New to Mac, Bootcamp questions

Hey everybody! I'm about to head off to college, and I've decided to get a Mac. I want a 13" rMBP, but I don't want the current internals. Sadly, I can't wait until the next rMBP comes out to have a computer for college, so what I'm doing is buying a 13" 2013 Air (today or tomorrow, base specs) and using it until the next rMBP comes out, then selling it on eBay. I shouldn't lose very much, hopefully, as I'm buying with education discount and the back to school promotion (and I fully plan to sell the gift card, unless one of you experienced Mac users convinces me to keep it. But that's unlikely.).

Anyway, I'm planning on installing Windows 8 in boot camp, but have never done so before, so I have a few questions. First and foremost: My university gives me Windows for free, but as of now I'm uncertain whether or not they will give me multiple licenses for free so I'm operating under the assumption that it's only 1/year. If I were to install it on my Air, would there be a way to remove it before reselling and use the same license when I install it on the rMBP I eventually get?

Secondly, I've heard from some people that installing Windows via boot camp voids the warranty. Is that true? Because that seems rather crazy. And if it actually is true, is there a way for me to install and remove it in such a way that nobody would be able to tell (so that it keeps its full resale value)? As a related question, even if it doesn't void the warranty it should be easy to remove Windows before I resell it, correct?

Thirdly, assuming I'm not dissuaded from installing Windows by the answers to the above two questions... I haven't ever actually used a Mac, much less installed Windows on it. I know that I want to install Windows with EFI booting. But the only mention I've seen of how to install with EFI booting on this forum is in relation to the usual method of installing. If one of you could explain how to install Windows in boot camp with EFI booting, or provide a link to somewhere that does, I would appreciate it immensely.

To be clear, my university provides a download link for windows, and I will be installing with that data, not through a provided disc (probably through a USB drive). In addition, there's a version of "Windows 8 for Mac" listed as well as a version of just Windows 8 listed. What's the difference between the two of these?

Finally, if there are any programs/hints/tips that any of you experienced Mac users would recommend to me, either for OSX or for Windows or just in general, I would appreciate those.


Oh, and as one last note before finishing this rather long post... I'm not interested in posts attempting to persuade me to go for another Mac or not pursue this purchasing strategy (I'm fairly set on these decisions). In addition, though I mainly plan on using OSX (Mavericks in particular looks really interesting), having Windows is a necessity for me.


Thanks in advance for the help! From reading threads, the people on this forum seem much more helpful than on most, so I'm confident you can help me out.

 

Thanks for the help, guys! Typing this from my new Mac.

So to install windows 8 with EFI boot all I have to do is put the windows 8 iso file on a flash drive and then use the boot camp helper while I have that flash drive plugged in?

I assume I need to do something special to format the drive so that it can be used for boot camp install, though, right? I can't just put the iso file on the drive?

Assuming that my above assumption is correct, how would I then convert the usb drive back to a normal usb drive for storage when I'm done?

Again, thanks for the quick help?

 

I don't plan on using Windows as the primary operating system. It is for occasional use with certain applications. In addition, I happen to quite like the way windows 8 works with the trackpad++ application (checked it out on my friend's computer).

 

I've already tried Windows 8 with a touch screen. I liked some aspects of it, didn't like others. Overall I think it's a good operating system, and it should be an excellent one in 8.1. For now I want to try OSX, though.

I would, however, like to be able to run Windows on it, even though I plan to mainly use OSX. I'd prefer boot camp to parallels because 1. I don't plan on using it particularly often, and would prefer not to spend $60. I may end up deciding I want to eventually, and if so I'll buy it then. and 2. Trackpad++ doesn't work in a virtual machine and I would like to be able to use windows 8 with the support of gestures - ones meant for the touch screen but that work fairly well over a Mac trackpad.

Thanks for your word of advice about many people reselling their Airs. I think you are very likely right. Hopefully I won't lose very much money because of the education discountsI had when buying it (and the $100 gift card), but if I have to take a bit of a hit that's ok. I need to have a computer for the next couple months, and this one should be a good one for that time period. (Also, it's possible I'll end up selling this back into my family; my younger sister wants a new computer for high school, and may end up buying this from me.) But I know I want to have the rMBP as my computer for the first few years of college, and so my plan is still the same.