[un3n]

"I tried to install Windows 8" Well theres your problem, and I mean that half jokingly, and half serious. I've ran windows xp and 7 on a mac via bootcamp and it was a great experience, literally the opposite of yours. I had similar requirements as the OP and for me a macbook pro was the best possible option.

[UnoriginalGuy]

According to Apple's Bootcamp page they supported Windows 8 at that time. It was a supported OS. There just wasn't much support available when you actually spoke to someone at Apple in general when it came to Bootcasmp, they just blamed the Windows installer and sent you to Microsoft (who then sent you back to Apple).