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Apple's Mac Pro only supports installations of Windows 8 or later with Boot Camp, according to an updated Apple Support document that lists versions of Windows compatible with the 2013 Mac Pro.
Boot Camp Assistant on the Mac Pro also specifies that it only includes support for Windows 8 or later, as evidenced in a screenshot from Twocanoes Software (via MacWindows) indicating that users are not able to install earlier versions of Windows. The 2013 Mac Pro is the first Mac that does not include support for Windows 7 with Boot Camp 5.
It is unclear why Apple has chosen to drop support for Windows 7 on the Mac Pro, but it could be a sign that the company intends to discontinue support for the operating system in future Macs given its advanced age.
This decision may not sit well with users, as Windows 8, released in 2012, has not been particularly popular. As of this month, Windows 8 and 8.1 only represented 10.68 percent of total worldwide OS market share, while Windows 7 represented 47.31 percent. Combined, Windows is installed on 90.84 percent of the world's computers.
Top Rated Comments
It is unclear why Apple has chosen to drop support for Windows 7 on the Mac Pro, but it could be a sign that the company intends to discontinue support for the operating system in future Macs given its advanced age.
Advanced age? I guess in Apple terms it is. Windows 7 came out in the Summer of 2009. Same age as Snow Leopard. Windows 7 still seems like the only option for Windows OS'es though. XP is too old. Vista... is Vista. Windows 8 is a nightmare.
The ONE good reason I was going to buy a nMP is now gone. Guess I can thank Apple for saving me $3000+.
The one good reason that you were going to buy a $3,000+ Macintosh computer was so that you could run a version of Windows that is going on five years and two generations old?