Installing windows on macbook pro without bootcamp. Will this allow for switchable graphics?

Question

Hi everyone, I was thinking of buying a new Macbook Pro Retina 15 Inch with the discrete nvidia graphics card inbuilt with it.
I love windows and I am planning on running windows 7/8 on the macbook pro as my primary OS (because of advantages of gaming and being familarized with windows os), however I have heard the issue of running windows on bootcamp severally drains battery life as apple does not allow you to switch the nvidia graphics to the integrated graphics. Is this true? I have heard that running windows 7/8 on bootcamp allows for only around 3:30 hours of battery life, whilst OSX allows for 8+ since it uses the integrated graphics primarily when not running GPU demanding applications.
I am wondering if you can install windows 7 without bootcamp which will wipe apple OS from the laptop completely. Will this allow for the laptop to do switable graphics without problems allowing the laptop to save much needed battery life?
Thanks in advance.
Michael

Answer 1

  Sorry it seems to have taken so long for you to get an answer on this question!
  Your last post was mostly right... It IS a bad idea to go that route!
  While it's technically POSSIBLE to get Windows in place without OSX, it's a MAJOR technical hassle and you need to jump through several hoops to get to that point.
  In addition to the hassle required, having an OSX partition can be incredibly useful at times - I've had my Windows system break several times in the past where the automated (and even manual) startup-repair process failed to get Windows booting again, but a short boot into OSX later, I have the problem resolved (via OSX) and am able to get back into Windows.
  Finally, you need to be aware that the graphics card situation isn't because of the presence of OSX. Just because you get rid of MacOS doesn't mean you suddenly will be able to use either graphics card! The limitation comes into play with the hardware drivers necessary to get all your hardware working in Windows - they just don't have the facility to switch graphics cards built into them.
  I'm afraid you're stuck with the NVidia card when using Windows, one way or another!
  Bootcamp is a prerequisite BTW. Without it you won't be able to get Windows installed at all (at least not without MAJOR stumbling block, again!), and again, the graphics card limitation isn't due to OSX or Bootcamp.
  Also, battery life... Yes. You'll have significantly less in Windows, and this isn't entirely because of the graphics card situation either. MacOS is just built so well, with the limited hardware used by Apple in mind, that power-management when using OSX os significantly better! The legendary battery life of Apple systems is actually primarily due to the operating system, not the batteries themselves!
  As a helpful indication: On my 2009 17" MBP I get about 7 hours on the integrated chip in OSX (8 is pusing it, but is possible sometimes); about 5 hours in OSX when using the NVidia; and about 3 and a half when I'm in Windows.
  Hope this all helps you. If you have any further questions feel free!
  Apologies for the scattered approach to answering your posts - it's LATE where I am and I"m kinda rushing through things... :-)