New Mac Pro and Windows

There may not be too many of us "blessed" with a nice brand new model Mac Pro (2013)...and even fewer that will need to run Windows on it.

According to this Apple document:

Boot Camp: System requirements for Microsoft Windows operating systems

...the new model Mac Pro (2013) can only run Windows 8 (no Windows 7).

- Nick

Honestly, I am even surprised that they allow any version of Windows on such a " Pro " machine.
It does not fit the image they are trying to create for this kind of machine.
( my humble brand marketing background )

Cheers ... McBie

If used in the commercial world Windows is a must have. Some clients insist on artwork being done on Windows machines alas.

Windows is just about everywhere Harry. That includes the US government, State and local governments, school systems, legal, etc, etc. But I am surprised to learn that the new Mac Pro can only run Windows 8 and I guess 8.1. It might be because Windows 8 and 8.1 complies with the EFI standards.

chscag said:

But I am surprised to learn that the new Mac Pro can only run Windows 8 and I guess 8.1. It might be because Windows 8 and 8.1 complies with the EFI standards.

Click to expand...

This is what surprised me as well. I know that some folks hate Windows 8…but like Windows 7.

Most newer Mac models can do either Windows 7 or Windows 8. So surprising the 2013 Mac Pro can only do Windows 8.

- Nick

chscag said:

Windows is just about everywhere Harry. That includes the US government, State and local governments, school systems, legal, etc, etc. But I am surprised to learn that the new Mac Pro can only run Windows 8 and I guess 8.1. It might be because Windows 8 and 8.1 complies with the EFI standards.

Click to expand...

Thats the same here in Aust to Charlie. It was only last year or the one before, that anyone with a Mac could access the ATO sit (Aust Tax Office) you HAD to have a version of IE which ran on a Windows machine. Even last year, I couldn't register a ABN (business Number) in Safari, FF or Chrome, I had to do it all on the Windows side of my MBP.

The quicker Governments learn the better they will be. My Fiancé Is a Teacher, and they just received a iPad 4 for every kid in the school, and they are having problems updating such a huge amount on the Windows Server. They don't even have the $3k Trolley that holds 100+ iPads that does updates automatically . . . Ive offered my service, but they have a IT person, that funnily enough only knows Windows, and doesn't even have a iPhone or any Apple product

chscag is correct, it's because of the EFI. It no longer needs BIOS conversion (essentially what BootCamp did), so I suspect Apple is slowly moving to phase out Boot Camp entirely. Older Windows versions can still be handled more than gracefully enough with VM environments like Parallels et al.

chas_m said:

chscag is correct, it's because of the EFI. It no longer needs BIOS conversion (essentially what BootCamp did), so I suspect Apple is slowly moving to phase out Boot Camp entirely. Older Windows versions can still be handled more than gracefully enough with VM environments like Parallels et al.

Click to expand...

Is that official?
I very much hope so! Windows in EFI for the future. Yes please

It's official as far as Microsoft is concerned. They've been long planning to go with EFI rather than use a BIOS, however, since many PC manufacturers are involved, and mostly equip their PCs with a working BIOS, it's going to take some time. Windows 8 and 8.1 do comply with the EFI standard set by Intel. Prior versions of Windows do not.

I'm hoping that when Apple decide to do something about support for EFI booting Windows they'll issue firmware updates (if required) for recent Macs.
Sound does not work in EFI Windows on my mid 2012 rMBP and yet other Macs with the same Cirus setup work fine. I don't think it can be a driver issue so the only thing left to my mind is a firmware difference - maybe.
That may be hoping for too much though