Apple is dropping Boot Camp support for Windows 7.

[Eug]

Apple has begun the deprecation of Windows 7 in Boot Camp:

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5634

The Late 2013 garbage can Mac Pro does not support Windows 7 in Boot Camp. Just Windows 8.x.

Here's hoping they don't do the same with the next MacBook Pros and iMacs.

 

[Oyeve]

Why? [Damn] apple and there stupidness. I will never allow an apple computer on my companies network.

No profanity on the tech forums, please
-ViRGE

 

[Bearmann]

Why? Well they're not going to support Microsoft's best operating system right next to theirs. They're going to support Microsoft's worst operating system so, in comparison, theirs looks so much better.

 

[Childs]

They probably dont want to support all those different versions of Windows drivers for the new hardware. In a way I dont blame them. This would have potentially been a bigger deal to me before I started using 8.1 (using classic shell of course), but now I dont give a crap about Windows 7. I dont have a new Mac Pro, so theres that as well. If you can afford a new Mac Pro, you can probably afford VMware Fusion, another PC, or use an old Mac.

If Apple didnt have to write the drivers, then that would maybe be a dick move, but I think its probably more a matter of support.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Why? [Damn] apple and there stupidness. I will never allow an apple computer on my companies network.

That cute girl in accounting you like is banging the living daylights out of the marketing guy who gave you pushback about his MacBook Pro.

 

[ubercaffeinated]

Why? [Damn] apple and there stupidness. I will never allow an apple computer on my companies network.

company's

edit: also, stupidity. not stupidness.

 

[Zaap]

^ You missed Apple and their.

 

[ControlD]

It makes sense to me. Why would Apple take on supporting two operating systems that aren't even theirs? If you are going to support one it might as well be the latest version. Windows 8 will still launch and run your needed Windows applications as well as Windows 7 so I don't see the issue here.

 

[Oyeve]

^ You missed Apple and their.

It's apples stupid auto correct on my iPhone

 

[BarkingGhostar]

Just makes me keep from buying another Apple computer. I had the option of buying the wife a Mini for doing work at home, but I found the cost high compared to the alternative. Now adding the ability to Hackintosh as well just makes the W7 support loss in BC easier to digest.

 

[JAG87]

It makes sense to me. Why would Apple take on supporting two operating systems that aren't even theirs? If you are going to support one it might as well be the latest version. Windows 8 will still launch and run your needed Windows applications as well as Windows 7 so I don't see the issue here.

This. In a few years this will be completely forgotten.

As if people buy Macs because of their Windows support... lol.

 

[Eug]

Actually I do know some people who bought Macs because of the Windows compatibility security blanket that Boot Camp provides. It was marketing genius on Apple's part. That said most of them don't use Windows much if at all. For me it is irrelevant since I have both a Windows desktop and Windows laptop at home.

Anyhow, perhaps Apple is taking a cue from Microsoft. It is becoming harder and harder to buy a Windows 7 machine these days. And Apple doesn't need Windows 7 any more since 8.1 solved many of the issues that 8.0 had.

For a corporation it is different, but in that context a true Windows machine be preferred anyway.

Therefore I would expect that 2014 iMacs and 2014 MacBooks will only support 8.1 in Boot Camp.

 

[Subyman]

Bootcamp is a great feature, but Apple can't get in the game of trying to keep up legacy support for a bulletpoint on their feature list.

 

[JAG87]

Actually I do know some people who bought Macs because of the Windows compatibility security blanket that Boot Camp provides.

Really? Are these people aware of virtual machines?

 

[Eug]

Really? Are these people aware of virtual machines?

Games don't work for example. Plus Boot Camp is in some ways easier.

 

[Subyman]

Games don't work for example.

Yup, that's a huge feature for one of their biggest markets, college kids. Most of the students I knew had boot camp for steam.

 

[Anteaus]

I never understood Apple's Marketing. By allowing non-OSX users to install whatever OS they want, they can only increase sales, even if it means providing drivers. I think we can all agree that Apple's biggest forte is hardware design.

I'm not going to criticize OSX because it serves it's purpose, but it is by far the most limiting factor of Apple gear in general aside the price. In comparison, Windows 7 has become the workhorse of the corporate desktop world and I can't see this as anything else than Apple being snobby.

This is one of those situations where Apple should keep supporting it just because it can for the benefit of the people who might potentially buy their machines. Apple purists are ok about spending $3000+ for a desktop that in reality should cost half that. When you are trying to pull new customers into the fold, the last thing you should be saying is that you don't support the number one corporate desktop OS in the world.

Of course I'm aware that companies who buy Mac Pros are likely OSX users and that in the long run it doesn't change much. In spite of that, even if 1 out of 10 machines was purchased by someone who plans to run Windows 7 on it then the profits would be enormous based on their pricing scheme. At least, certainly high enough to absorb the cost of updating drives.

 

[Eug]

I never understood Apple's Marketing. By allowing non-OSX users to install whatever OS they want, they can only increase sales, even if it means providing drivers. I think we can all agree that Apple's biggest forte is hardware design.

I'm not going to criticize OSX because it serves it's purpose, but it is by far the most limiting factor of Apple gear in general aside the price. In comparison, Windows 7 has become the workhorse of the corporate desktop world and I can't see this as anything else than Apple being snobby.

This is one of those situations where Apple should keep supporting it just because it can for the benefit of the people who might potentially buy their machines. Apple purists are ok about spending $3000+ for a desktop that in reality should cost half that. When you are trying to pull new customers into the fold, the last thing you should be saying is that you don't support the number one corporate desktop OS in the world.

Of course I'm aware that companies who buy Mac Pros are likely OSX users and that in the long run it doesn't change much. In spite of that, even if 1 out of 10 machines was purchased by someone who plans to run Windows 7 on it then the profits would be enormous based on their pricing scheme. At least, certainly high enough to absorb the cost of updating drives.

I'd say the number who MUST run Windows 7 on it is probably way less than 1/100. Some people do need Windows, but Windows 8.1 is fine.

As for the corporate world, I'd guess it's actually less of an issue. Workplaces that only support Windows will generally purchase only Windows laptops, and companies that support Macs will support OS X.

BTW, the main reason I transitioned to Macs over time was because of the OS and the hardware, but I'd put OS X as the #1 reason. Apple's forte is not just hardware design. Apple's forte is having a tight symbiosis between the OS and the hardware.

 

[Oyeve]

Well, theres always parallels. Which is what i use.

 

[Tegeril]

It's apples stupid auto correct on my iPhone

Those mistakes are certainly not autocorrect's fault, lmao.

 

[boomhower]

Makes sense to me. In theory your only using it to run certain programs not as a daily driver. While W8 sucks it'll run that program or two you need. You shouldn't be buying a Macbook with the intention of using it primarily with Windows.

 

[Oyeve]

Those mistakes are certainly not autocorrect's fault, lmao.

Grow up and move on.

 

[accguy9009]

It is becoming harder and harder to buy a Windows 7 machine these days.




Really? I just bought ten the other day with a few mouse clicks. Wasn't hard at all and they came with Windows 8 licenses should we choose to upgrade at any point.

 

[accguy9009]

This. In a few years this will be completely forgotten.

As if people buy Macs because of their Windows support... lol.

Not to those who want to boot into Windows 7 when they feel the need.

 

[accguy9009]

You shouldn't be buying a Macbook with the intention of using it primarily with Windows.

You decide now what someone should do with what they purchase? Where do you get the effrontery?