Question for those with windows experience

Windows performance in Bootcamp is pretty good, it's basically the same as you would get in an ultrabook with the same specs.

To me the biggest downside of using bootcamp is that the trackpad drivers, gestures, etc. just aren't as good as they are under OSX (still pretty good compared to most Windows notebooks). There's a utility called Trackpad++ that makes this a bit better. Having to reboot to switch OSes is a pain as well.

If all you're doing under Windows is running Excel and other similar applications then I would recommend using a virtual machine such as Parallels or VMWare Fusion. They will run Excel just fine and save you the trouble of rebooting to switch to Windows.

The retina screen in Windows mostly depends on the specific application. You'll sometimes notice that a particular app has a low resolution icon or doesn't handle the scaling very well, but most modern applications are okay. Most of Microsoft's own apps are pretty high-dpi friendly.

Be sure to look around for student / education discounts for Windows and Parallels/VMWare.

 

edit: To remove personally identifying info not relevant to the conversation.

 

Something else I'll add is that, while I haven't looked at a Zenbook personally, most Windows laptops these days still come with a bunch of extra stuff installed by the manufacturer. Some of it's useful, some of it is just a pain.

I use Windows quite a bit (bootcamp/vm on my Macbook Pro, also on my gaming desktop), but I much prefer it when I can install a clean copy myself, which is what you get when using Bootcamp or a virtual machine.

 

Honest opinion? You have a requirement to run a Windows application and no requirement to run Macintosh applications. Therefore my recommendation is to buy a PC.

 

Every computer has its share of issues, even MacBooks. If they didn't then these forums wouldn't exist. Doesn't sound like you 'need' a mac for it's OS and while using bootcamp offers great performance, it's still a hassle to hard reboot when switching back and forth. Can always look into getting a thinkpad, very solid business class machines esp for grad school. Unless you really need that ultrabook form factor

 

just be sure to get 8GB Ram and not he 4GB edition.

 

The 4GB variant doesn't exist anymore.

All rMBPs come with at least 8GB RAM as standard.

 

If you haven't used a mac there's a certain learning curve at first. Shortcuts are largely the same when using Parallels. By default you use windows like a mac app, alt+c/v becomes command+c/v, control+F4 becomes command+Q etc.

Once you adjust to using OSX, you'll find that the integration between hardware and software is amazing. UI & shortcuts are intuitive, switching between full-screen apps is neat, and the trackpad gestures and optimization are light years ahead of any windows-based system and make using a macbook an absolute joy.

I own Parallels 10 and I ought to warn you about a certain bug that's causing a slow-down with the latest OSX version. Went back to version 8 (one I upgraded from) until issue is fixed. Otherwise it's just seamless and superior to windows looks and control-wise. Speed is good enough for anything but demanding 3D games and rendering software under Parallels. Bootcamp is basically Windows native with an emulated BIOS.

Also bear in mind that there're some free and low-cost alternatives to running MS Excel, one of which comes bundled with OS X.

ASUS is one of the best manufacturers out there, they'd be my go-to company if buying a macbook is not an option. Should you buy a Zenbook, it'll meet your needs and then some. It's up to you to decide whether a better operation system and screen are worth the extra dough.

My personal take, having been a windows user most of my life, macbooks are a little more expensive but offer a better OS and come bundled with far, far better software.

 

If your primary use is Windows, then there is not much point in getting a Mac. The main benefits of a MacBook are great battery life, amazing trackpad and excellent integration of hardware and software features — but they only become apparent when you are using OS X. There are some great Windows laptops out there and I think they will serve your purpose better.