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[POLL] Do you use Windows/Linux/OtherOS on your Mini?
- Thread starter ActionableMango
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Your 15 - 30% using alternatives could well be right for the world at large.
For many people OS X and associated apps is all that is required. For many common apps, such as Office, there are OS X and Windows versions available. Material created can be used with either OS. However there are a few apps that are still Windows only, thus necessitating its installation to use them on a Mac.
The cricket scoring app we use for the local league is an example. When I have used it, I do so on a Windows computer, but some friends do have it on their Mac.
Within this MacRumours community I am not surprised to see the figure up at around 50% using alternatives to OS X. There is a large contingent here who like mucking around with computers, including checking out and using other OS.
IMHO More due to the enthusiast nature of the people that come to this site as opposed to Mini users in the general population that do not bother with rumor sites.
I run OSX as my "Main" OS, but have VM's of a couple of Linux Distros as well as Windows XP, Windows 7 and Windows 10 on my 2014. I do this because I run various websites for Small to Medium sized businesses, and I want to be able to validate issues on a per OS basis (i.e. I can't get X site to work and I'm on Y OS, running Z browser). It's usually over kill and there are services that would allow me to by pass this issue, but I find this is the most concrete. I can then take screen shots and provide it to them if the issue isn't "on my end"....
The whole reason I went to Macs is so that I can run (legally) any OS on my work computer. I also have a Surface Pro 3 running Windows 10. While I don't love the "I am a tablet pretended to be a laptop" feel of the Surface Pro, I can honestly say that Windows 10 has been (almost) rock solid for me. Instead of the Surface Pro 3, I'd probably get the Surface Book instead now, but it wasn't available 8 months ago when it was time to buy a new laptop.
The whole reason I went to Macs is so that I can run (legally) any OS on my work computer. I also have a Surface Pro 3 running Windows 10. While I don't love the "I am a tablet pretended to be a laptop" feel of the Surface Pro, I can honestly say that Windows 10 has been (almost) rock solid for me. Instead of the Surface Pro 3, I'd probably get the Surface Book instead now, but it wasn't available 8 months ago when it was time to buy a new laptop.
* Development
* Gaming
* Performance
* Personal preference
* Apple ending support
* Ideological reasons
* Spirit of adventure
Lots of reasons
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Don't know why you would, but I bootcamp windows 10 because it's faster and smoother.
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Exactly. I posted that before I noticed your post.
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Again I agree. I think windows has shot by apple with 10.
I did the same poll over on the Mac Pro forum:
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/poll-do-you-use-windows-linux-otheros-on-your-mp.1973406/
A whopping 90% are using another OS.
Of course, it's a lot easier when you have six drive bays.
I'd be curious to know what the actual figures are.
I can't speak for the Mini in particular, but only a few people I know with MacBooks don't have either a Windows boot camp partition or virtual machine.
There are so many programs for Windows only, especially used in workplaces where people have no control over what software they use, and for specialty equipment, that most people I know like to have at the very least the comfort of knowing they could run anything they need to.
Even rather non-techy people (like my other half) often want or need it. Doesn't mean they use it all that much, but it's there.
It's only people who just use their computers for web browsing almost exclusively that don't bother, or those who are very familiar with their workflow and what programs they'll need. It's actually takes more computer knowledge to be comfortable with the software limitations of using OS X as your only OS. Windows is a very safe bet for software compatibility in any field or line of work.
As a developer I need a lot of different OS's. I have 2 Quad Core i7 MAC Mini's with 256GB SSD's and external 500gb SSD's running VMWARE with maybe 10 OS's running across them. Have been doing this for about 3 years. This week felt the time was right to get a MAC PRO. Was hoping for a New Announcement but decided to just byte the bullet and get one. Maybe next year add a second one. The MAC Mini's have done well but just want a bit more power and space. Going with 6 Core 64gb and 1tb SSD. Hoping to run all on 1 system with a backup on the MAC Mini's. I was disappointed the latest MAC Mini dropped the i7 quad cord option. Would have probably maxed out a Mac Mini instead if Apple had upgraded the internals similar to the iMac.
Also more iMacs and alienate people to Hackintosh. Buying a machine that is 3 years old at full price is just ridiculous.
Have a Late 2012 Mac Mini Server (2.6 GHz quad i7) with two 1GB HDDs. One runs El Cap, the other runs Windows 10. Of course, I use the Mac side probably 85-90% of the time. At some point I'll probably change my secondary drive to dual boot Windows and Linux.
