MacBook Pro Vista Experience Index 4.3 out of 5.0!
I’ve been using Windows Vista Ultimate since it was at RC2 stage and in that time I’ve run it on half a dozen different machines, ranging from a Dell Inspiron to an HP zv6000, each with plenty of horsepower (or so one would think) to handle Vista. The HP, in fact, was labeled “Vista Ready.” In each of those cases I used Vista on a daily basis on those machines so I got a good sense of its performance and idiosyncrocies.
However, just recently I installed Vista on my MacBook Pro (non-Santa Rosa, 3GB RAM) and Vista runs better on my Mac than on any of the traditional Microsoft OEM machines. To prove it I checked the Vista Experience Index found in Vista under Control Panel > System — I was blown away when I saw that Vista on my MacBook Pro scored a 4.3 out of 5.0!
I setup my 120GB MacBook Pro hard drive with two partitions, equally divided, one for Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard and the other for Boot Camp install of Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate. Note that with the new version of Boot Camp that ships with Leopard the MacBook Pro hardware drivers are now on the Leopard DVD, you don’t need to nor can you burn your own Mac driver disc from within Boot Camp.
Try out Vista on your MacBook Pro — I think you’ll be very pleased with the performance, but remember to use a Genuine copy of Windows Vista!
Interesting, my Macbook Pro scored a 4.8. I’m guessing there are perhaps some slight differences in the configuration of the two machines.
I’ve configured my machine exactly as you’ve described and use Vista 99.9% of the time for work. In fact, the other day I booted to OS X to makes sure it was up-to-date and after downloading and starting the install of the updates I can no longer boot OS X, it just hangs on the Apple logo. .
Steve Trefethen
22-December-2007 at 11:30
Btw, here is my Vista experience index.
Steve Trefethen
22-December-2007 at 11:33
just to make sure you’re informed… the VEI goes up to 5.9, not 5.0.
and my 2 1/2 year old laptop gets 3.7, and that’s only because of the video card, if the video card was not included, I get a 4.5… so I wouldn’t high-five each other on the macbook too much… it’s not that hard to get a mid to high 4, on a laptop, these days.
Rob
4-October-2008 at 07:51
Vista ratings go to 5.9 not 5.0 just so you guys know!
zak
30-October-2008 at 04:13
the new macbook gets 5.2!!!!
zak
30-October-2008 at 04:13