The OEM version has only three differences compared to the retail versions:
1) Retail versions come with both 32-bit and 64-bit installations. OEM versions are one or the other, so you will want to make sure you're ordering the right version - for a new MBP, 64-bit unless you have a compelling reason to go with 32-bit.
2) OEM versions are tied to the hardware they are installed on and cannot be moved, ever. This MAY be an issue if you are planning on using virtualization software against your bootcamp installation, since the VM "hardware" looks different from the real hardware.
3) OEM versions do not come with telephone support from MS.
There is NO difference in the actual executable code, and so it would work just fine on an MBP. As for the SKUs, again, it would make no difference. The higher-end SKUs add additional features, not additional hardware support.
I do have a few questions for you. Which Windows application(s) are you tied to? What are the specs of the hardware you are ordering? Depending on your answers, it MAY make more sense to consider virtualization so that you can run that one or two Windows applications "on top" of MacOS and have access to both sets of applications at the same time.
I encountered a similar issue on my MBP when I installed the Windows 8 RTM (also a Core 2 Duo 13" MBP). Reading around, I found the following discussion on the Apple forums that mentions a bcdedit fix, along with updating NVidia drivers. I followed the key "fix" steps on the second post at that link, and they have fixed the issue for me.
To summarise:
- Run a command prompt as administrator and enter the following command:
bcdedit /set disabledynamictick yes
- (This step is only relevant if your MBP has NVidia graphics instead of the Intel HD / ATI graphics on more recent models) Download the latest NVidia graphics drivers
If you're interested, this article theorises about the dynamic ticking issue, and why turning it off should fix the freezing.
Best Answer
Steve Chambers is right.
As Windows release new versions boot camp is updated to support them and more often than not they drop support for the previous version of Windows.
You could either install Windows 8.1 (it still has the start menu ;) ) or install Windows 7 under parallels desktop.
I personally use parallels desktop as it allows me to use Windows and Mac at the same time. I run it on my 2014 MacBook Pro retina. No issues, everything runs perfectly.