Whodathunkit? http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/3772863.html Software lets Macs run Windows XP Associated Press CUPERTINO, Calif. — Apple Computer Inc. unveiled software today to help owners of its new Intel-based Macs run Microsoft Corp.'s rival Windows XP operating system, despite the computer maker's insistence it won't assist such efforts. Apple's new "Boot Camp" software, a "beta" test version available as a free download, lets computer users with a Windows XP installation disk load that system on the Mac. Apple shares rose more than 6 percent in morning trading. When Apple introduced its first computer based on Intel Corp. chips in January, the company said it had no intention of selling or supporting Windows on its machines, though it has not done anything to preclude people from doing it themselves. Apple said today that stance remains true, yet the new software will ease Windows installation "by providing a simple graphical step-by-step assistant application." "Apple has no desire or plan to sell or support Windows, but many customers have expressed their interest to run Windows on Apple's superior hardware now that we use Intel processors," Philip Schiller, senior vice president of worldwide product marketing, said in a statement. Apple turned to Intel chips, the same ones used to power most PCs using Windows, after saying its previous suppliers, IBM Corp. and Motorola Corp.'s spinoff Freescale Semiconductor Inc., couldn't meet Apple's needs for faster, more energy-efficient chips. But the Intel-based Macs continued to run Apple's own proprietary operating system. Because Windows is much more dominant, Mac users don't have access to many software programs written only for Windows. The switch to Intel chips lets users load Windows onto a Mac computer, without the need for emulation software that slows performance. But until today, the user needed some technical expertise to pull it off. The Boot Camp software makes it easier to install Windows and lets users run either Mac OS X or Windows when they restart their computer. A final version of Boot Camp will be available as a feature in the upcoming Mac OS X version 10.5, code-named "Leopard." Apple shares gained $3.79, or 6.2 percent, to $64.96 in morning trading on the Nasdaq Stock Market, while Microsoft shares rose 21 cents to $27.85 and shares of Intel rose 2 cents to $19.32.
wow.. I mean you could already boot windows on intel-macs but to have apple come out and endorse it is pretty big.
Awesome. So I guess everyone should join the Mac Revolution and throw away their PCs and buy Macs now that Mac can run both environments. Case closed!
Another sign of the apocalypse. Macs running Windows Red Sox win World Series. White Sox win World Series. Astros make it to World Series. What's next Jim Rome admits that he is gay? President Bush admits he is wrong? The LA Clippers win the NBA title? I'm heading off for my bomb shelter to eat Snickers bars.
It opens up a new crowd of people who won't give up Windows but still hate it. With 5% of the computer market, Apple has a lot to gain even if disgruntled Windows users are 10%. And what are hardcore Mac people going to do? Jump ship?
Exactly. Jobs himself said "That would kill us." Mac Hardware running MS software only strengthens Apple's Hardware position.
I'm sure Microsoft would be happy. This is really interesting though... Intel wins because well, they supply Macs with their processors. Microsoft wins because hell, their OS will run on PC's and now Macs, too. And Apple wins because... well, they'll have more people buying their computers which they seem to have problems convincing people to do in a Windows world.
This seems like a logical first step toward virtualization. Rumors are that Apple will eventually allow Mac users to run Windows programs from within Mac OSX through virtualization. So instead of dual booting, you can just chill in Mac OSX and run whatever you need from there just like Mac users can run OS 9 programs in "classic" mode. That'll be the more convenient option for most people running both OSes. While it is an obvious compromise with the market, it is also a great way to funnel people toward OSX.
I don't think so. If you look at the numbers computer sales are still quite easily their core business. I think it just makes it easier to be a Mac user. Anyone that has a Mac will use OSX for everything they possibly can. They'll just boot up windows for those few applications that simply won't work in Mac OS (such as Rockets games on google video). It's not like Windows is going to suddenly become tolerable to people that have used a Mac because they loaded it on Apple hardware.
One of the biggest reasons for computer instability is bad drivers. When Apple controls the hardware and the software it runs on they can ensure that Macs are very unlikely to crash. If you let the Mac OS run on any old combination of hardware someone can scrape together (like Windows does) the chance of hardware incompatibility goes up exponentially. If OSX ran on any old PC it would probably crash as much as Windows does.
There are some potential big losers here. 1 Software companies who currently produce Mac versions of their software may stop if running Windows on Macs becomes a big thing. A lot of Mac purists will be ticked off. 2 There are rumors Apple may pull out of the OS business (down the line) and this is a precursor. Of course, everything depends on how successful this move is. If 99% of Apple users end up running Windows on their machines, both cases above are quite possible.
^^^ That's the best part of their scheme: the ability to gouge their loyalists into buying $2500-3000 machines and pass it off as a better product....
