Author Topic: Which Windows to buy for intel Mac (Read 3529 times)

ilw-00 · « **on:** November 26, 2007, 07:14:55 PM »

Hi,
I recently bought a new MacBook Pro and have to purchase Windows for those rare instances when I might have to use the Microsoft operating system. What version does one suggest I buy and from where? Thank you

Paddy · « **Reply #1 on:** November 26, 2007, 10:50:44 PM »

XP Pro would be my recommendation. Vista is a headache from everything I've heard! I got XP via an online retailer - an "OEM" version - no box, but all the correct serial/authentication etc.

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/Se...sp?EdpNo=335900

NewEgg has it for the same price.

Have no idea what these guys are like, but they get good ratings from BizRate reviewers and XP Pro is cheaper:

http://www.ultimatesoftwaredepot.com/index..._id=54&c=47

I got it for $99, from a dealer whose name I cannot recall, but it turned out to be an academic version. That was ok - because we do qualify, but it wasn't anywhere in the listing!

I do find it somewhat amusing that XP Pro is now typically more expensive than it was BEFORE Vista came out. Of course, MS is pulling the plug on the pre-installed OEM versions come January, so the demand for the OS disks from other sources is only going to increase, unless all of Vista's issues get ironed out in a very big hurry.(not very likely)

krissel · « **Reply #2 on:** November 26, 2007, 11:01:09 PM »

Well, from all I've been reading, you'd probably be happier with a copy of XP rather than Vista.

http://www.nextag.com/Operating-Systems--z...9B3D402C762F7DE

http://software.pricegrabber.com/windows-f...=g_us_b_s/skd=1

http://www.macwindows.com/winintelmac.html

sew · « **Reply #3 on:** November 26, 2007, 11:17:59 PM »

Wife just got a new HP notebook with Vista Home Premium, it's really bad, bad. There is no comparison to my Mac with OS 10.3.9. It takes forever to start up and shut down. And once it does get up and running it really not that easy to use. But maybe I'm just to use to Mac OS. Apple (to me) is light years ahead of Microsoft. Her old computer with XP is much better then Vista. But I must say I do like her new 17" notebook but not Vista.

MamaMoose · « **Reply #4 on:** November 26, 2007, 11:20:30 PM »

ilw-00.

I wholeheartedly agree with krissel's and Paddy's comments. I have Windows XP Home with all its bells and whistles and I use Parallels 3 with it. My Intel Mac contains a dual core 2.4 MHZ with 4 GB of RAM and I am running under OS 10.4.10.

MamaMoose

sandyman · « **Reply #5 on:** November 27, 2007, 05:16:45 AM »

I'll go along with XP Pro. Don't bother with XP home, in the words of the tutor on a recent MCP course "it's a toy".

The only people that I know who are using it are those who "have to eat their own dogfood", people who work for Microsoft partners and so on.

Sandy

ilw-00 · « **Reply #6 on:** November 28, 2007, 06:29:01 PM »

Thank you all for your most valuable help. ilw-00

jcarter · « **Reply #7 on:** November 30, 2007, 08:27:08 PM »

I got my husband a nice new MacTel, with a thought he might let me get some of those delicious Photoshop Windows only plug ins.
He flatly refuses to have anything Windows on his machine, and I sort of agree. So thats that.
If I want some, I will have to go to our local Mac store and do it there. They said OK, I would just have to purchase the filter or plug in, not a problem, and you can see that I have not gotten around to that yet, and maybe wont for a while.
Jane

cdub1988 · « **Reply #8 on:** December 01, 2007, 02:41:09 PM »

LOL@Sandy.

Heh.

That was great.

Stick with XP Pro.

There's a reason custom-built shops are offering downgrade price for XP.

In fact, just to give you an idea, I was just test configuring a 'puter for a client just to see what prices I could get for him and the company was offering a SUBTRACTION in cost if you selected the default installed operating system to be Vista.

Take care,

Chris

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Author Topic: Which Windows to buy for intel Mac (Read 3529 times)

MamaMoose