Windows 7 + Macbook Battery Life = NO GO

Macbook users who prefer a Windows OS have been suffering for a long time due to how much their preferences reduce their battery life. But that’s not surprising. Virtualization software required for running Windows has to simulate an entire PC environment, which is extremely hard on any CPU. The process also generates heat that must be dissipated by the MacBook’s fan, which drains the battery even faster. But the draining has been said to afflict users running Windows on Macs who aren’t using virtualization, but turning instead to Apple’s Boot Camp software.

Back in June, well-known hobbyist blog AnandTech posted the results of tests it ran, which found that battery life for a MacBook running Vista with BootCamp were25%-50% less that those with Mac OS X. Also, a CNET reviewer found that running Windows 7 on a MacBook shortened battery life from 5 hours under Mac OS X to just 90 minutes, a reduction of more than two-thirds. But according to Microsoft, Windows 7 has been specifically enjineered to drain 11% less power than Vista. So are the worries over?

Without Apple providing new drivers or updated support coming from virtualization vendors, Windows 7’s battery life may be as poor or worse than its predecessors. So, the question remains, as the arrival of new drivers or support hasn’t even been talked about.This reality could mean months or even years still of poor battery life for Windows 7 users on MacBooks. Courtesy of computerworld.com