Mac / Vista / Windows 7

[TroubleAtMill]

I seem to remember it's harder getting XP running on a Mac but I can't remember why - I think it's maybe due to the type of BIOS used on Macs. On the other hand I installed Vista Ultimate on my current-gen MacBook with no problems whatsoever, except that the trackpad driver is lame (running under Parallels etc you avoid this as the drivers are still handled by MacOs) - easy remedied by plugging in a £5 mouse which is probably better for coding anyway.

I'd expect W7 would be very smooth to install, though of course the RC version isn't guaranteed!

I think XP is well supported as it was a dominant Windows OS at the time Bootcamp came out. I have it as partition on my MBP and it runs well.

I did install 2003 Server once for run Sharepoint. Never doing that again.

[Cliphead]

You might find the Logitech is blocking the MS cam if it discovered it first.

Recently tried to fix a "All in One" fax/print/scan machine for someone (it would not scan, "scanner not found"), after hours screwing around, taking out and reinstalling drivers came to the conclusion the scanner portion of the machine was just "broken", so off we went and got another, which had exact same problem!

After further research found it was a known problem with Logitech webcams, once the drivers go in they can stop OS's (XP/Vista) recognising any new imaging devices (scanners/webcams) even if you completely uninstall the Logitech software. Only real way to fix it then is to wipe machine

Win 7 gone forever. Installed the standard suite of company software, BSOD, repeatedly reboots, trashed other software on the PC. Duty done, I had a look now bye bye another piece of MS junk.

[Not So Wise]

Installed Win 7 RTM this morning on a spare PC. I had two webcams plugged in that I forgot to remove before installing, a Logitech and a Microsoft Lifecam. After the install completed Windows update kicked in, saw the Logitech cam, installed the drivers and downloaded the utility software without a hitch. The Microsoft Lifecam? Unrecognised device

You might find the Logitech is blocking the MS cam if it discovered it first.

Recently tried to fix a "All in One" fax/print/scan machine for someone (it would not scan, "scanner not found"), after hours screwing around, taking out and reinstalling drivers came to the conclusion the scanner portion of the machine was just "broken", so off we went and got another, which had exact same problem!

After further research found it was a known problem with Logitech webcams, once the drivers go in they can stop OS's (XP/Vista) recognising any new imaging devices (scanners/webcams) even if you completely uninstall the Logitech software. Only real way to fix it then is to wipe machine

[DaveB]

I seem to remember it's harder getting XP running on a Mac but I can't remember why - I think it's maybe due to the type of BIOS used on Macs. On the other hand I installed Vista Ultimate on my current-gen MacBook with no problems whatsoever, except that the trackpad driver is lame (running under Parallels etc you avoid this as the drivers are still handled by MacOs) - easy remedied by plugging in a £5 mouse which is probably better for coding anyway.

I'd expect W7 would be very smooth to install, though of course the RC version isn't guaranteed!

Got XP running on Mac with less hassle that installing it on a PC

Run Bootcamp, install windows, install mac drivers from the Mac OS CD, Job Done.

Also installed and runs fine under VirtualBox.

Can;t remember the last time I actually booted it into windows though. And even then it was just to play Team Fortress.

[Cliphead]

Installed Win 7 RTM this morning on a spare PC. I had two webcams plugged in that I forgot to remove before installing, a Logitech and a Microsoft Lifecam. After the install completed Windows update kicked in, saw the Logitech cam, installed the drivers and downloaded the utility software without a hitch. The Microsoft Lifecam? Unrecognised device

[d000hg]

Still haven't got Vista SP2 to install yet, just get some generic error out of the tulipe. Whatever windows crap comes with the PC just install a Linux distro, you know it makes sense!

You're using Linux because you're too dumb to install Windows... what's wrong with this picture?

[Addanc]

Still haven't got Vista SP2 to install yet, just get some generic error out of the tulipe. Whatever windows crap comes with the PC just install a Linux distro, you know it makes sense!

[expat]

...
Vista is basically going to be WinME all over again

(shuuder) nothing could be as bad as WinME

[OrangeHopper]

Thanks Gents.

I will probably go for Windows 7 first and see how I get on.

[scooterscot]

I
I'd expect W7 would be very smooth to install, though of course the RC version isn't guaranteed!

I've got the RC version running through parallels on an SD express card on the Mac pro, once it's up and running it's incredibly responsive.

[d000hg]

I seem to remember it's harder getting XP running on a Mac but I can't remember why - I think it's maybe due to the type of BIOS used on Macs. On the other hand I installed Vista Ultimate on my current-gen MacBook with no problems whatsoever, except that the trackpad driver is lame (running under Parallels etc you avoid this as the drivers are still handled by MacOs) - easy remedied by plugging in a £5 mouse which is probably better for coding anyway.

I'd expect W7 would be very smooth to install, though of course the RC version isn't guaranteed!

[Moscow Mule]

I have my boot camp partition running XP pro. I rarely use it these days as I've stopped playing WoW

I've used W7 in parallels and I can also run my boot camp partion through parallels.

I expect (but don't know) that W7 works very well on boot camp as there are vista drivers for BC. You might have some 32/64 bit issues but just google it as some geek is bound to have done it before...

[Not So Wise]

I'm likely to be out the door here in the next couple of months and I was thinking taking advantage of my complimentary MSDN subscription. I'm primarily after Visual Studio.

Fortunately or unfortunately - depending on your point of view - I only use Macs at home. I'm thinking of using bootcamp on my Mac Mini - rather than virtualisation - and need to decide which version of Windows to get hold of. I'm assuming 32bit Vista or Windows 7.

Now I know there are some bods on here that have done this sort of thing and I wondered what your advice would be about choice of OS.

No idea how Win 7 would behave being hosted on a Mac, but general consensus these days is go XP or straight to W7.

Vista is basically going to be WinME all over again

[OrangeHopper]

I'm likely to be out the door here in the next couple of months and I was thinking taking advantage of my complimentary MSDN subscription. I'm primarily after Visual Studio.

Fortunately or unfortunately - depending on your point of view - I only use Macs at home. I'm thinking of using bootcamp on my Mac Mini - rather than virtualisation - and need to decide which version of Windows to get hold of. I'm assuming 32bit Vista or Windows 7.

Now I know there are some bods on here that have done this sort of thing and I wondered what your advice would be about choice of OS.