Apple - Boot Camp
People have been quoted in the press for years as saying Apple should release a Mac that runs MS-Windows, or let PCs run Mac OS X software. Well, the new Intel-based Macs are gaining that capability now.
The release of the new Apple Boot Camp software as a public beta, marks the advent of just such a capability. While people who buy non-Apple computers are not going to be able to buy Macintosh applications, people who buy Macintosh PCs will be able to run both the Macintosh operating system and the Microsoft Windows operating system.
Apple - Boot Camp:
Since a Mac Mini costs about the same price as a similarly equipped Dell, HP, or Compaq computer - someone is getting a premium value if they buy their computer from Apple instead.
Microsoft recently touted a lot of great features the Mac OS X has featured for years, as compelling reasons to buy the Microsoft Vista operating system when it comes out in a year or two.
Today, people can run those features on their Macintosh - and boot into Windows XP to run their legacy MS-Windows applications.
They have to have a legal copy of Windows XP that is licensed to them and not in use on any other computer, and the Boot Camp software. Given how many PCs are crashed for good or replaced with better hardware each year, that should not be a problem. There are also plenty of mail order computer software and hardware retailers that will ship Windows XP and hundreds of other products overnight.
So I think there will be a lot of Macintosh computers running Windows XP by this weekend!
The release of the new Apple Boot Camp software as a public beta, marks the advent of just such a capability. While people who buy non-Apple computers are not going to be able to buy Macintosh applications, people who buy Macintosh PCs will be able to run both the Macintosh operating system and the Microsoft Windows operating system.
Apple - Boot Camp:
Boot Camp lets you install Windows XP without moving your Mac data, though you will need to bring your own copy to the table, as Apple Computer does not sell or support Microsoft Windows.(1) Boot Camp will burn a CD of all the required drivers for Windows so you don't have to scrounge around the Internet looking for them.
Since a Mac Mini costs about the same price as a similarly equipped Dell, HP, or Compaq computer - someone is getting a premium value if they buy their computer from Apple instead.
Microsoft recently touted a lot of great features the Mac OS X has featured for years, as compelling reasons to buy the Microsoft Vista operating system when it comes out in a year or two.
- scalable icons
- translucent windows and icons
- browser can run separately from desktop and other applications
- browser can run without ActiveX
- etc.
Today, people can run those features on their Macintosh - and boot into Windows XP to run their legacy MS-Windows applications.
They have to have a legal copy of Windows XP that is licensed to them and not in use on any other computer, and the Boot Camp software. Given how many PCs are crashed for good or replaced with better hardware each year, that should not be a problem. There are also plenty of mail order computer software and hardware retailers that will ship Windows XP and hundreds of other products overnight.
So I think there will be a lot of Macintosh computers running Windows XP by this weekend!
posted by John Collins | 7:44 PM
1 Comments:
You can buy a Mac Mini from Apple's website for $599 or $799, depending on if you want the fast dual core processor or not.
http://www.apple.com/macmini
You can buy a new, non-upgrade version of Microsoft Windows XP Professional for $299 from PC Connection's website for $299. This month, that includes free shipping, they say.
The item # for XP is: 5419249 at PC Connection.
http://www.pcconnection.com/
Microsoft used to offer a less expensive, slightly crippled Windows XP Home Edition. They announced this year that they are dropping support for it very soon. I imagine that means they stopped selling it.
Oh, by the way; when you purchase a Macintosh computer from Apple, Apple throws in Mac OS X for free. Not only that but they throw in a bunch of really cool applications - and a few months of free technical support.
Apple seems to have outflanked Dell and HP/Compaq.
PC manufacturers are restricted on how powerful they can make their hardware by Microsoft. But Apple isn't.
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