Bootcamp: OSX partition - how small can you make it?

Hey!

So I've got a friend who wants to buy a Macbook Pro, but he doesn't want to hear about OS X. He's just stuck on Windows. I tried and tried, told him everything there is to know about OS X, he just doesn't want to hear it.

So going on that idea, he was asking:

- How small can you make the OS X partition in order to have as much space available for Windows (the bootcamp partition) ?

- There's still no way to ditch OS X completely?

Cheers if anybody can answer!

And again, please no flaming about the whole situation. It's just what he wants, and I'd like to think people can have what they want without other people hitting them with rocks.

 

I'm pretty sure the minimum size you can make a partition is 5GB.

I'm sure people have figured out how to go pure Windows, but it's probably a more involved process and obviously not Apple supported.

 

*grudgingly drops the rocks*

I was like that when i first got my macbook pro. I tried the Mac OS for about an hour and didn't like it because I was so used to Windows. I was going to wipe the Mac partition completely, but a friend advised me to give it another chance. That was a few months ago and I'm SO happy I kept the Mac side because it kicks ***! I have Windows for the occasional thing, but Mac is so much better.



The smallest I ever made my OSX partition in the past was 14GB. I installed the Mac OS without any extras like printer drivers, additional languages etc. from there, you can shrink your mac partition to 5GB more than it is. Once you have installed Windows you can set it as the default boot partition. This way, your friend will have a chance to give mac another go.

You can also completely wipe out the Mac partition by setting up boot camp then wiping all of the other partitions before installing Windows. However, I strongly advise against it though. Once your friend does that, the Mac os cannot be reinstalled without taking it back to the apple store for expensive surgery.

Hope that helps... But don't let him wipe the mac partition! kidnap his pet hampster if you have to!!

 

Thanks alphanash! +rep

I think 5Gb will suit him just well. I'm not going to let him wipe the OS X partition.

Cheers!

 

I am also looking to buy a macbook primarily for it's build quality and I have no intentions of using mac os. Since you guys say it wouldn't be wise to delete the mac os partition, what if I just buy another HD, can I load up boot camp and install windows without any extra partitions and keep the original drive just in case I need to update it?

 

Just a quick update

After one hour of showing my friend OS X on my computer, he now wants to keep it for all his internet browsing, skype and all that.

So mission accomplished, I guess

 

Fantastic!!! You've got the gift.

 

I thought I was stuck with windows too, but it turns out that I am looking forward to deleting my Windows partition right now after uninstalling all the apps I wont be using on windows...but will be keeping the partition for future needs.

 

just buy him a iphone and tell him that Apple makes fantastic OS.....
Be honest, I did not like Mac. I started like mac after I went through the Apple store training. Obviously, they trained me how to sell Apple products and I was amazed how good OSX is. If you really want him to start learning mac, you need to make him understands mac is actually better than windows in many things.

Here are a few keys:
1.) less error. Apple OSX designed specifically for their products. Windows, on the other hand, is not.

2.) regular users don't need to bother with virus and so on. Seriously, I just tell my gf that Mac does not need firewall, anti-virus or spyware softwares.

3.) show him something that he uses in windows and it does better in OSX. If he has a lot of photos, show him how efficiency iphoto is, such as features that iphoto can send it to facebook directly or split effects. Just like showing someone has bunch of MP3 music but has never used itune before. In addition to that, show him something interesting and useful like expose or something.


Easiest way: bring him to an Apple store and a good(if you are lucky) sales will impress him in 5 mins.

 

@unixphone...I though I read where Macs actually had been hacked in the past for some contest? I have a MBP on the way and am not disagreeing OS X may be better, however I don't think I would EVER tell anyone not to use a firewall...there are many evil people in this world and I would suggest not giving them advantages if you can help it. Also, I am pretty sure as I was researching Office 08 for Mac, it came with a one year subscription to McAfee security products...so there is a threat...

 

@The_Shirt: the hacking contest was a closed-quarters experiment. Apple is indeed researching new and better ways to make OS X secure.

But as of today, there is no virus/spyware out loose for OS X, therefore no need for an Anti-Virus/Firewall.

And it's not because it can't be done (sure it's harder than for Windows) but it's because Apple still holds a relatively small % of market.

 

Is that true? I believe you can simply reinstall OSX by booting off the DVD and reformatting the drive.

 

Windows also benefit from not designing software for their own OS, it gives more options to the users who in turn benefits from the competition between 3rd party vendors (capitalism).

 

I don't understand the part about not being able to reinstall OSX without it going back to apple! Surely you can just put your OSX install discs in and install from scratch the same way as if it were a new HDD?