Each week The Wall Street Journal’s Walter S. Mossberg answers tech questions for his readers. This week, one question touches on Apple’s Boot Camp:
Q: Apple’s Boot Camp program for running Windows on a Mac is a beta. Any idea when a final version will be out? And will Boot Camp allow Macs to run the new Vista version of Windows?
A: Boot Camp may never be final, because Apple plans to roll its functionality into the forthcoming new version of its OS X operating system, called Leopard, which is due out early in 2007, around the same time Microsoft plans to ship Windows Vista. I assume Apple will stop offering Boot Camp as a separate program around that time. The company states that “Boot Camp Beta is preview software licensed for use on a trial basis for a limited time.” That implies to me that it will likely be discontinued when Leopard comes out. This doesn’t necessarily mean existing installations of Windows on Macs will stop functioning, just that new downloads won’t be available. I do believe that Leopard will allow Vista to run on Macs. However, just like regular Windows PCs, Macs running Vista will be able to use all of its features only if their hardware specs are hefty enough. My quick and dirty assessment is that the Intel-based iMac, MacBook Pro and Mac mini should be able to do so, but only time will tell.
Mossberg’s Mailbox is here.
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Related articles:
Apple implementing Windows API directly in Mac OS X Leopard? (Windows apps on Mac without Windows) – April 21, 2006
Apple ready to take back market share; may debut Windows virtualization in Mac OS X Leopard – April 21, 2006
Apple confirms ‘sneak peek preview’ of Mac OS X Leopard at WWDC 2006 this August – April 18, 2006
Apple’s Boot Camp is first step towards Mac OS X Leopard’s inevitable support for virtualization – April 11, 2006
Dude, you got a Dell? What are you, stupid? Only Apple Macs run both Mac OS X and Windows! – April 05, 2006
RUMOR: Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard features revealed – April 04, 2006
Apple CEO Steve Jobs’ ultimate goal: ‘to take back the computer business from Microsoft’ – June 16, 2005
bill,
Yeah I thought that Leopard was scheduled for Q3 of this year, or about the same time they’ll be putting the Merom chipset in the MacBooks.
I’m sorry, but Mossburg is an idiot. Big deal that OS X will run Winblows crapware. I’m sure there are about a thousand better reasons to talk about OS X Leopard then something that involves M$! Winblows is crap, pure and simple. Its like a generic OS; a transparent shell with so many holes that makes it about as useful as a screen door on a submarine.
Fsck off, M$ trolls.
Op-ed piece written on a beloved PB 1.5 12″.
After installing 10.5 I will be installing no other OS. Don’t need to, don’t want to. Baby’s been good to me, ain’t gonna cheat on her.
I’ll say it again, Windows on a Mac? Meh!
Who cares? Only a small group of geeks.
Another Windows on a Mac artical on MDN, what a shock.
Yawn…
Too bad about 10.5 not allowing windows apps on a ppc mac. There’s a couple of windows programs that I’d like to use, and I HATE virtual PC. Virtual PC is like working on a 386…
I don’t WANT to run a Windows program AT ALL. But I HAVE TO for our business, since Quickbooks is the standard and Intuit keeps the Mac version CRIPPLED by comparison.
I have a piece of garbage PC sharing desk space with a backup Mac right now, and I desperately want to get rid of the damn thing. This functionality in Leopard will allow us to do that. Finally.
So, that’s MY reason “ishufflemyfeet” and “Think Different”. The Quickbooks Mac version is woeful by comparison, and, ya know . . . I HAVE TO RUN MY BUSINESS!!!!!!!!!
This forthcoming feature of Leopard is NOT only for geeks.
@Chunky Monkey “I HAVE TO RUN MY BUSINESS!!!”
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So do I, and I use MYOB.
If I could run Windows apps under OS X, I would be the happiest guy in Vermont. THen maybe I could convince the powers that be to get me a Mac notebook.
There are several programs which I rely on to be compatible with my job. One is Access. And I know you’ll say Filemaker this and that, but if everybody else is running Access I ain’t cutting that cheese. Number two is WordPerfect. OMG, I know there is a very old Previous generation Wordperfect running around out in webland, but I would be very suprised if there weren’t any glitches sharing with the WordPerfect 9 world. Last, but not least is Outlook. What I wonder about is how well Entourage could substitute. Does it do calander and contacts as well? Are there some tricks it can’t turn?
Anyhow, all those concerneds would be wiped away if I could run Windows apps simultaneously. My life may finally be able to communicate with itself. The Mac would be like that curvy line haolding the yin to the yang. I need em both.
Fuzzy Bo: ” … and I use MYOB.”
That’s great for you. But most accountants don’t.
Our accountant is a former IRS agent, and he prefers Quickbooks. As do the majority of people needing an accounting solution. And since our guy is formerly from the “dark side” and that kind of information and those kinds of connections are invaluable, I’ll stick with what he prefers.
Besides, we tried MYOB once and it too lacks some of the features and support of Quickbooks.
Don’t get me wrong: If Intuit didn’t completely suck ass they’d simply make the Mac version completely equivalent. But they do and they won’t.
So until then, something like this feature appearing in LEopard would be ohhh soooo sweeeeet.
I wouldn’t piss on Intuit if they where on fire.
Wha…? I thought Mossberg was one of the “blessed” ones, one of those journalists who “got” it? The very second he even dares to say “Windows” in the same breath as “Apple” without being negative, you turn on him? My, how fickle you some of you people are…
I own both and use both. I am in the IT field and have uses for both. I think both have great and not so great points. What i dont get is why people perfer one over the other. I am at an advantage to most of the people i work with because i can do both. Notebooks do not take up that much space.
MYOB 2009 SN?