Installing Windows on Macbook Air?

mayweather12 · 11 Feb 2015 at 20:36

Hi,

Just wondered for those guys who have installed Windows 7/8 (Which is most stable?) on a Macbook Air, have you ran into any difficulties at all, or is the install process difficult?

Thanks in advance.

Deleted member 77746 · 12 Feb 2015 at 09:31

If you have a licence for 7 I think it's a lot more stable as it's had time to develop. (IMHO)

lamboman · 12 Feb 2015 at 10:10

mrbell1984 said:
If you have a licence for 7 I think it's a lot more stable as it's had time to develop. (IMHO)

To offer a contrasting opinion, I completely disagree. I've found that Windows 8 is much faster, Explorer is a little "tidier" and easier to use, and in terms of stability and compatibility I have never really found any issues with either.

In terms of install difficulty, it depends on whether you want to install using Boot Camp or not (UEFI). I'd personally go through the extra hassle to do the latter, just by principle.

What will you be using Windows for? The most portable solution would be to use VirtualBox, Fusion or Parallels, though of course the latter two cost money, and all three will result in slightly poorer battery life (which may or may not be a concern for you).

DanF · 12 Feb 2015 at 10:38

If you go std bootcamp then it's very very simple to do. Win 8.1 is fine on the air. The main issue is you lose all the os x trackpad gestures, it just turns in to a bogo trackpad experience

Try running in VirtualBox to start with and see how you get on, it's free.

Beerbaron · 12 Feb 2015 at 10:45

I setup Windows 7/OS X in dual boot on my Macbook Pro. When running Windows my Macbook would get crazily hot.

Deleted member 77746 · 12 Feb 2015 at 13:02

lamboman said:
To offer a contrasting opinion, I completely disagree.

Everyone is entitled to an opinion.. Won't debate it's up to the OP.

mayweather12 · 12 Feb 2015 at 21:23

Thanks for the feedback, think I might just stick with OS X and make do with the sub par Office at the moment. Hoping for Microsoft Office OS X !

Ben Cole · 12 Feb 2015 at 23:58

I've been running Windows 8 then 8.1 on a 2012 MB Air since I bought it. No problems at all. I still don't really like the aesthetic but it runs very well.

After seeing how much quicker and more efficient Windows 8 was than Windows 7 on an AMD C50 powered Acer tablet I've tried to use W8 wherever possible. The difference was huge.

Terminal_Boy · 13 Feb 2015 at 00:06

Run Windows via VMWare as a virtual machine and run SMCfancontrol to keep the cooling fans spinning hard.