Windows on new Apple Mac laptop?

I've been a Microsoft user since the '80's. I have never ever used a Mac!
My 2007 Windows XP 12" HP laptop seems to be irreplaceable. . I do a lot of graphics work and find the screens terrible on small Windows laptops now.
This URL Apple - MacBook Pro arrived in my inbox today. The 13" model with Retina display looks ideal.
Apparently I can have the option of running Windows 7 on it or the native OS X Lion.
I am a bit reluctant to learn OS X at my age; where could I find a thread where the pros and cons of running Windows on MacBooks are discussed?

Just wait until you have to learn Windows 8.

As far as hardware goes - Macs are very good. You can run Windows 7 on them with bootcamp (Assuming you can find a windows 7 install)
Apple - Support - Boot Camp

Some reviews
Apple 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro hands-on! -- Engadget
AnandTech - The 2012 MacBook Pro Review

Note - you can get a cheaper consumer laptop that comes with Windows - As the name suggests - the Macbook Pro - is a pro model so the prices compare more with the business lines of most Windows PC makers.

That being said - I tend to recommend Lenovo Thinkpads - to compare to the MBP line - to give you an idea of cost vs a dedicated Windows PC - but I haven't seen any retina from PC guys yet.

pjbw said:

I am a bit reluctant to learn OS X at my age; where could I find a thread where the pros and cons of running Windows on MacBooks are discussed?

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Simply put: don't. You're better off buying a good non-Mac machine if all you intend to do is run Windows. What makes a Mac what it is is the operating system. If you remove that from the equation, you're left with a machine that is largely indistinguishable from a non-Mac in terms of operation. Add to that the subtle differences (different keyboard mappings and a one button mouse) and you'll end up with a non-standard Windows experience that ended up costing you more.

If you like Windows, it does what you want it to and you're comfortable with it, stick with it and buy yourself a machine designed to work it.

Sound advice from the previous two posters, and just wanted to mention one thing more. You mentioned the attractiveness of the Retina display, I'm not sure how (and if) Windows will even make proper use of it through the Boot Camp drivers to do it justice. Additionally, applications are being written for OS X that actually make use of the Retina display while Windows applications wouldn't necessarily..

So the Retina display would be of no use to you purely in Windows..

The Lenovos are quite nice and have a design aesthetic akin to Apple's and are built very solidly..

Raz0rEdge said:

You mentioned the attractiveness of the Retina display, I'm not sure how (and if) Windows will even make proper use of it through the Boot Camp drivers to do it justice. Additionally, applications are being written for OS X that actually make use of the Retina display while Windows applications wouldn't necessarily..

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Good point Boba Fett. Applications have to be designed for the retina display - they don't simply inherit the benefits. In light of this, you're better off spending time looking for a notebook with an excellent display that isn't a Mac.

I think it's a crying shame when I read that someone doesn't want to learn something because they're "too old."

May I never get "too old" to learn something new, particularly if it would benefit the time I have left.

May I never get "too old" to learn something new, particularly if it would benefit the time I have left.

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Very well said chas. Definitely a profound statement that I full agree with. (Considering my age.)

It's wonderful to get so many really helpful replies.
1. I bought a Lenovo T420 laptop recently. This is Pro priced, 14", a bit big for what I needed. However the screen was so bad (not related to the drivers) that I had to send it back. It was like a very cheap TV: very limited viewing angles, 'crude' colours (UK!) but naturally very fast presumably to suit the children who want to play games on it.
2. My 2007 HP 12" nc2400 is good but it takes for ever to upload RAW files from memory cards and the battery is getting tired and I only seem able to get a replacement from China via Singapore with iffy comments in the web!
3. Partly age though mostly a lack of time to learn OS X (Though I was programmer in Unix and then Windows for 20 years). I am responsible for a handicapped daughter 24/7.
4. I find the price of the MacBook 13" Retina acceptable so I guess I will go back to scouring the web for a comparable Windows laptop.
5. I moved to W7 from XP skipping Vista. I can't see myself using W8...