Apple Releases Software to Run Windows XP

[zippyjuan]

http://my.earthlink.net/article/top?guid=20060405/443340c0_3ca6_15526200604051716859403

Apple Unveils Software to Run Windows XP

In this Feb. 28, 2006, file photo, Apple Computer Inc. CEO Steve Jobs gestures in front of the Apple MacBook Pro laptop at Apple headquarters in Cupertino, Calif. PAUL SAKUMABy MAY WONG (AP Technology Writer)
From Associated Press
April 05, 2006 11:57 AM EDT
SAN JOSE, Calif. - Apple Computer Inc. unveiled software Wednesday to help owners of its new Intel-based Macs run Microsoft Corp.'s rival Windows XP operating system, despite the computer maker's insistence it won't assist such efforts.

Apple's new "Boot Camp" software, a "beta" test version available as a free download, lets computer users with a Windows XP installation disk load that system on the Mac.

Apple shares rose nearly 8 percent in midday trading.

"It makes the Mac the most versatile computer on the market," said Tim Bajarin, a tech industry consultant at Creative Strategies.

Bajarin said the move should lure Windows users who "had their eye on a Mac but knew they could not run their favorite Windows programs on an Apple-based computer."

When Apple introduced its first computer based on Intel Corp. chips in January, the company said it had no intention of selling or supporting Windows on its machines, though it has not done anything to preclude people from doing it themselves.

Apple said Wednesday that stance remains true, yet the new software will ease Windows installation "by providing a simple graphical step-by-step assistant application."

"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," Philip Schiller, senior vice president of worldwide product marketing, said in a statement.

Indeed, for months, hackers have been diligently working on programs to let users of Intel-based Macs switch between the two competing operating systems.

Apple turned to Intel chips, the same ones used to power most PCs using Windows, after saying its previous suppliers, IBM Corp. and Motorola Corp.'s spinoff Freescale Semiconductor Inc., couldn't meet Apple's needs for faster, more energy-efficient chips.

But the Intel-based Macs continued to run Apple's own proprietary operating system.

Because Windows is much more dominant, Mac users don't have access to many software programs written only for Windows. The switch to Intel chips lets users load Windows onto a Mac computer, without the need for emulation software that slows performance. But until Wednesday, the user needed some technical expertise to pull it off.

The Boot Camp software makes it easier to install Windows and lets users run either Mac OS X or Windows when they restart their computer.

Deutsche Bank analyst Chris Whitmore said in a research note that Apple is likely to grow its worldwide market share beyond the current range of 3 percent to 4 percent, while American Technology Research analyst Shaw Wu described the announcement as a "significant game changer."

A final version of Boot Camp will be available as a feature in the upcoming Mac OS X version 10.5, code-named "Leopard." Apple said it will preview Leopard in August, but it hasn't yet disclosed a release date or price for the upgrade.

Apple shares gained $4.77, or 7.8 percent, to $65.94 in midday trading on the Nasdaq Stock Market, while Microsoft shares rose 4 cents to $27.68 and shares of Intel rose 3 cents to $19.33.

[zero2dash]

1) Apple got pissed that hackers put out free methods to do this, so they come up with their "own solution" that they'll (conveniently) package in with Leopard - so, if you want the 'Apple' patch, you'll pay for their OS. Apple trying to make money off a hacker's idea? Ohhh that's rich. :lmfao:

2) With this - Apple officially looks like a bunch of hypocrites.
Ok to run Windows on Apple hardware? Check. (Encouraged even.)
Ok to run OSX on non-Apple hardware? Boo...HISS!!! We will sue! Not allowed! Not allowed!

This, my friends, is the epitome of the word hypocrite.

Nice try Apple...I'll be sure to think of you fondly every time I dual boot back into OSX86 10.43 at home tonight. :poke: "What've you got there, Bob? Is that a G5?" 'Yep. I put Windows on it too!' "So, you spent three times what a Dell costs to run the same OS that I do?" :faint: :stupid: That's frickin' hilarious.

[seqiro]

Oh, come on. First of all, you can download it TODAY for free.

Secondly, have you ever been involved in software production? Something like this would take weeks to develop, go through quality control, and be able to be released as a beta. It's not something they cooked up in a week because they got pissed at hackers.

As for looking like hypocrites, Microsoft is not a PC hardware vendor and as such by design their software will run on x86 compatible hardware. That being the case, since their license doesn't disallow it there's nothing wrong with Apple making it easier for their customers who choose to do it. They aren't even supporting it.

For Apple to allow OS X to be installed on generic PCs, it would open them up to a whole world of pain that Microsoft has now--supporting thousands of possible combinations of hardware. As much as I'd love to be able to buy a copy of OS X for my PC, I can certainly understand why they'd choose not to.

[InfiniteNothing]

Enjoy your emulator Zero2dash :wavey: If someone buys a G5 it's for the processing power and the stability. :shrug: If that's not for you then it's not for you. No need to crap on people doing something else.

[eSDee]

Always hatin zero2 :2far: :shrug:

[gear02]

Everyone in the world wants OSX on their PCs. That's why people like Zero2Dash get really pissed when they refuse to do so. I'm one of those people. I would KILL to get OSX on my X40, although I think I would sacrifice zero2dash to do so :)

But Apple will NEVER do it. You don't understand their business model. Apple differentiates itself through the combination of hardware and OSX. If they sold OSX, their very profitable hardware sales would plummet and you wouldn't have OSX anymore when Apple goes out of business.

But don't ask me to explain this Boot Camp thing. Goes against their strategy (control software, control hardware, control the experience). Maybe they think it wouldn't hurt them. Their 5 point stock jump today may reflect that.

[chadlnc]

I tested the install today at work and I did see Windows on a Mac. We got a blue screen of death after installing the drivers and restarting so if you are going to do it you may want to wait for it to come out of beta if you aren't the adventurous type.

[TruckStuff]

/me dreams of triple booting OSX, Windows and Slackware. :drool:

[Cubsfan]

2) With this - Apple officially looks like a bunch of hypocrites.
Ok to run Windows on Apple hardware? Check. (Encouraged even.)
Ok to run OSX on non-Apple hardware? Boo...HISS!!! We will sue! Not allowed! Not allowed.

Wow, somebody's bitter. I'm not sure why you think this is so bad. Apple develops an OS to sell their hardware. Why would they want it to run on YOUR hardware? Microsoft develops an OS to run on as much hardware as possible. I don't see why Apple wouldn't want to support this.

I find it funny how people get mad because something better costs more.

[Maarchk]

I think a lot of people would enjoy os x on a pc. I if i could do that for my parents. It would make life much easier. Most people want a simple happy os that doesn't ask a lot of questions. But apple is very controlling and i think it keeps them from gaining much market share. I think they will never really be a dominant force in computers.
And i think i'd be funny if microsoft sued apple for using their software on an apple. I know. its not illegal, just amusing.

[verve247]

Apple isn't being a hypocrite. They aren't being sneaky or controlling. They are trying to be a successful company and that means making money. Their primary revenue comes from hardware (the ipod/music boost won't last forever) so they have to find ways to lure people into using their hardware. This is by their OS and ipod. If someone buys a mac computer and then puts windows on it, Apple still makes a profit. But if someone puts OS X on a dell, Apple doesn't profit.

[Maarchk]

Apple isn't being a hypocrite. They aren't being sneaky or controlling... so they have to find ways to lure people into using their hardware.

Wait, so if luring people into using their hardware isn't being sneaky or controlling.. umm well i dont know what is... When someone wants you to use one of their products but not another.. isn't that controlling?

Microsoft is the same way... they'd rather you use windows than something else...

[verve247]

Microsoft lures you into us XP. McDonalds lures you into buying a big mac. None of their tactics are out of the norm. Why are you focusing on Apple when their company behavior is not unique? Oh and it is not controlling. That called being persuasive. You do have free-will i believe.

[Maarchk]

Why are you focusing on Apple when their company behavior is not unique? \

Initially i was simply concurring with Gear02 when he said, it would be sweet to boot osX on a PC hardware. I see the hypocrisy in them helping people boot another company's OS on their hardware, and yet they keep their OS from being ported to someone else's hardware. They want things one way and not the other. I'm sure microsoft is the same way. I'm not arguing that anyone else is sweet and innocent because they pretty much aren't...
This topic was brought up because of an apple action and thus i wrote an apple response. I believe if i had written a microsoft response, people would have looked at me as if i was :toxic: . if you want to throw down an MS article, i'll be happy to tell you that they suck too. :)
I'm not looking for a fight or a two person argument which appears to be where we are. I'm happy to say i'm done talking and i hope you have a wonderful weekend. :wavey2:

[verve247]

Maybe Microsoft will release software that allows OS X to be run on pc hardware. That would be hilarious.

[zero2dash]

Enjoy your emulator Zero2dash :wavey: If someone buys a G5 it's for the processing power and the stability. :shrug: If that's not for you then it's not for you. No need to crap on people doing something else.

OSX86 isn't an emulator, it's a full-fledged OS. The only thing OSX86 emulates is 1) TPM/EFI, 2) SSE3 (if you only have SSE2) and 3) Quartz (if your graphics card doesn't support it). People buy G5s because they think it's the only way to use graphic design apps on a computer with enough speed and also to be able to use OSX. Well their partially true. Not trying to get into semantics or discuss anything legal vs illegal, but nevetheless it's not the only way. Personally I agree with what I saw someone say the other day - there's a lot of people still believing in these 'urban legends' that Windows computers run design apps like junk and that's...well, a lotta junk. :heh:

I've considering buying a PowerMac (including within the last month) but I'll keep with what I've already got and build something else when the mood strikes me - I dig the Windows world so much more than I do the OSX world...both are effective and work well, I just prefer Windows.


Everyone in the world wants OSX on their PCs. That's why people like Zero2Dash get really pissed when they refuse to do so. I'm one of those people. I would KILL to get OSX on my X40, although I think I would sacrifice zero2dash to do so :)

But Apple will NEVER do it. You don't understand their business model. Apple differentiates itself through the combination of hardware and OSX. If they sold OSX, their very profitable hardware sales would plummet and you wouldn't have OSX anymore when Apple goes out of business.

But don't ask me to explain this Boot Camp thing. Goes against their strategy (control software, control hardware, control the experience). Maybe they think it wouldn't hurt them. Their 5 point stock jump today may reflect that.

OSX86 buddy. :)
running 10.43 on my P4 3.0c