bootcamp exclusively- I'll never use the Apple OS.

Any other Windows users move over to the new MacBook? Everything working well and with good speed or is my strategy no good? I'm coming from a 2013 Sony PRO 13 with an i5 processor, 8 gigs of RAM, SSD, etc.

TIA

BJ

Terrible idea and reasoning. There are plenty of manufacturers who make windows based laptops like lenovo, samsung, and asus that will be a better fit for windows 8/10. Although if the country of origin is your concern your options will be limited. I'm sure you already know Apple makes everything in china except the Mac Pro so I'm not sure why Apple China is ok but Sony China isn't okay. I will tell you to stay away from Alienware because of their terrible customer service and poor quality control. (Personal Experience) The Surface 3 Pro is probably the best option for a Windows 8/10 laptop in my opinion.

 

[ZipZap]

There are USB drives with USB Type C connector available to buy.

Only 1 and its $50

 

[boltjames]

Terrible idea and reasoning. There are plenty of manufacturers who make windows based laptops like lenovo, samsung, and asus that will be a better fit for windows 8/10.

Again, this is my personal computer for travel purposes, it's not my desktop computer which is powerful and stays in my office. I will never use this MacBook for anything more than email (Outlook), presentations (Powerpoint), simple spreadsheets (Excel), document sharing (Dropbox), video conferencing (Skype), and sporting events (Slingbox).

Form factor is everything, Since 1996 I've always had the slimmest/lightest Windows notebook on the market, usually a Sony machine, for awhile it was Acer. Today, the retina MacBook is the best alternative.

BJ

 

[Newtons Apple]

delete

 

[inmnbob]

I was in the PC business at the start of the PC business and ran North American sales for Zenith Data System. I always competed with Apple so didn't own Apple computers until my new wife, a school teacher, really begged for one. I bought her a 27" iMac. Then starting playing with OS X and started to drink the Apple Kool-aid. Having a midi studio helped and playing with video creation also became immediate benefits of an Apple. I already had an iPad and iTunes and that worked well.

I really missed however Windows Office and particularly the "SEND TO OUTLOOK" options that exist in Office 2011. I used the Mac beta 2016 versions of office and they were okay but I really wanted and needed the integration of Office for windows. To that extent I installed Parallels and that solved all my needs. I also added a rMBP for myself after that.

Today if someone is already invested in the Apple infrastructure I wouldn't know why they would by a PC if they were going to have only one device. With the Apple running Parallels you get the best of both worlds.

I am looking forward to adding the rMB soon. Like the gentleman that started this thread. I too travel a lot. I want to take one computer that i can use for media creation and consumption as well as work productively in Office.

My only question is which rMB to buy. I want to be able to do some Garageband and maybe Logic Pro. I also would like to do iMovie and some graphic work.

Not sure I need 500GB but am concerned about speed. 1.1 vs 1.2 or 1.3.

Thoughts/Advice?