Apple MacBook lovers likely won't be loving the latest news regarding the impending revamped 13-inch MacBook Pro or how it impacts MacBook Air. Apple is eliminating Boot Camp support for installing Windows 7 on the two laptops.
The move means MacBook Pro and MacBook Air owners will either have to upgrade to Windows 8, hang tough until the arrival of Windows 10, which is due to arrive sometime in the second half of this year, or tap third-party virtualization software.
The Apple support page, which doesn't offer insight or an explanation of the move, does provide very easy to follow instructions on installing Windows on the Mac using Boot Camp. It does advise laptop owners to use the software update option to ensure that OS X and the laptop's firmware are up to date. Boot Camp, which is Apple's tool for installing Windows, will work with Windows 8 and later versions.
The 2014 MacBook Air and 2014 MacBook Pro are the only Apple notebooks that will now be supporting Windows 7. Yet, the OS can be used on newer MacBooks if virtualization technology, such as Vmware Fusion and Parallels, is used.
The news isn't likely good, given that many consumers have stuck with Windows 7, and even Windows XP, which Microsoft doesn't even support any longer, given the headaches that came with Windows 8 and even Windows 8.1. Many consumers did not like Microsoft's new tile desktop design and new user interface changes. However, holding onto an old OS — Windows 7 debuted in 2009, after all — isn't a good thing either, given compatibility issues with new apps and new system requirements on hardware. Yet, Windows 7 is the most relied on Microsoft OS at this point.
It is extremely likely there will be a huge Windows migration move by consumers and even enterprises when Windows 10 arrives, as it promises to bring back many interface elements Windows users liked. Microsoft has said it will provide a free upgrade to Windows 7, 8 and 8.1 users when it launches Windows 10.
For now, those who jumped on the 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display or the two options (11-inch and 13-inch) MacBook Air laptops have a decision to make regarding use of a Windows OS.
