“I am experiencing the computer equivalent of an out-of-body experience. In front of me is Apple’s sleek new MacBook Pro laptop computer. And on the screen is a familiar sight in an unfamiliar setting: the rolling green hill and the blue sky spotted with clouds (and dotted with icons) that is the unmistakable Windows XP desktop. It’s like Pepsi in a Coke bottle, DeLay as a Democrat, Johnny Damon in a Yankee uniform (oops, forget that last one). Though it had previously been possible to run Windows on a Macintosh via pokey simulation software, this time Windows runs “native” (i.e., directly, just like with Dell and the rest) on the Intel chips that Apple has been switching to this year. Depending on how I start it up, this MacBook can retain the identity of a Mac running the Tiger OS, or become a Windows box in Mac clothing. It’s making me dizzy,” Steven Levy writes for Newsweek. “Even more disorienting, the software utility that allows me to go into the twilight zone of “it’s a Mac, it’s not a Mac” was created by Apple itself, the anti-Windows company.”
“Apple may be sending a not so subtle message that a direct comparison of the competing systems will leave no doubts concerning which is superior—or safer. When describing the precautions one must take when using Windows, Apple’s attitude is similar to a hotel concierge providing an insistent guest with directions to a nightclub in a thoroughly disreputable neighborhood. ‘When you load Windows you’re taking on the risk that entails,’ Apple senior VP Phil Schiller warns, citing the epidemiological woes of the Microsoft world. ‘There are a lot more security threats than the Mac has ever seen.’ Microsoft’s response to Boot Camp is telling. You would think there would be celebrating in Redmond—after all, customers who try it must bring their own $199 full-install version of Windows XP to the party. But aside from a welcome statement attributed to a Windows apparatchik, Microsoft execs are refusing to go on the record about this historic development—an indication that this disruptive development may be anything but welcome,” Levy writes. “Ultimately, Apple isn’t about supporting Windows—it’s about trying to steal customers from Windows.”
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Related articles:
Analyst: Apple’s Boot Camp may bring ‘significant benefits’ beginning in 2006 holiday quarter – April 07, 2006
Apple reseller: Boot Camp could sway a ‘huge percentage’ of PC users to go to the Mac – April 07, 2006
The Motley Fool: Apple ‘may be the next Dell’ – April 07, 2006
Macs that run Windows will calm potential switchers’ irrational fears – April 06, 2006
Analyst: Apple’s Boot Camp all about selling more Mac hardware – April 06, 2006
Analyst: With Boot Camp, Apple has removed another barrier to switching – April 06, 2006
Analyst: Apple Boot Camp could be an opportunity for Mac market share gains – April 06, 2006
Enderle: Apple’s Boot Camp allowing Windows on Mac ‘could change PC landscape as we know it’ – April 06, 2006
How to run Microsoft Windows XP on an Intel-based Macintosh with Boot Camp – April 05, 2006
Apple’s ‘Boot Camp’ a watershed, could dramatically expand Mac market share – April 05, 2006
Apple’s ‘Boot Camp’ is bad news for Windows-only PC box assemblers – April 05, 2006
Reuters: Apple’s new ‘Boot Camp’ could draw millions of new Mac buyers – April 05, 2006
First Coast!
Wellllllll…. here on the left coast…. my brand new imac dual core is running nicely with OSX and XP Pro on it. woo hooooo… got rid of the gateway box I had to have for work today!
Congratulations, Jim!
And an A for effort on the rhyming scheme – I was beginning to think everyone had given up (or worse – not noticed).
What was Billy thinking to leave MSFT to ‘The Sales Guy’?
“The Sales Guy”! Eureka!!
Pixar needs to do a tongue-in-cheek feature about MS. It’d be the story of a couple of college geeks who started with nothing, had a computing crown jewel given to them, became obscenely rich through lousy knock-offs, and then lost it all through through their own cluelessness. Kind like “Triumph of the Nerds”, only this time Apple won.
How fitting if “The Sales Guy” was released before Vista…
Damn, from Pixar’s web site:
It is Pixar’s policy to create all stories and ideas in house. We do not look at unsolicited story submissions.
“The Sales Guy” would have to be animated too. Hard to think of anyone in Hollywood freaky enough to play Ballmer. Maybe he’d do a cameo?
Goodness, things get out of hand fast. I didn’t say anything about Gates ‘operating’ any aspect of Apple or owning more than some stocks of Apple. I was trying to say that if I ‘despised’ another company I sure wouldn’t buy a bunch of their stock and support them in any way. Sure it could’ve been a bit of a legal deal for stealing code or whatever, but I just don’t think the assumptions that “Jobs hates Gates and Gates is trying to steal every customer with sleazy business practices.” are true.
And I’m not saying the dual boot Mac idea is bad, I just think it could be bad if it only helps sell their hardware. OSX comes preinstalled right? So right there the main thing people are buying is the hardware. Now if they get hooked and buy a bunch of other software then that’s a bonus but that’s also my other point…a lot of the software is good and yes there are the Adobe products, and other professional applications but it will be hard for people who have used Windows for a long time and suddenly find themselves somewhat limited in software.
I just really think spreading OSX onto other platforms would be the better move instead of XP leaking into the last of the exclusive PC hardware. If people could go out and buy OSX and install it on their main pc I think a ton of them would realize it is awesome and would switch for everything but games and a few apps.
I myself could probably deal with the limited software as long as I could still reboot and play games and all that jazz. So that would be a bonus.
I’ve been ignoring the endless and tiresome headlines regarding Boot Camp. But MDN’s headline on this thread deserves a response.
If someone buys an Intel Mac (an Apple product) to use Boot Camp (an Apple product), then Apple has already “stolen” a customer (the customer bought an Apple product) and the headline’s “by letting people try” part is complete nonsense.
Apple would be trying to steal Windows customers if Apple allowed OSX to be installed on something other than Apple hardware. That would be “try before you buy.”
Trying after you buy isn’t all that clever.
Pesky little thing, logic. It demands that writers be concise.
Feature Film – Peter Boyle (the Frankenstine monster in Young Frankenstine, Raymond’s dad in Everybody Loves Raymond) is almost a dead ringer for Ballmer. He could just reprise his role in Young Frankenstine and he would be 90% of the way there.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Boyle
I just bought my first Mac….
Dual boot made it possible. When I was a kid I grew up on the Apple IIe. At some point I wondered over to the dark side and have remained lost in Wintel for almost 2 decades. I have been fascinated with Macs since OSX was released and have tried various systems at stores, friends, etc. I have enjoyed the ‘freedom’ of choice by sticking with PCs but over the past two years have been tearing my hair out with all the ‘choices’. Windows is a mess BECAUSE people want too many choices. Microsoft has catered to too many people who HAVE to have the choice to run everything from MS-DOS days up to Half Life 2 and to do it on any of millions of hardware configurations. I’m sureprised that Windows runs at all.
With the release of Boot Camp I ordered an iMac 20″ fully loaded. Yes, it will be a dual boot system until I get the hang of OSX and find appropriate solutions to replace existing programs but as the weeks and months go by I’m sure I will use XP less and less.
Isn’t this EXACTLY what Apple is counting on? It worked on me…..
Hey informed, you haven’t been computing long have you? Do you think people tried an Apple 1 before they bought one? Do you think most people tried an Apple II before they bought one? Do you think most people spent much time trying an original Mac before they bought one?
How long do you think most people used an iPod before they deciced they had to have one? How long did you test drive your last car before you bought it?
I’m not saying your wrong. But consumerism has little to do with logic.
Dogfriend
– of course the rates will have gone up.
I just had a friend tell me he will never buy a “PC” again. He has a G4 Mac Mini but he was still forced to use a “PC” for work. He couldn’t decide what to buy for his next computer. Apple just made his decision a no-brainer.
You doubters watch the freaking sales. Narrow-minded pansies. When the average consumer comes to the realization they can run both OS’s; fast switching or VM(this may not be for months after Leopard) Apple may have supply problems.
tHE dUDE
There is already a solution for running virtual machines in OS X on Intel Macs made by Parallels – no need to wait, the beta version is available now and it’s free.
So if you need to do Windows only games or apps which need GPU grunt, use Boot Camp. For everything, use Parallels!
MW ‘trouble’ – for MS, definitely
dogfriend:
He could just reprise his role in Young Frankenstine and he would be 90% of the way there.
Of course! It’d be perfect!
Young Frankenstein: “Puttin’ on the Ritz”.
The Sales Guy: “I…love…this…company!”.
Hollywood is screaming for ideas. Someone’s gotta do this!
scenario:
Windows loyalists buys mac or uses mac at work or school with the intent of using only windows. Windows gets bogged down with spyware. Viruses eat up productivity. Fighting pop-up ads and spyware, user gets frustrated and out of curiosity reboots into OS X. Notices a speedier experience, absence of pop-ups, spyware. Wonders what software is installed to block these things. Discovers that the mac shipped with no need of extra software to protect it. Processor concentrates on production, not on fighting malware. Person gets more work done. Stability. Security. Ease of use. Discovers iLife. Begins to like interface. Relegates windows to occasional use. Purchases mac versions of necessary software, erases windows’ partition. Never looks back.
Yeah, that’s right. But I think an even bigger thing is that it removes some prejudice against Mac in many IT shops, now that Apple hardware can run Windows just like any other PC.
Many, or even most, IT shops don’t even consider Apple hardware for desktops and servers. Why? Their excuse is something like “Mac doesn’t run Windows” or “Mac isn’t mainstream and I don’t want to risk my job on something on the fringe”, “Mac doesn’t do IT”, or whatever. Boot Camp goes a long way in removing that prejudice. And Boot Camp does it without sacrificing quality and “art museum quality” polish.
If Boot Camp is good, then virtualization is even better (the rumored running both Windows and OS X at the same time, which is technically feasible, as Intel technology supports it).