Running Windows 7 on Mac Mini?

Question

I've never used a Macintosh, and would like to buy a MacMini, but there are applications that are Windows-specific, so I need both OS's.

How solid does Windows 7 run on a Mac Mini through BootCamp? Is it a valid alternative, or am I better off getting a good quality PC instead?

Solution

How solid does Windows 7 run on a Mac Mini through BootCamp?

It's solid. I've been running Windows XP/7 on a mac mini for years. If you have enough hardware resources (CPU, Disk, RAM) it's really nothing to worry about.

Is it a valid alternative, or am I better off getting a good quality PC instead?

Macs are more expensive in terms of price the quality is well worth it. Macs are better (quality) than OEM value-added desktop manufacturers (Dell, HP, etc.). I tend to think of the mac as a better alternative to a PC as macs can have a foothold in two worlds (windows and osx) where as windows pcs cannot (excluding hackintoshes of course).

If you're debating on whether it's a good purchase or not, you should approach it more functionally and see if the programs you need will run with windows via bootcamp OR vmware/parallels.

From my personal experience, using Windows on Mac are just fine both in Bootcamp and in VMWare.

Comments

[slhck]

Well, you will pay for the Mac already. So, either Windows 7 works out for you, and everything's fine, or you'll have to buy another PC anyway. If you consider buying a PC instead of the Mac Mini, why do you even want the Mac in the first place? (Btw. Windows 7 runs fine on a Mac.)

[OverTheRainbow]

Macintosh have a reputation of being better hardware, and I'd rather use MacOS when I don't need to run Windows applications.

[soandos]

It is not related to your question per se, but hardware is independent of the operating system. It is therefore possible to have better, equal, or worse hardware on a non-mac.