I have a 15" 2010 mbp and i use osx and win 7 about 50/50. In win 7, it gets pretty hot easily and i get about 2.5 hrs of battery life taking notes. In OSX, I get about 5 hrs of battery life at and it stays cool. This is most likely due to better drivers in OSX and the fact that, in windows, both the discrete video card and the integrated video card are on all the time. Also, you can do scrolling in win 7 with the touchpad, but none of the cool multitouch gestures like in OSX. Finally, you have to control the backlit keyboard manually in win 7. Besides that, though, it runs fine.
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.
Pros and Cons of using Windows 7 on MBP?
- Thread starter BluAffiliate
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Pros: Runs as buttery as Windows will ever run.
Cons: Display drivers are a pain to update. The trackpad feels wonky.
Cons: Display drivers are a pain to update. The trackpad feels wonky.
I used Windows 7 32-bit on my 2010 MacBook Pro 13" and technically it worked flawlessly. I just had bad battery life (but this was to be expected from Windows), and the computer ran a little warmer than usual. These are common occurrences and not "problems" I didn't have any trackpad issues either, so I'm not sure what people are talking about.
I have to agree with prior sentiments that the best Windows laptop I ever owned was my June 2009 MBP. I have not installed Windows on my new MBP, and may not, as I already have a Windows laptop and desktop for that purpose.
That being said, there are some drawbacks. The reason that you will get noticeably worse battery life running in Windows is because that OS has never been good at power management. Likewise, you lose some of the multitouch functionality of the trackpad in Windows, although that may change soon as more and more OEMs are incorporating multitouch into their trackpads.
That being said, there are some drawbacks. The reason that you will get noticeably worse battery life running in Windows is because that OS has never been good at power management. Likewise, you lose some of the multitouch functionality of the trackpad in Windows, although that may change soon as more and more OEMs are incorporating multitouch into their trackpads.
It's hard to explain. When you use the trackpad in Windows, you'll notice the functionality to feel incomplete - it works but it doesn't work as good as it does in OS X. You really have use it to be able to tell/notice the difference.
The reason I ask is that I use it every day. Just wondering what I'm missing. Maybe it's because I just use the basic everyday functions of the pad.
No wonkynes whatsoever here. Macbook's trackpad is arguably the best trackpad you can use on Windows.
The only 'wonky' trackpad issue is when power is plugged into an inadequate source, causing jerkiness in both OSs. Fix is to remove the magsafe, or to use the extension that comes with the power adaptor to earth the power. The problem is the power source, not the macbook.
The only 'wonky' trackpad issue is when power is plugged into an inadequate source, causing jerkiness in both OSs. Fix is to remove the magsafe, or to use the extension that comes with the power adaptor to earth the power. The problem is the power source, not the macbook.
There's nothing missing from a normal Windows trackpad. The MBP trackpad in OSX is light years above anything I've ever seen on Windows, so the fact that it isn't as good as OSX isn't a con of using Windows on a MBP - it's a con of using Windows. I use Windows often enough and I haven't had any trackpad issues at all.
Well I have tested better ones on real windows notebook. Multitouch pads that is.
The biggest problem with Windows is that drivers and optimization just isn't any better than on some cheap Windows notebook. No comparison to decent Windows notebooks that run much longer per Wh of battery. Plugged in it releases almost all the power there is. Turbo isn't working afaik on the newer ones but otherwise it works.
The biggest problem with Windows is that drivers and optimization just isn't any better than on some cheap Windows notebook. No comparison to decent Windows notebooks that run much longer per Wh of battery. Plugged in it releases almost all the power there is. Turbo isn't working afaik on the newer ones but otherwise it works.
Of course this is just an opinion, but as a long time Windows user coming from a $2k HP Envy 17 w/ multitouch, then an HP HDX16t, then an XPS m1530 (all high-end Windows laptops), I really still find the MBP touchpad to be better than the other ones in Windows. The exception being 2-finger scrolling on the internet, where it is a bit too sensitive for my liking.
I think you should specify what it is you need Win7 for. There are good or superior alternatives to many Windows programs on OSX.
I ran W7 in bootcamp for a while. It worked just fine, EXCEPT that the trackpad was WAY TOO sensitive.
However, I have since moved to virtualization using VMWare Fusion. Everything runs just fine, and the best part is no more trackpad over-sensitivity issues.
My W7 virtual machine works better and faster than my friends regular windows PC
However, I have since moved to virtualization using VMWare Fusion. Everything runs just fine, and the best part is no more trackpad over-sensitivity issues.
My W7 virtual machine works better and faster than my friends regular windows PC
You guys know you can change the mouse sensitivity under windows in control panel? there's seperate settings for scrolling and regular mouse. As for the "wonky" issue, I think you all may be referring to how osx has different mouse acceleration than windows, its only something I notice in games--and windows behaves better IMHO, although I do admit its a preference issue, and mine is such as I have been a long time PC gamer, so I'm used to it.
As for the heat, the included fan driver is complete crap! It doesn't spin the fans up like it should which causes overheating. All the VM users dont notice this because osx is still controlling the fan. I'd recommend installing lubbo's fan control in windows to fix the problem. The only other issue I've ever had with bootcamp is the bootloader, replace it with refit so you have a real bootloader, not thesad excuse of a loader apple packages.
Those are the only issues (and fixes for them) I've ever had running bootcamp, I highly recommend it, but do know what your doing.
As for the heat, the included fan driver is complete crap! It doesn't spin the fans up like it should which causes overheating. All the VM users dont notice this because osx is still controlling the fan. I'd recommend installing lubbo's fan control in windows to fix the problem. The only other issue I've ever had with bootcamp is the bootloader, replace it with refit so you have a real bootloader, not thesad excuse of a loader apple packages.
Those are the only issues (and fixes for them) I've ever had running bootcamp, I highly recommend it, but do know what your doing.
Last edited:
I've been running Windows (first XP, now 7) on my MBP (first one a 15" mid-2007 Santa Rosa and current one is a 15" 2011 Sandy Bridge) for four years, and I have never had any trouble. Ever. I use a Thinkpad at work, and Windows is just as stable on my Mac as it is on my Thinkpad.
You should have no qualms about running Windows. Just make sure you create big enough partitions on your hard drive, because you always end up using more space than you think you will. I think I ended up with 300gb for OSX and 200gb for Windows.
You should have no qualms about running Windows. Just make sure you create big enough partitions on your hard drive, because you always end up using more space than you think you will. I think I ended up with 300gb for OSX and 200gb for Windows.
I have completely switched over to Win7 (x64) in Bootcamp on my 2010 13" Macbook Pro. Never had 1 issue with installing Win7.
Graphics drivers for the 320m have installed seamlessly. Gaming performance is better in Windows, which is the reason for my switch. The trackpad is definitely more sensitive, but after using it for a couple days, you adjust, or use external mouse. You definitely lose a couple hrs of battery life. I think I get about 4 to 4.5 hours (extremely light use) in Win7. With Bootcamp I lost out on about 30gigs of space between both OSX and Win7, that sucked especially with only a 250 hd. Never had a problem with heat after I installed lubbosfancontrol. Runs quiet in the background and works great.
OS X is incredible and the biggest con to using Win7 to me, is you lose out on all the smaller programs built specifically for OSX that run so well. Coda, Pixelmator, iLife, to name a couple.
Enjoy both, that is why Apple created Bootcamp.
Graphics drivers for the 320m have installed seamlessly. Gaming performance is better in Windows, which is the reason for my switch. The trackpad is definitely more sensitive, but after using it for a couple days, you adjust, or use external mouse. You definitely lose a couple hrs of battery life. I think I get about 4 to 4.5 hours (extremely light use) in Win7. With Bootcamp I lost out on about 30gigs of space between both OSX and Win7, that sucked especially with only a 250 hd. Never had a problem with heat after I installed lubbosfancontrol. Runs quiet in the background and works great.
OS X is incredible and the biggest con to using Win7 to me, is you lose out on all the smaller programs built specifically for OSX that run so well. Coda, Pixelmator, iLife, to name a couple.
Enjoy both, that is why Apple created Bootcamp.
On two different iMac's, Boot camping Windows 7 ran perfectly fine. Now that I just bought my first ever MBP, the 2011 17", every time I try to install Windows 7, and mind you, I'm using the SAME Win 7 disk every time, which could be my problem lol), it always aborts the installation when it is virtually finished installing!!! At the VERY END there is a window that comes up with the whole Windows 7 background (post 2nd reboot) and it says something like "Windows cannot be installed on this type of hardware"!? 
I've tried this on BOTH Snow Leopard (10.6.7) AND Lion (10.7 Dev. Preview 4) and Lion has a new version of Boot Camp. Are there any 2011 MBP owners who have installed Windows 7 successfully???
I've tried this on BOTH Snow Leopard (10.6.7) AND Lion (10.7 Dev. Preview 4) and Lion has a new version of Boot Camp. Are there any 2011 MBP owners who have installed Windows 7 successfully???
On two different iMac's, Boot camping Windows 7 ran perfectly fine. Now that I just bought my first ever MBP, the 2011 17", every time I try to install Windows 7, and mind you, I'm using the SAME Win 7 disk every time, which could be my problem lol), it always aborts the installation when it is virtually finished installing!!! At the VERY END there is a window that comes up with the whole Windows 7 background (post 2nd reboot) and it says something like "Windows cannot be installed on this type of hardware"!?
I've tried this on BOTH Snow Leopard (10.6.7) AND Lion (10.7 Dev. Preview 4) and Lion has a new version of Boot Camp. Are there any 2011 MBP owners who have installed Windows 7 successfully???
I did. It took eventually realizing I had to have the Superdrive INSIDE the laptop for it to work, but it worked first time after that.
you can change the scrolling sensitivity and it becomes great
.I don't remember if you change it from the browser or from mouse/trackpad in the settings, but you can.
I'd think something is wrong. A 13 inch MBP has a 64 watt-hour battery. Most 13 inch laptops have a 48 or 55 watt hour battery and can easily last 3.5 hours.
Using it via Parallels 6 might be the best bet (I agree, Boot Camp has some issues, but it's better than it used to be!).
Via boot camp, you can't control the fans and Windows 7 runs very hot as it's not as efficient with the hardware resources (CPU, RAM) as OS X is.
On OS X, I'll idle at 34 or so. On Win7, 40.
Using photoshop on OS X, I'll get it to 40~50C. In Windows, 76C without batting an eyelid... with boot camp.
With SMC Fan Control set to the RPM I want, with Parallels, the system can still run cool as a cucumber.
I just got a new laptop. It has dual video cards, and a 6-cell, 48 wHr battery. My macbook pro, running windows, has a higher capacity, 8-cell battery. It gets less runtime on battery.. I've honestly never seen a Windows install get so hot, so fast.
The difference, like someone else alluded to, is that you're running Windows 7 in a VM. While you run a VM, the CPU management, and mousepad drivers, are being controlled by OS X. If you run Windows under VMware, it's amazing, but under bootcamp, it just sucks.
Nahh, the keyboard mapping isn't a problem at all. What I'm talking about is related to the Apple function keys; if you try to turn the monitor off, and then back on, you need to hit the LCD-brightness button 3 times before it'll register, and then it jumps to being really bright, and you need to dim it. Likewise with the volume, you need to really play around with it in the software as the hardware controlls on the keyboard, just don't work.
I've got a Dell Vostro now, and the difference between a clean install of windows on my vostro and a clean install of windows on my MBP is like night and day, the Dell wins hands down.