Boot Camp lets Macs run Windows ... officially
By Marc Perton 
posted April 5th 2006 9:09AM
posted April 5th 2006 9:09AM
If you want to run Windows on your
Intel-based Mac but found narf and blanka's solution a little too
intimidating, you now have another option -- and this one's from Apple. The company has released a public beta of a
technology called Boot Camp, which will be included in the next version of OS X. As its name implies, Boot Camp is
essentially a boot manager, and allows Mac owners to install Windows XP and choose whether to run OS X or Windows at
startup. It also includes a selection of Windows drivers for common Mac hardware, along with a utility to let you burn
a CD to run the installation and partitioning tools. Yes, you still need your own copy of XP, but it looks like Apple's
taken most of the pain out of dual-booting. Great job Steve, but we're sorry to tell you that the $13K bounty's already been won. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
After installing the firmware update and boot camp (didn't run boot camp assistant), it booted off the most recent Vista. I haven't had time to backup my system, so I didn't install vista, but it boots from the latest image!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/53574906@N00/123865414/
haha, this is awesome news! Too bad they didnt enter it into the contest to win the 13 grand, that would have been funny as crap. All in all, this is very good, I would have never expected it from Apple.
this is the news of the year. this is a bomb. way to go apple. this will change everything. this will change the game. what a great step in the right direction.
Anyone else notice that the download site looks more "Leopardy" than the rest of the Apple site? Oh those marketing geniouses... Giving us a sneak peek to build up hype.
138. "The fact is that Apple makes the only computer platform compatible with Windows XP Pro, OSX, Unix, and probably Linux"
WTF? Since when can't a PC run XP, Unix and Linux?
Guess what's next? If you can run XP on a Mac, how much you wanna bet that OSX on Dell isn't far behind?
I guarantee it.
138. "The fact is that Apple makes the only computer platform compatible with Windows XP Pro, OSX, Unix, and probably Linux"
WTF? Since when can't a PC run XP, Unix and Linux?
Guess what's next? If you can run XP on a Mac, how much you wanna bet that OSX on Dell isn't far behind?
I guarantee it.
If and when that happens, then Apple will make one of two systems that can run all those OSs. Or one of several. But until that happens, it makes the only one. You're not effectively disagreeing with me.
143 rlpm
where did u get the latest vista?
You're pointing at a bunch of OS's that all work on a PC except one - OSX
Up until a few weeks ago, Macs were in the same boat, they couldn't run XP. So how long do you think it will take for one of these guys who hacked a Mac to run XP to get a Dell to run OSX?
I pointed it out because arguing that as point of superiority is farking rediculous.
Like claiming a PC is better than a Mac because it (hypothetically speaking)get's a HD-DVD drive running on it a few weeks before the enevitable PC version.
People want to run XP on their Macs, most PC users don't really care about the Mac OS, otherwise, they would have bought one.
Still the fact of the matter is that this is good for everyone. PC users, and Mac users. Competition will benifit everyone.
Personally, unless it can blow the doors off any of my multi cpu PCs or my workstation laptop, I don't care how a Mac looks. That's just me though.
@150: Early Vista beta tester.
Nice move Apple. Simple point is that - OS-wars, mouse button counting, industrial design issues aside - If you want to run the largest range of mainstream operating systems (and related software) on a single machine, you're going to need Apple hardware (the EFI/BIOS firmware update would suggest MCE/Vista installing will be possible). Nothing other than a Mac will officially (and legally!) run OSX, ever.
Its not a bold move (the onMac competition had almost forced Apple's hand) - its just clever...add a nice level of functionality to Mac hardware with the typical Apple ease for those who may have a need for it.
I can see it creating a fair few new switchers who like the idea of having 1 machine for all purposes...the best part being, they will be forced to use OSX before being able to get into Boot Camp - and I'd dare say a fair number of those users may never even get as far as installing Windows on it once they spend enough time with OSX.
dont see the point in using XP on mac ,i left windows because osx was and is clearly better. even good old bill gates saw the writing on the wall hence he love it so much he brought in to the company
151. You're pointing at a bunch of OS's that all work on a PC except one - OSX
Up until a few weeks ago, Macs were in the same boat, they couldn't run XP. So how long do you think it will take for one of these guys who hacked a Mac to run XP to get a Dell to run OSX?
I pointed it out because arguing that as point of superiority is farking rediculous.
I'm not saying it's a point of superiority. I'm saying that if someone wants to run all the OSs on the same computer, then that person can now get an Apple. Before this, he couldn't get anything. If something that exists is superior to something that doesn't exist, then I suppose yes, the already existing Intel Mac is superior to your Dell running OSX, which does not in fact exist.
What this means is that for some people who need to run XP and OSX but not at the same time, the value of the Intel Macs just about doubled. Why? Because instead of buying two PCs just a little while ago, you can buy one. Which one? The Intel Mac. If that changes, then that changes. It has nothing to do with technical superiority. It's an ONTOLOGICAL ISSUE.
Here's a question, how many Intel Mac users do you think will actually legitimately purchase a copy of XP to install on their Macs?
My guess is very few.
Billy Gates laughing all the way to the bank, now that his nemesis Steve Jobs has licensed XP to run on Apple Macs and begins the spyware and virus.
Oh snap... DELL must be shaking in their boots... Now all they need to do is release the Windows Mouse Adapter which includes a razor blade (and bandages just in case) to cut your single mouse button on your MacBook into two. :)
I think that this was a great move for Apple. We know that this wont effect the Mac faithful (who are never going to run windows) but for those who are not sure about what to buy now they can take the risk of trying Mac OS X knowing that they can still use windows if they have to. This is not Apple slowly fading away from their operating system, on the contrary. Apple believes that their operating system is so good then when people are faced with the option they will choose Apple's over Microsoft. This is all about minimizing risk. It's another sales tool. Well-done Apple.
Hell has frozen over! I will be installing XP on a small partition on my MBP this weekend... only to run Empire Earth ;-) How fabulous that I can join most of the world in the wonderful world of viruses and spyware ;-)
In respone to 54.
The mac alternative to Project is Merlin. http://www.projectwizards.net/en/merlin It even imports and exports Project files. And it is easier to use then Project. Trust me I've spent ages trying to fight Project.
The mac alternative to Visio is OmniGraffle. www.omnigroup.com/applications/omnigraffle/ It imports and exports Visio Files. And it is easier to use then Visio. And the diagrams look nicer.
So other than some specialty software and CAD software everything you can get on a Windows platform is available on a Mac. And in some cases there is software available on Macs that is not available on Windows. SubEthaEdit is a great example. TextMate is another. Yojimbo, I could go on and on.
I need to put a end to this rubbish been said on this forum. It has been show that windows OS runing on intel-mac is faster than most PC. This especially true when talking about the MBP. However, i cant understand you peopler. Apple screams QUALITY!! and i would rather have an apple than a rubbish pc.
Also OSX is far better than windows-it jus doesnt have the support by the wider software community. This has know been solved by apple and this is the reason why the whole thing is GREAT!!!!
You get the best of both OS
J
I will be excited with its like a picture in picture, side by side view of both OS or wait can I even dream, when the day comes when you can have two screens, one with XP and the other with OS. But that would never happen..lol
I've read several posts stating because of bootcamp that when people who have traditionally used a MS OS use a Mac OS they will switch.
However I think the opposite is at least as likely. I think that many traditional Mac OS users who try XP will see that the overwhelming majority of rumors they have heard and helped spread about XP are simply false. Since the purpose of bootcamp is to run XP on a Mac there is obviously some user need for XP that is being met by it. And once they find their fears about XP groundless.
Viruses seem to be the greatest boogyman out there but frankly unless you're nearly computer illiterate the chances of getting a computer virus is almost zero.
158. "What this means is that for some people who need to run XP and OSX but not at the same time, the value of the Intel Macs just about doubled. Why? Because instead of buying two PCs just a little while ago, you can buy one. Which one? The Intel Mac. If that changes, then that changes. It has nothing to do with technical superiority. It's an ONTOLOGICAL ISSUE."
Well then you are simply miopic. Anyone dumb enough to go out and buy an Intel Mac just because of what happened this week deserve all of the expected problems and instability that goes with running XP on it.
I won't even bother with a Dual Core PC yet, I just bought a dual Xeon Dell, instead of opting for the much more expensive Dual Core. Well not until later this year when Intel relases 2nd Gen Dual Core and Quad Core CPUs... But of course you knew about that already right? By that time, the guys who hacked XP on the Intel Mac will have hacked OSX for a Dell.
Enjoy your 1st Gen Intel Mac, it'll join the Mac Cube as one of the fastest outdated Macs. You can now run Microsoft Office natively in XP! Hurray! Good thing you have that dual core.
Shit thats cool
Installed and booting fine. Now I can have my lovely minimalist iMac and still play the games I've been missing since my Toshiba laptop but the dust.
Oh happy day
(On a side note, first time I've ever managed to run MS Flight Simulator 2004 at full res and full detail and still maintain over 50fps in busy areas, who'd have thought that would happen on a mac?)
apple will not drop osX. os X is job's baby. jobs is doing this to promote osX, by making it an incentive for PC users to by macs, and hoping that they will fall in love with osX. Of course the only risk is that software companies who are windows centric might choose to stop porting their products to osX. Personally I think that is unlikely. I can see a situation though on the horizon, where the windows functionality would be built into the osX through vitualisation technologies, allowing windows software to be booted up from within osX (similar to the way classic mode currently works, but with little or no performance hit). So basically, job's is relying on companies like Adobe etc to stay loyal, which might seem to run the risk of a drop in mac based software sales. I think this percieved gamble might not be a great risk though, he already made it easier for those companies to keep making mac software through the intel switch, which makes porting software less complex. Apple won't lose on any software sales to the mac side either, since all their software is mac only of course. Then consider the fact that in the last 4-5 years Apple have been attempting to corner several big pro software markets, most notably in audio with logic, and in video/cinema with fcp, motion and shake. Another factor is the rising use of open source unix based software on the mac.. Several people I know swear by Gimp (open source photoshop alternative), openoffice and firefox already.
This is great news! I use applications on both the mac and wintel pc's for music production and remixing. I hope this creates a possibility of seeing applications that were once only for MS Operating systems appear on OSX and vice versa.
Peace
Dave
Bill Gates' worst nightmare:
"Installed and booting fine. Now I can have my lovely minimalist iMac and still play the games I've been missing since my Toshiba laptop but the dust."
Windows get used like a 5 dollar ho for games and ignored the rest of the time. That's the way it should be.
Enjoyed reading comments.
Re: convincing wife you need a new computer. Buy her the computer. My wife is retiring from teaching elementary at school that is partnered with PC's, and going back to college - so first purchase is PowerMac for her.
Second. I want Apple at home on my desk for video and picture editing superiority. My office is of course on PC. So, being able to load XP and my office compatible programs is huge.
Well folks.... from a lifer on PC's who never even considered a Mac (OK, I tried one for about 1/2 hour a few years ago)... My wife bought me a dual-core iMac based on her son's recommendation. When I opened it I thought "what the????", but I gave it a try and loaded Boot Camp (I didn't want to hurt her feelings). There are a couple of little adjustments you need to make, but I've now made the iMac my primary machine, and find I spend at least half my time on the OS X side. I do think Apple's on to something pretty big here!
I am using window XP on a MacBook now.
The trackpad two fingered scroll and right click is not supported in Windows. I am forced to plug in a mouse.
Also there are missing device drivers. When I boot up I get the "found new hardware" routine and Windows is not able to locate the drivers for the mysterious unknown new devices.
The isight does not work either.
Hopefully Apple will fix these soon.
I see posts on this site and others asking "What is the point?" or "Why would anyone want to boot windows on a beautiful MAC?" Well here are my reasons for you to consider.
Personally I can see nothing good about Win. I've never personally owned a MS box since DOS. I hated 3.11 and never looked back. I've avoided it always. I've run Linux, NeXT, BSD, OS-2 (Loved this), and now MAC. I never chose MAC before as it had been out of my price range. I have a P4 that I love, and just ordered a new intel based MAC Laptop last night.
Here's the Rub: I'm a software engineer / project manager by trade, and I am required by my company to work with MS-Project. In the past they have given me a MS-Laptop to work with at home, but new company doesn't. Now I need MS at home, but I don't want it in the house.
Sometimes I do emergancy OPS work, and thus need VPN. Go figure that my customer's VPN works only on an MS Box. That's reason 2.
In addition to that I also coach a swim team and guess what, the software that everyone in USS and USMS uses is based on MS-Access. Thus reason 3.
With Boot Camp, I can stick with my strict policy of not allowing MS boxes in my house and still switch over when I have to. I think this is very smart on Steve's part. I know several MAC users that have to keep a MS box around to do their jobs. Now they won't have to.
Just my 2 cents.
um....i hate to rain on everyones parade. but how can you use the "RIGHT MOUSE CLICK" on a mac? will i have to look for a usb windows mouse? plz reply cause this is the only reason im holding out on getting a mac and i can get rid of this thing that keeps crashing.