Apple releases software to let Macs run Windows

[engine]

Apple Computer Inc., the maker of the Macintosh computer and iPod music devices, on Wednesday rolled out a software patch under its plan to move its computers over to Intel Corp. microprocessors.

Apple said that the new software, called "Boot Camp", enables Intel-based Macs to install and run Microsoft Corp.'s Windows XP operating system software. Boot Camp is available as a download beginning today.

Apple releases software to let Macs run Windows [today.reuters.com]

[solly]

And I thought April 1 was a few days ago...strange days indeed.

OTOH, this type of thing has been done in the early 90s, with a daughter card that allows a Mac to run DOS in the Power Macintosh 6100/60.

[tstaheli]

Installing XP Pro SP2 on my mini right now. I'll let you know how it works!

[tstaheli]

It took 55 minutes on my MacMini DuoCore 1.66 with 1gb RAM. I followed the instructions outlined on apples site and XP is running great!

Now I can test my code in I.E.

BTW posting from XP using Firefox.

[txbakers]

How can you do this already? The Boot Camp is supposed to be available with Leopard, which isn't released yet.

Are you using a "different" method to install XP?

D'OH Never mind. I saw that it was released today and will be part of Leopard.

YEE HA! Time to buy a Mac again!

[ytswy]

It works with the new 10.4.6 update afaik. The real question now is whether 10.5 will allow Windows and OSX to run alongside each other - eg no need to reboot, just switch between native OSX and native Windows at the touch of a button.. Interesting times..

[txbakers]

That would be ultra cool.

[tstaheli]

Office 2003 works great, Photoshop, Illustrator and Acrobat are running smooth.

Remember I'm on a MacMini which has 64mb onboard video ram. I'm sure an iMac would be much faster. Having said that, I'm really impressed with the speed.

[jimbeetle]

tstaheli, what about drivers and such, networking? Is everything good to go or are there still some pieces missing?

[ryan26]

Crazy stuff... stock is up considerably (8%) as a result.

[txbakers]

I guess the real question would be.....is it worth it to run Windows on a Mac?

What advantages are there? Is the Apple hardware all that much better than a Dell or HP?

What about adding new PCI stuff?

[tstaheli]

tstaheli, what about drivers and such, networking? Is everything good to go or are there still some pieces missing?

Yes! Everything works great on my MacMini. I have my wireless network setup and the network card works as well.

Apple supplies the needed drivers for hardware with a few exceptions.

iSight Cameras
the Apple Remote
the Apple USB Modem
the keyboard backlighting on MacBookPro

Any other questions?

[tntpower]

I guess the real question would be.....is it worth it to run Windows on a Mac?
What advantages are there? Is the Apple hardware all that much better than a Dell or HP?

What about adding new PCI stuff?

Sure. There are tons of software not available in Mac.

[txbakers]

Since there is much more software for the Windows, etc. the only issue is hardware.

Is the Apple hardware that much better than a Dell or HP, etc.?

The only reason to really buy a Mac before today was to run the Mac OS, and enjoy the stability and unique programs written for it.

If I want to run Windows, what compelling reason do I need to have a Mac? (Other than it would be great to have both on one machine)

[Rodney]

Any other questions?

How do you switch between the mac and XP OS? Do you have to reboot and switch to XP, or is it at a click of a button?

[steve40]

As somebody who had a serious look at a mac last time I upgraded but could not find adequate replacements for some of the tools I use on a daily basis decided against it but if next year Vista is supported and works well on a iMac G5 I will be one of the converts . And would use both OS's for different purposes
1 Mac OS for better security and less viruses spam etc.
2 Vista for support of wide number of applications available that I use as tools on a daily basis

Must admit would be nice to have something that looked more modern on my desk but still provided the functionality I need to work

steve

[ytswy]

If I want to run Windows, what compelling reason do I need to have a Mac? (Other than it would be great to have both on one machine)

If you want to work in Windows, probably very little, unless you really really like the hardware.

I think this is more beneficial to people who are, or want to be, mainly Mac, but need the flexibility to run Windows. From Apple's point of view, it's the want-to-be segment they're interested in.

[ytswy]

How do you switch between the mac and XP OS? Do you have to reboot and switch to XP, or is it at a click of a button?

You have to boot into it at the moment - rumour sites are speculating that 10.5 will allow switching.

[tstaheli]

Rodney

Dual-Boot Hard Drive. In OS X and XP you can choose a "Startup Disk" or you can hold the option key down when you boot and select an icon.

[Hanu]

Common. Why would I buy a Mac if I intended to run Windows on it? I could have the same performance for much cheaper on a PC-compatible. If I already own a Mac, I can run Virtual PC to run Windows and Mac OS concurrently.

Now if Apple released a version of Mac OS that runs on PC's, that would be exciting.

[walkman]

very few will ever need this: most either use Macs or Windows, it's that simple

[bedlam]

If I already own a Mac, I can run Virtual PC to run Windows and Mac OS concurrently

But if you owned one of the newer Macs, you could save the purchase price of Virtual PC...

-b

[gendude]

very few will ever need this: most either use Macs or Windows, it's that simple

For those of us who do web design on a Mac, this is a great thing - now we don't need two seperate machines or a sluggish emulator. We can check everything on a site that we need to check under Windows, IE, etc.

[bedlam]

Does anybody know if this means that applications--such as some games--that want particular hardware configurations will now run (since they can't on VirtualPC...)?

-b

[Jon_King]

walkman brings a good point. How many people use dual OS's? Just looking for market size...

[ncreegan]

Dual OS's isn't terribly efficient -- I've been running 99% linux for a few months now and while it's awesome for coding, I can't do anything in gimp, so I switch back to XP for photoshop. The reboot time is like 5-7 solid minutes of waiting for either OS, so I just run a second computer with XP, so the switch is instant...

My ponderance is -- is this release a sign of things to come? Mac's best asset is its interface, I don't think as a hardware manufacturer they have much to offer. I know the quality rocks blah blah blah, but the everyday VALUE just isn't there for most people.

I guess I'm asking, and this is a question I would love to have answered, for a person who buys a Mac to put Windows on it, where is the upside?

[Jon_King]

Yea no dualies... I still think there are plenty of people that will buy a Mac if it runs Windows.

[incrediBILL]

Mac's best asset is its interface

<laughs so hard he slips into a coma>

Nothing technically wrong with a Mac that a right mouse button and in-situ right mouse menus won't cure. Technically, I don't see the big deal about running Windows on a MAC, not that hard to do, but compatibility for everything will be interesting.

Hardware wise, it's an expensive route to take to run XP.

If you want to go WAY BACK, the Apple ][ had the same problem with business owners and VOILA! here came the Microsoft Z-80 Softcard and CP/M to the rescue.

[ncreegan]

<laughs so hard he slips into a coma>

I personally don't care for it, but that's what the Mac army always screams at me. I was trying to butter one of them up so I get a reasonable answer, thanks Bill ;-)

Hardware wise, it's an expensive route to take to run XP.

That's what I'm thinking -- is there any benefit?

[akmac]

<joking>
Greeeeat! I'll finally be able to get all those viruses and trojans to run!
</kindof>