Apple planning to charge Tiger users for Boot Camp?

It was perhaps one of the most significant events the PC industry has seen in the last decade: Apple opening up its hardware to Windows operating systems through its proprietary Boot Camp software. Not only did it allow Mac owners running Intel-powered machines to dual boot XP at will, it did so completely gratis (well, save for the cost of a Windows license). Unfortunately, the honeymoon may soon be over for Tiger users accustomed to the free boot loader: according to a report on MacScoop, Steve and friends plan to begin charging about $30 for the software once OS X Leopard is released and Boot Camp leaves beta for the greener pastures of commercial. For those Macheads planning to upgrade to Leopard, this wouldn't be an issue, of course -- the new OS will offer Boot Camp as one of its standard features. Still, if you're planning on keeping the old Tiger and your draft-N router around for awhile longer, it sounds like there's a good chance you'll need to squirrel away about $32 for the future: $30 for Boot Camp, and two bucks for the privilege of unlocking your wireless card's dormant 802.11n functionality.

[Via Slashdot]

[pixelbender @ Jan 21st 2007 8:45PM]

Take this comment and put it anywhere in the following statements:

Quit whining. A company CHARGING for software!??!?! GASP!!!!

I guess Microsoft should have never charged for Vista either seeing as how they gave away a free beta! And for the more ignorant - Boot Camp was ALWAYS a time-limited beta. I'd say $30 for a product that has less functionality in terms of rebooting but more in terms of hardware support (ie 3D) is a great deal compared to its $80 Parallels cousin.

[John Doe @ Jan 21st 2007 8:53PM]

This should be a non-issue
If this will be part of leopard, then they shouldn't just give it away free. Do you see microsoft giving away the Vista interface for XP?

[Kev50027 @ Jan 21st 2007 8:55PM]

Yes, actually.. it's the dark purple theme, that's available for free online from Microsoft..

[Kev50027 @ Jan 21st 2007 8:54PM]

That's patheric. They already over charge for their hardware and software, now they want to charge for the software that makes the Mac hardware special. This is sad. Microsoft gives out tons of software for free.. Apple? Nope.

[kinger @ Jan 21st 2007 8:59PM]

c'mon, dont just make statements, support them with facts. isnt that the first thing one learns in elementary english classes?

[John @ Jan 21st 2007 9:04PM]

You're so full of it. Compared to Vista, Leopard WILL be a deal, especially considering that the higher end vistas go for over $200 while having features that Apple already offers on Tiger which is a deal at $130.

Want to know why MSoft gives some software out for free? Because NO ONE would buy it if they charged money for it. And please, name one piece of software comparable to Boot Camp that microsoft makes that they do not charge money for. (rhetorical question, since they offer none)

[John Doe @ Jan 22nd 2007 12:50AM]

You mean like Microsoft charging for Onecare when AV software should be free with an insecure OS?
its a two way street asshat.

That being said Apple needs to be slapped around by a lawsuit for nothing more then a driver and firmware update. But BootCamp? Give me a break. Its a major component update.

[Joe @ Jan 21st 2007 8:58PM]

Hmm...charging $30 for a compilation of Windows drivers, most of which were written by HW vendors. Think Different.

[Scholmo @ Jan 21st 2007 9:05PM]

yeah... my Apple Trackpad driver was written by a 3rd party right? and so was my Apple Keyboard backlight support and the built-in iSight, gesture support, etc.... /sarcasm

probably the only 3rd party drivers are for video and sound...

have you even used bootcamp?

[Will @ Jan 21st 2007 9:04PM]

This is perfectly reasonable. Boot Camp is part of OS 10.5, and is currently available to the public as a beta. If you want it, and won't be paying for Leopard, then it's reasonable to expect to pay for it. If you don't want to pay then you can run XP on your Mac with XOM, the open source alternative.

Did people make a big deal out of it when Apple released iChat AV with an OS upgrade and made users of older versions buy it? Maybe I'm forgetting, but I don't remember hearing such complaining as I've seen around the net about Boot Camp going non-free.

[Das @ Jan 21st 2007 9:30PM]

How about DirectX?

[Eh @ Jan 21st 2007 11:35PM]

Check your facts. Microsoft has included a free boot loader in Windows for as long as I can remember. Linux comes with free boot loaders. There are also many thirdparty freeware boot loaders available for the x86 platform. Boot loaders should be part of the OS like the case with Leopard, they shouldnt charge money for them even if they werent originally included on the disc. Boot Camp also gives many people a reason to buy a Mac, it automatically makes Apple money even when its free.

[James @ Jan 21st 2007 9:05PM]

Apple costs more becuase they don't rush poorly written software to market. They get it right the first time!

[Joe @ Jan 21st 2007 9:30PM]

Ah, that Apple twit-wit. Re-read the post professor. I said most. As in the northbridge drivers, SATA, video, sound, USB, 1394. You know, the complex stuff that require more than few days to knock out. Keyboard backlight support? Now that's complex. And yes, I do use Bootcamp, on my MacPro. And I'm a driver developer, so I know exactly what I'm talking about. You?

[thegoodoldkicker @ Jan 21st 2007 9:06PM]

So this is how apple get their 1 billion in net profit by charging for wifi and a $30 Boot software. What next apple charging people for a next update of itunes?
it's only a matter of time before that hapen. Charging $600 for a phone that cost $300 to make is really a smart thing apple, real smart.

I guess this is the only way for apple to be able to pay off those Law sue i been heard about.

Rule # 1. Apple, DON'T STEAL FROM OTHER PEOPLE.
Rule # 2. IF YOU STEAL, THEY WILL SUE.
Rule # 3. REMEMBER THE TWO RULES ABOVE.


This is why apple will next be a world leader in technology. NO INNOVATION AT ALL. It's just a matter of time before apple steal Sony Bravia LCD TV and resell it with a apple Logo. LOL

[John @ Jan 21st 2007 9:15PM]

Uh no, they make their money by actually designing products people WANT not products that they're forced by neccesity to use. If OSX had the wide variety of 3rd party apps available that Windows does, MSoft would quickly find itself in second place behind Apple in OS marketshare. This is what some people don't get; there is NOTHING original in the computer software or hardware industry. NOTHING. Everything is based off something else and companies use each other's products as 'inspiration' for their own. Its nothing new and it will neve change, so quit complaining about it.

[Geoffrey Sperl @ Jan 21st 2007 9:07PM]

@Kev50027: Really? MS gives away tons of free software? Name something. IE and OE don't count - those are part of the OS according to MS. Anything in beta doesn't count either, because it's still in beta and may (just like Boot Camp) become something they charge for when the software is released as a final version. I will say that MS has given away the previous version of Virtual PC, but that's about all I see MS give away.

Meanwhile, Apple charges one price for their OS (unlike what we will see for Vista), and it can handle everything Windows can. If you were saying Google gives away software (such as Picasa, Earth, and Sketch-Up), then you might have a point.

I just don't see what you are attempting to get at. Boot Camp is not a trivial piece of software - the Intel Macs do not run a BIOS (the run EFI, which is supposed to be the successor to BIOS), so they have to make Windows think they are running BIOS in order for it to run. That, added to the partitioning software and the bootloader, is enough for Apple to justify charging Tiger users if they don't upgrade to Leopard.

Lastly: A theme is not an interface. Two entirely different beasts. Just because you put make-up on a sow doesn't make her a worthy date, does it?

[Kev50027 @ Jan 21st 2007 9:22PM]

Microsoft gives away tons of useful free software. Ever heard of Powertoys? Media Center add ons? They constantly throw free programs and other fun stuff up on their website.

I'm so sick of you disillusioned Mac lovers. Apple is so proprietary about everything it makes me sick. They STILL don't let you buy Mac and run it on a PC, no.. they have to keep things proprietary because they're afraid of supporting any actually GOOD hardware.. When a Windows machine can do everything a Mac can do for less money, I see no reason whatsoever to use a Mac.

[Rick @ Jan 21st 2007 9:08PM]

Do Microsoft fans ever really consider the source of their Wood?

[Todd @ Jan 21st 2007 9:18PM]

Get a clue! Have any of the morons complaining about the $1.99 dealt with Sarbanes-Oxley compliance in a Fortune 500 company? 38 lawyers, 42 accounts and 80 different opinions on revenue recognition. If you don't want it, don't buy it. Go deal the the bozos in Redmond, I'm sure you get real VALUE there, cough...

[Steve D. @ Jan 21st 2007 9:20PM]

Parallel Desktop ...

[John @ Jan 21st 2007 9:40PM]

Wait a sec; you think that they won't let OSX onto PCs because they don't want it to run on Good hardware? Its exactly the opposite pal; Apple doesn't want their OS operating on crap PCs that look like crap. Lets put a high-end MacPro against a high-end PC, and then we'll see who's wearing the pants. (hint: MSoft's skirt will end up being floor length)

There is absolutely nothing wrong with Apple charging for bootcamp; There isn't really any comparable windows software, and Parallels (as has been mentioned) is more expensive than $30. The only reason people are complaining is because its Apple. (oh and to put this into perspective, I don't agree with them charging for the Draft-N to be activated, but I at least understand WHY they may have to do it)

[geddy76 @ Jan 22nd 2007 8:02AM]

You don't run Mac on a PC, you douche. What you are desiring is to run OS X on a PC. If you're gonna bash, at least know what you're talking about.

[Scholmo @ Jan 21st 2007 11:00PM]

how about CoreAudio and the pre-installed extensions for it. how about CoreImaging, CoreAnimation, the iLife suite, Aqua itself.... the list goes on and on....

[Kev50027 @ Jan 21st 2007 10:20PM]

Excuse me? My PC is FAR faster than any comparably priced ($3800) Mac. Apple doesn't want to write drivers for hardware, which is why they are suck pricks about putting their OS on anything but their own PCs. Crap PCs that look like crap? Last time I checked, Apple made white boxes. Who wants an ugly white/black box when I can have a Sony Vaio laptop, they are stylish. Have you seen any Mac desktops? How about the ancient plastic ones that looked like Apples? You think that's high quality?

You have to be kidding me, seriously, you are so close minded and ignorant that your defense of Macs is calling every other PC ever made "crap?".

No crap there's no comparable Windows software, that's because Apple has a stick up their butt, and doesn't want their OS running on anything except their racist white boxes.

[Andrew Fong @ Jan 21st 2007 10:27PM]

I'm actually concerned that Apple hardware control is going downhill =/. Scratched up iPods, whining MacBooks, etc. Anecdotally, I seem to be hearing more horror stories about Macbook / Powerbook hdd failures than PCs. I still love the Apple look and feel, but maybe they have some growing pains?

[Rick @ Jan 21st 2007 9:41PM]

I think it's important for high school sophomores with limited life experience to have a place to sound empowered. Go Go Engadget Helicopter!

[Russ @ Jan 21st 2007 9:47PM]

So true!

[mb @ Jan 21st 2007 9:49PM]

IIRC Apple said they were going to charge for it when it got out of beta when they released it in the first place...

Do people really need to get this bent out of shape for $30?

[humpty @ Jan 21st 2007 9:55PM]

Comparable PCs are 3/4 -> 1/2 the price of macs and infinitely more useful. Why would anyone want a closed system like a mac?

[emaredubyou @ Jan 21st 2007 10:02PM]

to feel special...

[Rick @ Jan 21st 2007 10:02PM]

Gee, let me guess: never used one, right?

[Irwin @ Jan 21st 2007 10:11PM]

@Mirosoft has no free software
Are you people really that ignorant?
Go check the microsoft website downloads section. I can't be bothered to list them all.

[LJKelley @ Jan 21st 2007 10:13PM]

IDIOTS: Microsoft gives Virtual PC and Virtual Server for free (which allows you to run Linux, Windows, OS X) untop of Windows XP...

So don't preach without all the facts you idiotic apple fanbois.

[Scholmo @ Jan 21st 2007 11:01PM]

VPC does NOT allow you to run OSX on your PC really... some hacked torrented version of it that doesn't deserved to be called a Mac product. but OSX itself, no.

[Dave @ Jan 21st 2007 10:13PM]

Or to look cool...Apple can keep coming out with their "clever" commercials comparing a PC to a Mac, but people with real technical knowledge (aka not high school and college girls who think that MacBooks look "pretty") know the difference. My favorite is the most recent one they had on the AFC championships today saying how the Mac laptops come with the webcam built in...woooooow, that is such a selling point that I would easily pay $200+ than for a comparible pc laptop (sarcasm).

[Ian @ Jan 21st 2007 10:54PM]

Ok, I've been reading these humorous exchanges, and yep, it sure doesn't take much to get both sides fired up. I normally prefer to sit back and watch the action when it degenerates to this level of inanity, but I can't help myself when people bring out arguments like "...people with real technical knowledge (aka not high school and college girls who think that MacBooks look "pretty") know the difference...".

Well. I'm a Senior Software Engineer, with a Computer Science degree, and I've used Windows machines for many years. I only mention this so that I may POSSIBLY be included in the "people with real technical knowledge" group above, rather than the "high school and college girls" group.

About 6 months ago, I bought my first Mac, an Intel iMac to be exact. I did not care one bit about how it looks, but I desperately wanted a home machine which would do 2 things: perform fast and be reliable. I have to say it has been nothing but outstanding in achieving this.

I play in a band and after attempting to record and mix (more than 20 concurrent audio tracks), the iMac barely raised a sweat and did the job beautifully. This is AFTER trying to do the same on a high-end Windows machine. I won't go into detail, but my attempts at recording on Windows machines over the years have not been good. (I realise other people do have some success, but for us with our processor-hungry project, the Mac won hands down). I really don't think it is fair to say that people buy Macs just because they "look pretty".

The whole argument that Macs are just for the looks, the fashion statement thing is just ridiculous. The fact that they look good as well as perform well...fantastic, in my opinion.

It seems to me that there are some Windows users (not all, no, God forbid, not all) who might possibly be judging a computing platform which they have not actually tried. Try it out for a day, or a week, if you have access to a Mac machine. At the very least you will have more fuel to your argument afterwards. In general, my iMac has completely transformed my home-computing experience, and I am oh-so-glad I at least tried it out, because otherwise I never would have known what everyone was on about.

[John @ Jan 21st 2007 11:06PM]

Based on your comments, I find it suspect that you would have actually TRIED a similarly equipped $3800 MacPro. It would smoke your system .

And no, I didn't call all PCs crap, its common knowledge, however, that more than a few of them ARE. More than a few of them don't look all that great either. (Vaio desktops and Dell XPS machines being a notable exception.

[pixelbender @ Jan 21st 2007 10:22PM]

@Dave:
"but people with real technical knowledge...know the difference."

Yep, we used OS X before the commercials came out.
(Where we!=Dave)

[pixelbender @ Jan 21st 2007 10:24PM]

@Kev:

Then call me racist!

[onebluehaze @ Jan 21st 2007 10:26PM]

again... if $32.00 is too much for you, don't spend it.

people have to make a living, Jobs is no different. MacBooks and the MacMini are not over priced either...

seriously folks, technology has never been free, (okay so there was napster but look how that turned out!).

[Rick @ Jan 21st 2007 10:26PM]

Yeah. And did you hear Veronica is ACTUALLY going for Homecoming Queen?! Ewwwww! Doesn't she know she sucks? Like, ewww again.

It's so weird-- like, how could she have friends when so many of us think exactly the same way? And she's like.. like.. so... ewwww.

High skool rules. Down with thinking!!!!

[Chris Merchant @ Jan 21st 2007 10:55PM]

You don't hear about PCs breaking and PC errors and viruses because it's common knowledge. If your Dell notebook has a faulty , you just send it in to Dell and they fix it or whatever. Sure, you bitch about it for a while- but nobody listens, because that's what you expect.

An Apple gets a software glitch though, and you guys throw your hands in the air and think the sky is falling. I think it's a testament to our stability. I take it in stride.

Chris

[nivz @ Jan 21st 2007 11:02PM]

Main difference in Apple and M$ is that People actually like paying apple for their software... I mean PPL wait in queues for hours to get their hands on SW like Tiger, and probably leopard when it's been released. When was the last time you payed for an M$ software and felt happy about it?

It'a just when you buy an apple product, You know it's gonna work before u come home.. ur comming back from the store satisfied, thinking "what's the quickest way to get home" to try this.. cuz they just work.. On the otherhand, M$ you never know until you pop the disk in and try it your self.. There's a good chance of it working perfectly (maybe not exactly the way you wanted it to, but atleast they work as M$ intended to) or it might end up not running at all..

Atleast thats why I personally dont like buying expensive software frm MS. specially windows, Say i pay £200 for a disk come home and it says my drivers are not certified blah blah hence it wont run properly, I would be pretty angry.. With Mac, If it says it works on a MacBook, or an iMac, it just works.. perfectly.. every damn time..

If you have a windows machine and an OSX machine, you wanted to do something that both machine's were equally capable of doing (may be make a DVD or some spreadsheets or whatever) what machine will you use? dont think too many ppl would say windows.

[humpty @ Jan 21st 2007 11:03PM]

1. Macs look like shit. Its all about advertising and fanbois needing to justify their purchase.

2. Performance wise, they are shit compared to similarly spec'ed PCs. See no. 1 above.

3. Why are people paying for shit? See no. 1 and 2 above.

[nivz @ Jan 21st 2007 11:26PM]

1. please please please do name 1 PC/Laptop that looks better than an Mac/Macbook out there

2. Which PC/Laptop did u compare to a Mac that had better performance for value

3. A lot of people pay for Macs, for Mac Software. BTW if you take the Windows user base what % do you think actually paid for ANY of the software they have in their system?

4. I am not a Mac Fanboy, I have 2 Windows Laptops and 1 Windows PC at the moment compared to 1 Macbook. There's nothing to justify, Only regrets of buying 3 Windows Machines. (I should've stopped at 1).

5. You have never owned a Mac or atleast used one as far as I can tell, so next time when you go shopping pop in to a mac store and have a look around. (Macs also uses Mice and keyboards so You'll be fine, don't be scared)..

6. :)

[chenry @ Jan 21st 2007 11:13PM]

Sounds logical to me.

[Kev50027 @ Jan 22nd 2007 3:27PM]

Okay, show me a $3800 brand new Mac with the following:

Core 2 Quadro 2.66 Ghz overclocked to 3 Ghz
2 GB RAM
150 GB 10,000 RPM HDD
2x 500 GB 7200 RPM HDD
Nvidia GeForce 8800 GTX
Toughpower 850 Watt Powersupply

Prove to me that a $3800 Mac is any bit faster than this machine sitting right next to me.

[Kev50027 @ Jan 22nd 2007 3:32PM]

1. Just about any Sony Vaio laptop.

2. The post right above this.

3. Are you kidding me? The millions of PCs that are sold every year has Windows pre-installed. It's included in the price, are you stupid or something? You think they get Windows for free? I assume a minor percentage of people running Windows have gotten it illegally.

4. You obviously don't play games or use many programs, then.

5. I have used many Macs, and I get frustrated every time I am forced to use one, the interface is so counter-intuitive.

[John @ Jan 21st 2007 11:52PM]

Hey Uh, you do realize that it WILL be a part of the OS, right? It just won't be a part of the OLD OS once Leopard is released. A lot of it most likely has to do with the way Leopard will interact with windows (Boot Camp is not fond of Vista in its present state) and I'd imagine that a lot of the features required to run Vista cannot simply be added on to Tiger with an Update. Apple knows that many people will buy macs once Leopard comes out with BootCamp, but they do also recognize that people that bought macs because of the BC Beta KNOW that the Beta is only a time-limited piece of software and that they'll have to pay for the real thing.