Apple today introduced Boot Camp, public beta software that enables Intel-based Macs to run Windows XP. Available as a download beginning today, Boot Camp allows users with a Microsoft Windows XP installation disc to install Windows XP on an Intel-based Mac, and once installation is complete, users can restart their computer to run either Mac OS X or Windows XP. Boot Camp will be a feature in “Leopard,” Apple’s next major release of Mac OS X, that will be previewed at Apple’s Worldwide Developer Conference in August.
“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,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing, in the press release. “We think Boot Camp makes the Mac even more appealing to Windows users considering making the switch.”
Boot Camp simplifies Windows installation on an Intel-based Mac by providing a simple graphical step-by-step assistant application to dynamically create a second partition on the hard drive for Windows, to burn a CD with all the necessary Windows drivers, and to install Windows from a Windows XP installation CD. After installation is complete, users can choose to run either Mac OS X or Windows when they restart their computer.
Funny Apple notes on the Boot Camp web page include:
EFI and BIOS – Macs use an ultra-modern industry standard technology called EFI to handle booting. Sadly, Windows XP, and even the upcoming Vista, are stuck in the 1980s with old-fashioned BIOS. But with Boot Camp, the Mac can operate smoothly in both centuries.
Word to the Wise – Windows running on a Mac is like Windows running on a PC. That means it’ll be subject to the same attacks that plague the Windows world. So be sure to keep it updated with the latest Microsoft Windows security fixes.
The public beta of Boot Camp is available immediately as a download, and is preview software licensed for use on a trial basis for a limited time. The final version of Boot Camp will be available as a feature in the upcoming Mac OS X version 10.5 “Leopard.” Apple does not provide support for installing or running Boot Camp and does not sell or support Microsoft Windows software. Apple welcomes user feedback on Boot Camp at:
Boot Camp requires an Intel-based Mac with a USB keyboard and mouse, or a built-in keyboard and TrackPad; Mac OS X version 10.4.6 or later; the latest firmware update; at least 10GB of free space on the startup disk; a blank recordable CD or DVD; and single-disc version of Windows XP Home Edition or Professional with Service Pack 2 or later.
More info about Apple’s Boot Camp public beta and download link here.
MacDailyNews Take: Welcome to “Embrace and extinguish,” Apple-style. The war ain’t over, folks. It never was. Now, a new chapter begins and today’s shot will be heard around the world! Don’t you just love the smell of napalm in the morning?
This doesn’t hurt Microsoft (yet), but it absolutely puts Dell, HP, Lenovo, Toshiba, etc. into a world of pain.
Why buy a Dell when Apple’s Intel-based Macs will run both Mac OS X and Windows? As we wrote way back on June 8, 2005: Oh, so one could buy a Mac and run both Windows and Mac OS X or buy a Dell and only be able to run Windows. Muahahahahah! So, can anyone explain why would anyone in their right mind would buy a Dell or any other Wintel box assembler’s kit again? This is shaping up to become a “license Mac OS X or die” problem for the Dells of the world. But, what if Steve Jobs doesn’t feel like licensing Mac OS X? Checkmate. Is it too early to suggest that Michael Dell shut down the company and give the money back to shareholders?
Wait until Wall Street figures this one out.
As we wrote in a MacDailyNews Take on May 9, 2005:“The war isn’t over until there’s a surrender. Apple’s still here and the Mac platform is growing and advancing, not shrinking and retreating. As long as Apple makes Macs, as Yogi said, ‘It ain’t over ’til it’s over.’ PCs are turned over every few years; all it would take is for the average user to choose a Mac for their next computer and things would quickly change drastically. With Windows in disarray and Longhorn looking more like Stillborn, right now is Apple’s best time to strike and strike hard.”
Our own SteveJack wrote on December 28, 2005, “Could Steve Jobs be preparing to drop just such a bomb on the Windows box assemblers at Macworld Expo or sometime in 2006? Would he first drop just a moderately destructive atomic bomb on the likes of Dell, HP, Lenovo, Gateway, etc., leaving out the ‘Windows apps on Mac without Windows’ threat to Microsoft? Or could Jobs actually be boldly planning to drop the industry-devastating hydrogen bomb on both the Windows box assemblers and Microsoft all in one fell swoop? If a Mac could run Mac OS X and Windows, who would buy a Dell, HP, etc.? If a Mac could run Mac OS X and Windows applications without Windows, who would buy a Dell or a copy of Windows from Microsoft? And what would Microsoft be able to do about it? Drop Internet Explorer for Mac (LOL)? Drop Office for Mac? Big deal, we’ll run the Windows versions on our Macs then, if need be. Is this why Jobs has been building a world-class library of Mac-only software titles for years? Does Jobs still harbor the desire to take back the personal computer industry from Microsoft? Could that be the real reason why Jobs is undertaking the massive switch to Intel-based Macs? Or do you really think the switch to Intel-based Macs is just to get better performance per watt CPUs for Apple iBooks and PowerBooks?”
As Windows-only users buy Macs that will provide them their “comfort” of Windows, they will experience Mac OS X and use it for the excellent Mac-only applications. We all know what happens when people are given the chance to really use Macs for longer than five minutes, they usually want to buy a Mac. These new Apple Mac hardware users will start out using Windows more than Mac OS X and end up using Mac OS X exclusively. Watch and see.
While dual-booting is okay for those that need to use Windows apps, we’d still like to eventually see a solution like Darwine that runs Windows apps without Windows directly in Mac OS X. When that happens, the revenue going to Microsoft dries up and Windows’ death accelerates dramatically.
For those worried about Mac developers leaving the Mac OS X platform and just writing for Windows, we do not think that’s a real worry. Mac developers write for Mac OS X because of the numerous advantages it offers both to them and to the end user. The largest Mac developer, by the way, happens to be Apple, with many best-in-class Mac-only applications (the iLife suite, for just one example). You can’t run these on Windows and Apple isn’t about to abandon Mac OS X for Windows. Oh, sure, maybe a few smaller developers will try it, but most of the shaky Mac developers have already been weeded out during the Mac OS X transition anyway. Mac OS X is strong and getting stronger. Don’t worry about developers leaving the Mac platform for Windows; it’s not going to happen.
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Related articles:
Dude, you bought a Dell? What are you, stupid? Only Apple Macs run both Mac OS X and Windows! – April 05, 2006
Intel-based Apple Mac runs Windows XP ‘fast, extremely well’ – March 16, 2006
Needham: Apple’s Mac market share could rocket to 9-percent if Intel-based Macs ran Windows apps – March 08, 2006
Is Steve Jobs prepping ‘The Cupertino Project’ – Intel-based Macs that will run Windows apps, too? – December 28, 2005
Apple patent application describes Intel-based Macs that run Mac OS X and Microsoft Windows – November 05, 2005
Is Apple morphing Mac into the ultimate PC capable of running Mac OS X, Windows, Linux? – June 20, 2005
Apple CEO Steve Jobs’ ultimate goal: ‘to take back the computer business from Microsoft’ – June 16, 2005
Why buy a Dell when Apple’s Intel-based computers will run both Mac OS X and Windows? – June 08, 2005
Windows users who try Apple’s Mac OS X Tiger might not want to go back – June 07, 2005
Microsoft and Dell must have a lot of bricks lying around today – June 07, 2005
Microsoft CEO Ballmer: Apple’s moved to Intel? Ho hum – June 07, 2005
Apple about to resurrect its Switch campaign? Are the ‘OS wars’ really over? – May 09, 2005
Apple Macs are less expensive, more secure, longer-lasting than Windows PCs – April 21, 2005
This news comes the day after 3 major analysts dropped their price target on Apple… Woops!
And you thought Leopard was just the next big cat on the block
Well the leopard has changed its spots
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This will finally get all those who require Windows but want a Mac to buy one. Even if they run their Windows apps, they will eventually want to try OSX. Once they do that and begin playing around with the i-apps, they’ll be hooked.
There also may be a lot of people out there who have been a little jealous of Apples free programs. Again, nows their chance.
I personally don’t see this as a bad thing. Apple will continue to make superior hardware and software products, they’ll will just be available to more users.
In regards to virtualization, I thought that was to be incorporated into Leopard (rumor)? Maybe this Bootcamp is just an interim thing to get everyones attention and hold it until Leopard ships?
The very nice thing about Steve/Apple is that you NEVER know whats going on behind those closed doors. Anyone see any rumors about this??
Can Windows XP running on an Intel Mac read & write to the OS X partition of the disc, or be hacked to do so? If so, it seems to me that a hacker could write malware that enters while you are running XP, look for an OS X install and Root your Mac even though it is not booted. Kind of a Back Door attack.
Otherwise this has big implications
VPC will probably die on the Mac, but maybe not for security reasons.
Game porting companies may be hit the hardest. Most gamers will not wait for the always delayed Mac port when they can just dual boot and run it on XP. This is not a good thing for them.
A lot of Pros who need access to Windows only apps must be smiling today. I only hope that it not short-lived.
Until I get a straight answer about cross sector Rootkits it ain’t coming anywhere near my hardware.
Better version would be:
And you thought Leopard was just the next big cat on the block.
Well this leopard can change it’s spots!
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– MacDailyNews Take: Welcome to “Embrace and extinguish,” Apple-style. –
Once again I HOPE MDN is on target. If this is a real Apple strategy, aimed at neutralizing the makers of stupidly cheap computing hardware (read: Dell, HP, etc.), then this could clearly be the beginning of a real and long needed change in the pc hardware market place.
On the other hand, it means Windwhores will run on even more computers and that really is a bad idea in principle. In fact, it could very well mean that developers will be even less inclined to worry about Mac software because now EVERYBODY can run Windblows. I really honestly hate that even being a possibility, and I think its a huge risk on Apple’s part to go this route, in the long run.
Maybe what’s happening is, SJ is looking toward retirement, doesn’t see anybody who has the vision for Macintosh computers that he does (this was clearly evident when Apple was left in the hands of others, even well meaning others), and is getting the whole Mac experience ready to be assimalated by MS. Why does Windoze run on ~95% of the world’s pcs? Because all of the hardware is made to run it, and now all Macs will natively run it too. This really doesn’t make me feel good at all.
If the white-blood-cell-like strategy works, and indeed more Windscrews users buy Apple hardware to run that OS, but end up being slowly converted to Mac OS, then I will be the first one dancing in the streets. But with public perception of “Macs are more expensive”, I don’t really see that happening.
Every Windows user who wants to run Vista (if it ever gets delivered) has to purchase a new computer. This is Apple’s chance (strategy?) to take some of that market, by enticing upgraders to buy a Mac instead of a PC.
It sounds like most people here think that Boot Camp is a great idea and an advantage over Windows PC manufacturers. I hope that they’re right. I have some nagging doubts about this.
Besides the virus potential attacking the Windows side and thus damaging the use of the Mac side of our hardware; the thing that scares me is what this will do towards future Mac software development. Why develop for the Mac at all, when Windows is now on both the PC and the Mac?
The idea of Windows games being available to us Mac users is good, and M$ business software available to Mac business users now is good. The only problem is that developers of Mac-based software will be hurting because of this. Come on guys. The Mac developers have done everything right. They’ve created this good Macintosh program that is not bloated and crash prone, and everyone is buying M$ products instead.
Steve Jobs has screwed over Macintosh developers before, but this is the final insult to them. I’ll wait and see, but this could be the beginning of the end for the Mac OS. I’m afraid that I will have to really learn all of that Unix crap now. :'(
This is just the first step. lets see where it goes…. Dont go crazy until you know what is really going to happen.
These negative comments about Boot Camp being the beginning of the end of OSX just goes to show that not all Mac users are as smart as they are cracked up to be.
This is a BRILLIANT! I would worry about Mac software developers bailing if Apple created true Windows virtualization or OS X were able to run Windows apps. But this way, most Mac users will not want to spend the money to get Windows unless they have to, nor will they want to deal with the hassle of shutting down and rebooting into a different OS. So what this provides is: a security blanket to encourage more Windows users to try OS X; an opportunity for those who really need to run AutoCad or some other Windows app some of the time, and; an option that permits gamers to run Windows games but OS X for the net and other consumer needs.
GO APPLE!!
This is absolutely a briliant move on Apple’s part. Earlier this week, Apple announces that X-code can be used to develop Windows software. A developer just writes a native Mac OSX app, then flips a switch and it will run on Windows too. Now, you can dual boot and run Windows on your Mac. Is this a move on Apple’s part to abandon OSX? Hardly! Think about it, A software developer can use a free development tool, X-code, to write an app for the Mac and PC. He needs to write it as a native OSX app first before generating the Windows app. He can now test his creation in both Windows and OSX by selecting his bootup on his Mac, and it will have to be a Mac because OSX and X-code will not run on a PC. What was it that sweathog Steve Balmer said a couple of years ago? Developers,developers,developers,developers…
I believe Apple had all three solutions to running Windows on Intel Mac. 1) Dual-boot (as they just announced), 2) VM (they had the technology running on MkLinux, running v2 to test and v1 as debugger), 3) Dawine. Only reason they won’t make them available is to control the market. They did not want people buying Macbooks at same time. This way they can throttle the demand.
I’m sure they are also taking into account about courting the Windows developers to port their applications to MacOS. Dual boot is great, but painful enough to users, they will demand the developers to port their applications to MacOSX. The other two solutions will not. May be dawine can, if it only supported applications written for Windows ME or 95. However, that will give black mark to Apple.
Only reason I believe they are prereleasing the Boot Camp now, instead of with Leopard is, the hack is out and Apple wants to keep the hack from becoming wide spread use.
**** AND ****
Can you imagine the huge Windows community interest in Apple’s upcoming August WWDC and Steve’s intro for Leopard?!
Tens of millions of people, with no previous interest in Macs, will be shown how good Mac really is!
People with OS X and XP side-by-side will see the obvious differences. They will see how much maintenance XP really requires compared to their very unobtrusive Mac. They will also see a speed difference; one that can no longer be dismissed by hardware differences.
This entire move smacks of Jobs’ marketing and computer genius!!
This whole thread proves that Mac fanatics are just sheep that are herded blindly where Apple leads them.
When the contest to install XP on a Mac was won, the response was overwhelmingly negative. Comments such as “Big friggin deal!”, “Whooopee!”, “So f-ing what” being the majority of the sentiment reflected. Proof right here:
http://macdailynews.com/index.php/weblog/comments/8938/
http://macdailynews.com/index.php/weblog/comments/8929/
But when the announcement is from Apple to integrate the ability to boot Windows, the loyal sheep suddenly change their tune.
The funny thing is, nothing has changed. Since the revealing of Intel based Macs, everyone knew (sooner or later) that meant native Windows would eventually find its way onto Macs.
This will not bring the downfall of Microsoft, or PC vendors. If anything this will hurt OSX in the long run in terms of development.
The MDN take of “Oh, so one could buy a Mac and run both Windows and Mac OS X or buy a Dell and only be able to run Windows. Muahahahahah! So, can anyone explain why would anyone in their right mind would buy a Dell or any other Wintel box assembler’s kit again?” is flawed and shows just how delusional the editors (and the loyal mac sheep here) are. Here’s why:
From a hardware perspective, both Apple and Intel are currently behind the curve. Take for example, the AMD community is MUCH larger than the Mac community (while many folks here like to laugh Windows over OSX, believe me there is much more laugh at with Intel and Apple hardware). From the assortment of superior chipsets, CPU’s, graphics cards and memory, who in their right mind would jump to an inferior platform just for OSX?
As of today the Core Duo is not even among the top tier chips from Intel in terms of performance. The graphics card on the iMacs are abysmal. So MDN do you really want to know who in their right mind would buy a Windows PC over a Mac with OSX & Windows? The answer will break those rose colored glasses you all wear.
wow, holy sheet, I keep checking the stock price, and everytime its going up!, now at 65.78, will it top 70.00 by day’s end? sure looks like it, sweet. C-weed, I hope you know what you’re talking about.
microsoft may cry “developers, developers, developers”.
but right now Apple is thundering for all the world to hear…”Momentum, Momentum, Momentum ! “
Tough shit Sammy – you lost!
Isn’t this like putting Yugo seats in your Porsche?
Macaday–what exactly did you “win”?
To gagravaar: I agree with your take and would like to subscribe to your newsletter (j/k on the second part).
Give Jedi Jobs a little credit folks. There’s a loud, Kermit-like scream emanating from Redmond, Washington today.
Xcode for Windows is huge. No, it’s bigger. It’s ginormous.
I think I just felt two 10 cent coins flip in my pocket.
Shifting paradigms?
Total world domination. Feels good!
hey sammy was you aware windows is crap at utilising multi processors and osx is great at it, so even is dual cores arent the top processors macs get more out of them.
There are two possible reasons for Apple to release BootCamp:
1. Just to tease the s#@t head Pee Turd-rot since he sold his Intel iMac.
2. To win back the pro-users who have a PC and all the pro apps native to XP. Now they can buy a ProMac (in August) with the latest Intel chips. Install their Windows XP and pro apps without costing a single cent in software upgrades. When the universal versions of all pro apps come out, pro users will install them on the ProMac and start running their apps in OSX. Seamless transition and it’s brilliant !!!!
I personally think the second reason is more logical and sound. We can forget that little dick Pee Turd-rot.
BTY Sammy, the answer to your “top tier chips” question will be in August when Apple releases its ProMac with Quad Core chip and SLI graphic architecture. I think you are a negative person but please learn more before you make any cynical remarks! At least be a knowledgeable cynic!