Two questions from a Windows user:

[kent1146]

Work is buying me a 13.3" Apple MacBook Pro as a work laptop. However, I am a Windows user, because that is the OS that I am used to using (and the OS what I am used to using.

I had two questions:
1) Is a MacBook Pro viable as a laptop that only runs Windows as its OS?
2) Would it be difficult for me to open up a 13.3" MacBook Pro, and pop in my own SATA drive?

[taelrak]

If work is buying you a MBP instead of a Windows machine, then it clearly is viable for what matters--work. If it isn't, then your office needs a new IS dept and it's not your problem in any case. :P

Yes, you can replace the HDD easily.

[KCETech1]

1: debatable I find some of the quirks annoyng.
2: easily

[kent1146]

1: debatable I find some of the quirks annoyng.
2: easily

Could you go into a bit more detail on #1? What kind of quirks should I expect?

[HLdan]

I'm really lost here OP, if work is buying you a Macbook aren't they expecting Mac software to be ran on it? What's the point?

[sugarkang]

1. No
2. Maybe

1. No, because Mac cannot run Win 7 for more than a couple hours without being plugged in. Win drivers are purposely crippled even if they technically "work." Furthermore, the trackpad won't feel the same way it does in OS X. It's a lot worse, despite being the same hardware.

2. Maybe, because many drives are incompatible as far as SSDs are concerned for TRIM purposes. HDDs should be less of a problem.

I know this because I owned several MBPs until I sold them all recently. I wanted to do exactly what you want to do. I did a lot of research on this issue and ultimately, you will need to submit to OS X if you want to use Mac.

[Lieto]

I'm really lost here OP, if work is buying you a Macbook aren't they expecting Mac software to be ran on it? What's the point?

my thoughts exactly.

[kent1146]

I'm really lost here OP, if work is buying you a Macbook aren't they expecting Mac software to be ran on it? What's the point?

Don't worry about the purchasing aspect - it is irrelevant to my question. Long story short: I have the option of picking either a Dell laptop or an Apple MacBook Pro.

The OS is irrelevant. Most of the work that I do involves checking email, browsing the web, and using Microsoft Office productivity apps. I have the choice of picking either a Dell laptop, or an Apple MacBook Pro. And most employees in my company get the same choice that I get - they can either pick a Dell laptop, or an Apple MacBook Pro. Any software app that I need is available in both Windows and Mac flavors.

I'd prefer to do most of my work in a native Windows environment (not a virtualized environment), because I am used to Windows, and don't want to go through the performance hit of virtualization. I have tried using Mac OS X, and am simply much faster and more efficient in Windows, because that is what I am used to using.

However, I like the Apple MacBook Pro hardware better. It has a better screen, and has better battery life. But I would like to know the sacrifices that I would be forced to make if I were to use an Apple MacBook Pro as a predominantly Windows machine via BootCamp. Because if those sacrifices are too great, then I would need to stick with a Dell.

[KCETech1]

1: battery life would be 50% or less of what it is in OSX I get about 2 - 2.5 hrs
2: I find odd slowdowns in network or complete failure in wireless connections( Apple says they are fixing it and I should buy new AE routers )
3: touchpad is nice in OSX, not so much in windows.
4: runs hotter

now from other points of view from me as a power user and graphics designer

Screen is NOT better than newer business class units
still waiting on proper TRIM support in OSX 10.7
the big selling point of battery life is now moot with newer machines exceeding 12 hours easily. and can be swapped fast
no business class HARDWARE data encryption if thats important to your company.

[kent1146]

Thank you, KCETech1, for answering my questions.

So, it sounds like my best bet if I insist on using Windows is to stick with a non-Apple machine. The MacBook Pro seems quite hobbled if you were to primarily run it as a Windows machine via BootCamp.