“With the announcement of the first Intel based Macs yesterday, many users have rejoiced in being able to dual-boot both Mac OS X and Windows. Unfortunately, this is not the case; due to Apple’s use of the extensible firmware interface (EFI) rather than BIOS, current Windows releases will not run on the systems,” Nate Mook reports for BetaNews. “On Tuesday at Macworld, Apple senior vice president of worldwide product marketing Phil Schiller said the company would not specifically block the use of Windows on Mac hardware. Instead, limitations in Windows itself will prevent its use on the new MacBook Pro laptop and iMac.”
“With the switch to Intel processors, Apple also moved from Open Firmware to EFI, which is an updated BIOS specification developed by Intel,” Mook reports. “Microsoft’s 64-bit versions of Windows will also not work despite supporting EFI, because Apple’s Intel platform is strictly 32-bit at the moment. For its part, Microsoft encouraged Apple to build hardware compatible with Windows. ‘We have an open specification and a process for certifying the hardware. We welcome all efforts in this area and we’d support Apple the same way we support every other PC manufacturer,’ a company spokesperson told BetaNews. ‘Anyone, including Apple, can purchase and re-sell Windows for use on their industry-standard hardware.'”
Full article with more details and links here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews reader “sailfish” for the link.]
MacDailyNews Note: Extensible Firmware Interface (EFI): Intel-based Macintosh computers use extensible firmware interface (EFI). EFI provides a flexible and adaptable interface between Mac OS X and the platform firmware. This change should be transparent to most developers, but may affect some, such as those who write boot drivers. Source: Apple Developer Connection.
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It’ll come. Either in the form of a 32 bit ‘doze update or a 3’rd party hack. It won’t be long after the first machine ship.
Ugh, I just had to swallow hard thinking of Appple as a Windows reseller.
Not sure how I feel about this, honestly. Seems to me hacks will follow if possible, but with Apple’s popularity growing without Windows, I kinda’ like staying exclusive, I guess.
I kinda’ need to run AutoCAD, but I hate having to use Windows to do so. I’d like to buy Mac for my office – I was hoping they’d be able to run Windows apps. Still stuck, I guess.
Apple won’t be a reseller. I think switchers will just chuck on their old XP and use that.
I think of that as great news!!
The strength of Apple is the integrated hardware and software.
Quote, “We have an open specification and a process for certifying the hardware. We welcome all efforts in this area and we’d support Apple the same way we support every other PC manufacturer,”
Yeah well, don’t expect Apple to bend over backwards to get Windows on the Mac, Apple is not into contorting the hardware to match a cobbled OS. Apple is into building stable and reliable platforms.
MDN magic word – “farm” as in Apple is not specifically farming out their hardware for any old OS.
The article has the tone of apple moved from and open format to a closed one so windows will not work, but it is the case that Apple chose the newest and possibly best open structure that is supported by 64 bit windows but that Microsoft did not add support on XP with it.
The facts may be accurate, but the tone isn’t. Apple chose a loader method that was newer and more full featured that was not tied to old ways of doing things and MS knew about it when they mad XP but did not chose to support it.
Hackers will get around this – I suspect XP will be running on the iMacs before the MacBooks hit the street. (This will be a good thing to be able to run a couple of windows games and leave the real work to mac OS X).
Microsoft isn’t makeing this switch EASY for Apple.
Hey look, Vista will support EFI – they will have to, it’s the future of Intel’s architecture. BIOS is OLD SCHOOL.
It took a few weeks for the hackers to get Mac OS X for Intel running on a non-Apple machine. It will probably take about the same time for them to get Windows running on an Intel Mac. That’ll be good news for architects, realtors, and others that must run Windows software, but I won’t be adding Windows to my Mac any time soon. I see no reason to load up security breaches.
Some (kind of) funny comments about Windows running on Macs:
http://www.2manage.de/managementchannel/?p=28
I sold my PowerBook last month with the intention of buying a new Intel Mac laptop so I can run Windows natively. I have a couple particular apps I need that don’t have OS X equivalents. Dang. Now I still have to lug 2 laptops around. Double-dang!
So the new Macs are going to use EFI. Good! One of the biggest gripes about the processor switch among the tech-head crowd was the loss of Open Firmware. EFI’s supposed to be a decent replacement (while BIOS would have been a giant leap backward).
Is this the solution: http://darwine.opendarwin.org// ?
Is it possible the logic is backward here? Apple did this not to prevent Windows from running on their harware, but rather to prevent Mac OS X from running on any old Windows machine for now. This will make it more difficult to hack the OS and run on anything but Apple hardware. It is a layered form of security. Lots of simpler locks instead of one big cumbersome one can be just as secure. My 2 cents.
I also imagine that the open source community will be getting a compatible version of WINE up and running for these Intel based Macs in fairly short order. That would be sufficient for most people that need Windows for just one or two apps.
If there is a will, there is a way.®
Doesn’t affect MacMania or his affiliates but others who need to run Pasta natively will find a way.
Wait for DARWINE or CodeWeavers, their software should allow running of non-Vista Windows programs on a Mactel without VPC.
Microsoft is so behind it’s not even funny, they don’t even have Vista out yet and since they really don’t care, don’t expect anything coming for us in any reasonable time frame.
Vista will make them money, then Office, then OfficeMac then finally a hobbled VPC.
Heck Microsoft has to use XCode now instead of CodeWarrior, it’s a intense learning process for them, they can’t even write secure code for their own operating system.
Gates and Co is still figuring out how to tailor Vista to run on Macs to steal us away from Apple.
M$ isn’t concerned about hardware sales, but if they can sell Windows to Mac users, they would love that.
All you fscking traitors will defect in a heartbeat to Vista if it would run on a Mactel.
will run.
if u must.
watch, people will show us how soon.
Microsoft cannot make a good emulator. But there is another….
You run Windows and Windows apps, you’ll have problems whether it be on the new Intel Macs or whatever. The operating system and the software seem to be almost like two squabbling siblings each wanting their own way, neither willing to compromise. And if you boot Windows on one of these new machines, expect Windows viruses. The safest way I know of to run Windows on a Mac would be through VPC, and not allow it to share the Internet connection. Safest way to run Windows on a PC: 1. Best option. Never turn it on. 2. Next best option, never connect to the Internet, install no new software, basically use it as a noisy paperweight, or for Solitaire. 3. Desperation measure when you’ve already gone against options 1 and 2. Remove power cord. Find some creative use for it such as for burning Bill Gates in effigy, or better yet Ballmer or Michael Dell. Fashion it into a whip and flagellate yourself as penance. May lead you to be locked in a loony bin, but taking out your aggression on others would see you locked up in the nearest penitentiary. Maybe you can come up with some better uses.
Wow – this is really good info to know about. Thanks for the article MDN!
Looks like I’ll have to wait until later this year when Intel releases the 64bit version of the Core Duo, and subsequently when Apple sticks in in the MacBook Pro…
I’m sure the hackers will get there first, but Microsoft will add EFI support to Windows 32-bit with Vista. 64-bit Windows already supports EFI, but the Core Duo CPU is a 32-bit device.
Wait for Windows VISTA and you will be able to dual boot easily and hack-free.
EFI vs BIOS:
sweet. I can’t wait to dual-boot Mac OS X and Vista OS X, just to freak out my anti-Apple and anti-Microsoft friends in one fell swoop.
… will the released Mac OS X for Intel run on PCs? Or does Apple finally have the OS locked down enough?
“I can’t wait to dual-boot Mac OS X and Vista OS X, just to freak out my anti-Apple and anti-Microsoft friends in one fell swoop.”
Anyone can dual-boot. How ’bout a Classic-like environment with Windows apps running under OS X?