Boot Camp - Official Apple support for Windows XP/OS X dual boot (1 Viewer)

[Ted Todorov]

Hell just froze over -- click here.

Works on all Intel based Macs. Very cool, if you ask me.

Michael Dell must be one very unhappy camper right about now.

Ted

 

[Christ Reynolds]

this is the first step for apple becoming mainstream.

CJ

 

[Christ Reynolds]

 

[JeremyErwin]

if mainstream means "infected", I'll pass.

 

[Joseph S]

Check the stock prices. I think Leopard will definitely help for switchers. Run XP apps in OS X VMWare while keeping OS X alive. Over time you will find yourself using "Windows" and the apps less and less and less until it's rare. I don't use a single "Classic" app and haven't for a couple of years now.

and

Buy a Mac now because it can run both. When XP craps out or is full of Virii and you don't know what to do you end up running OS X for everything because you're too lazy or dumb to fix it.

 

[Louis-Olivier]

Damn i knew i should have bought these apple stocks when i had the chance!

 

[Christ Reynolds]

it won't. as much as i hate the look of every mac OS, they are very secure and stable.

CJ

 

[Tekara]

Now we just wait for apple to get off it's high horse and allow osx to run on non-mac x86 hardware. That way folks can buy an inexpensive computer and put a nice os on it.

But then again, osx is just another flavor of *nix.

 

[Thomas Newton]

If you really believe that Mac OS X is no more desirable than Linux, there are plenty of distributions of Linux already available for x86 PCs.

Have at it!

 

[Tekara]

Already done, I'm an avid user of linux on all of my personal computers, even my laptop.

Nevertheless though, I would still like to see osx allowed to be operated on non-mac hardware. Mostly because it is probably the only os that can truely compete with windows. I'm a big fan of open competition as the consumer always comes out ahead . Linux is nice, and I personally like it, but it is just not friendly enough that I could leave it with the parents.

 

[Adam Lenhardt]

Smartest decision they could have made to be hardware competitors. This puts their Intel line closer to direct competition with Dell and HP. If they ever decide to offer an option for dual boot with both OSes installed out of the box, then Apple will be a real competitor again.

While for the past two years I have used Windows, Mac OS X, and Solaris all quite frequently, I'm always going to be a die hard Windows fan for my own home PC. I'm really happy with my Dell Inspiron 9100 laptop right now (though it's not very portable - there's a reason they stopped putting P4's in laptops) But in a couple years if I'm in the market for a desktop, getting rid of the tower (ie. iMac) might be quite attractive from a hardware standpoint. Then again, the one thing I miss with my laptop from my old desktop is tooling around inside case. The big plus of the Apple concept - a whole package deal - is also the downside. I might miss just running down to CompUSA and buying a new component to pop into a PCI slot when I need one.

 

[Joseph S]

Get the Mac Pro Tower with 8 Multicore CPUs of fun.

 

[Adam Lenhardt]

But then I'm back with a tower again!

 

[Thomas Newton]

Do not taunt Happy Intel Multicore CPU Ball.

 

[Bob_L]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned what, for me, is one of the most compelling by-products of Boot Camp: the Intel-based Mac Mini's can now run Windows-based HTPC software like Beyond TV and Meedio.

Mac faithfuls may still find value in FrontRow, which is a fine little program but simply doesn't offer the same level of functionality of the best Windows-based (or even Linux-based) HTPC packages.

Combine the HIGHLY desirable form factor and functionality of the Mac Mini (one of Apple's most cost-effective hardware offerings ever) with one of those Windows media programs and you have a superb HTPC platform, IMO. The limitations are the 80Gb drive offered with the Mini and, of course, the lack of TV/DVR functionality at this point, which may still be a possiblility with an external USB tuner. (And, of course, external USB HDs could also solve the storage capacity issue but then you start to get a rat's nest of wired gadgets that begin to defeat the convenience of the form factor.)

I wish I had a spare $1000 to get Mini and tuner and play around with this. Sigh...

 

[Ted Todorov]

Actually the maximum internal drive capacity is 120GB. (I just got a built to order Mini with that size drive).

As far as creating a rat's nest -- that really needn't happen either -- there are two products out there with up to 500GB drive capacity, that are specifically made for the Mini, fitting it seamlessly as a base, and also provide you with extra Firewire and USB ports. Here is one example, but at least one other company makes them as well.

So far as DVR functionality there are a couple of choices, but probably the best known is the El Gato EyeTV 500, which provides HDTV DVR functionality without having to pay a monthly fee as you would with Tivo, etc.

In any event, the Mini is quit the thing -- I got one to use, at least initially as a CD player replacement -- I intend to rib my entire CD collection to Apple Lossless format, and hook up the Mini to my receiver via optical digital audio out. I intend to use my PowerBook or other Mac as the remote control (via Net Tunes software, plus VNC when needed -- that way I can avoid switching on my TV, just to listen to music).

So even without Windows, the Mini can be I mighty useful (not to mention elegant) piece of A/V equipment.

Ted

 

[Jason Adams]

Now, if apple will get around to coming out with the ibook's with the Intel processors, I will be all over it.