Apple Releases Boot Camp Beta

[SangLad]

Does MacBook Pro iSight work under Bootcamp/Windows XP?

For those who are brave enough to try Bootcamp with MacBook Pro (or Mac Mini Core Due with iSight), does the iSight work in Windows versions of Skype & AIM?

Please let me know.

Thanks for all your help.

 

[Multimedia]

Parallels' Virtualization For Mac Solution Coming Soon For Windows Inside OS X

I don't want dual boot, I want it to work in a window so I can use both at the same time. This is only slightly less annoying that having 2 computers, 1 mac, 1 windoze.

No problem. The solution you want is about to be announced by the Parallels folks who are over here. Here's the preannouncement article published yesterday at TechWorld.com:

Virtualisation for the Mac arrives
By Manek Dubash, Techworld.

Yes we will have it all soon. It's a miracle. There goes another pig flying by my window.

 

[SamJ]

i think this a really good idea especially for people who need the games me! but i really hope that it doesnt slowly phase out mac os x over years to come because iv been using tiger for a week and my god...it kicks ass.

 

[xcalibur]

3DMark

Benchmark for 3DMark 06 posted - 1101
MBP 1.83GHz 1GB Ram

I am not up to date with 3D Mark 06 but am guessing that's a respectable score? Mac users can look forward to much better gaming now

 

[jer2eydevil88]

If you take MS Office out of the evaluation (because if MS spit the dummy and refuse to continue supporting the Mac, Open Office is already a very viable alternative), I'm willing to bet that 90%+ of a Mac User's time is spent using Apple's own software.

Don't forget, Apple likes to sell an experience, not just a gadget. That's why it's "iPod + iTunes + iTMS". We're seeing the same thing with the Mac, where it's "Mac + iLife + Front Row + ..." Apple isn't trying to build beige boxes, but fun computing experiences. Having Windows available as a Plan B can only be good

Let's see what I use on my Mac enough to have in the dock:
Adium, Firefox, Select parts of iLife 06', Chicken of the VNC, Smultron, Terminal, Macromedia Studio 8, Microsoft Office 2004 & Limewire.

 

[shigzeo]

yessir

you still must buy xp in order to use it. So, buy a new computer and then get xp? that alone will deter many people from using windows above osx. if you think a bit about how many people buy a computer (especially we mac heads) and just want it to work, installing 30 minutes of 16 colour screens is not the paradise in computer land that many think of.

so those people may just buy a windows later on, have a friend install it or something, or find out that they need to reformat everything, realize that they like osx quite a bit and end of story. i for sure, intend to do some gaming however.

 

[FixIt]

don't be blind....

....or shortsighted....

One week ago the father of OSX (Avadis "Avie" Tevanian) leaves the company, and today Macs officially support windows?

I think he left because he knew they are deliberately dumping OSX in favor of Windows

 

[mozmac]

We're rapidly approaching the #3 slot on the top News discussions.

 

[Barham]

What makes you think this won't support Vista? It says right there on the site:

EFI and BIOS

Macs use an ultra-modern industry standard technology called EFI to handle booting. Sadly, Windows XP, and even the upcoming Vista, are stuck in the 1980s with old-fashioned BIOS. But with Boot Camp, the Mac can operate smoothly in both centuries.


That tells me that Vista is good to go on Macs

and Directly from Apple.com

Apple Introduces Boot Camp
Public Beta Software Enables Intel-based Macs to Run Windows XP
CUPERTINO, California—April 5, 2006—Apple® today introduced Boot Camp, public beta software that enables Intel-based Macs to run Windows XP. Available as a download beginning today, Boot Camp allows users with a Microsoft Windows XP installation disc to install Windows XP on an Intel-based Mac®, and once installation is complete, users can restart their computer to run either Mac OS® X or Windows XP. Boot Camp will be a feature in “Leopard,” Apple’s next major release of Mac OS X, that will be previewed at Apple’s Worldwide Developer Conference in August.

“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,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. “We think Boot Camp makes the Mac even more appealing to Windows users considering making the switch.”

Boot Camp simplifies Windows installation on an Intel-based Mac by providing a simple graphical step-by-step assistant application to dynamically create a second partition on the hard drive for Windows, to burn a CD with all the necessary Windows drivers, and to install Windows from a Windows XP installation CD. After installation is complete, users can choose to run either Mac OS X or Windows when they restart their computer.

Pricing & Availability
The public beta of Boot Camp is available immediately as a download at www.apple.com/macosx/bootcamp, and is preview software licensed for use on a trial basis for a limited time. The final version of Boot Camp will be available as a feature in the upcoming Mac OS X version 10.5 “Leopard.” Apple does not provide support for installing or running Boot Camp and does not sell or support Microsoft Windows software. Apple welcomes user feedback on Boot Camp at bootcamp@apple.com.

System Requirements
Boot Camp requires an Intel-based Mac with a USB keyboard and mouse, or a built-in keyboard and TrackPad; Mac OS X version 10.4.6 or later; the latest firmware update; at least 10GB of free space on the startup disk; a blank recordable CD or DVD; and single-disc version of Windows XP Home Edition or Professional with Service Pack 2 or later.

Apple ignited the personal computer revolution in the 1970s with the Apple II and reinvented the personal computer in the 1980s with the Macintosh. Today, Apple continues to lead the industry in innovation with its award-winning desktop and notebook computers, OS X operating system, and iLife and professional applications. Apple is also spearheading the digital music revolution with its iPod portable music players and iTunes online music store.

I see no mention of Vista anywhere here. I don't want to get into a long argument, but I'm going with my original prediction of "No Vista." Otherwise all of the speculation about developers jumping ship would be true.

 

[MacTruck]

OMG FORD RELEASED A NEW CAR
OMG NISSAN WILL STOP MAKING CARS
WHY MAKE ANOTHER TYPE OF CAR WHEN A CAR ALREADY EXISTS...

The same reason they make different types of everything BECAUSE PPL WANT TO STILL BUY IT, DUH!

LOL! No crap. People just don't get it. Good post.

And just so we are clear here. Apple makes PCs now. OSX is PC software. GET IT! Ha ha.

 

[RichP]

Who says Apple did it themselves? Perhaps they're useing the solution that people came up with "in countless hours"? ;-) Apple used the "let somebody else do it"-concept already when writing their operating system ;-)

I doubt thats the case. It likely seems the firmware adds legacy BIOS support to the EFI in the current machines. Case in point, when u install it, windows doesnt need a special video driver to install, like it did with XOM.

 

[seashellz]

HAHAHAHAHA!
This can only cause a Mac boom!

imagine a year from now when all the bugs are worked out-and Windows running faster, smoother, and possibly more secure (in Virtualization) on a Mac than a PC.
Gamers will want Macs, Offuces will want Macs-Joe & Jane six-pack will even want a Mac

 

[weg]

I just think this is great that no more bootloader is needed....poor poor onmac.net All that hard work gone to waste

That's just not true. The article says that Boot Camp will come standard with OS X 10.5. Anybody who bought an Intel Mac NOW and doesn't want to upgrade can use the onmac solution.

 

[Chuckles]

Apple - I love you. There's some potential problems brewing, though. One, Mac users will now purchase Windows games and programs. That would eliminate the need to port them to Mac OS X, resulting in slower porting. Two, it's tossing Microsoft crash. Part of the reason I plan to make the switch is that I don't want to give money to Microsoft. They built that company on lies. I own a copy of Windows XP Home Edition already, so I shouldn't be speaking.

 

[yg17]

....or shortsighted....

One week ago the father of OSX (Avadis "Avie" Tevanian) leaves the company, and today Macs officially support windows?

I think he left because he knew they are deliberately dumping OSX in favor of Windows

Yes, it's all a huge conspiracy by Apple to switch us all back to Windows

 

[shigzeo]

that and

For those interested in forcing a BSOD on your XP:

1. Start > Run > Regedit
2. Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\i8042prt\Parameters.
3. Go to Edit > New > DWORD Value and name the new value CrashOnCtrlScroll.
4. Double-click the CrashOnCtrlScroll DWORD Value, type 1 in the Value Data textbox, and click OK.
5. Close the Registry Editor and restart Windows XP.

Once restarted, hold the [RIGHT CTRL] key and press [Scroll Lock] twice. Viola, BSOD. Make sure you enable the BSOD, My Computer > Advanced > Startup and Recovery > Settings. Uncheck automatically restart.

To those worried about the garbage along with XP and possibly touching the OS X stuff, you are way too worried about the alarmists view. Think about it, most of the viruses today are meant to hijack your computer and used as zombies. Viruses that are destructive have no purpose for virus writers because it provides no finanical benefit. Even if there was a virus that got out, first there would be a XP exploit to get it installed on your computer (assuming you are practicing safe computing). Then it would have to be so specific that it absolutely destroys the boot sequenece (I'm iffy on this part, but something along this line). Even a rootkit XP hybrid with the possibilty of going to OS X. But remember, when modifying OS X critical system items, it requires a password. So, you pretty much have to be one silly computing user to infected, and pretty bad. You have a bigger chance of Microsoft coming out with something innovative, than this happening to you.

I'll say this once, there is no cure for human stupidity. Practice safe computing and you will be fine.

my parents have used xp for yonks now, no virus, no trojans, no protection either. but they only use it for email and surfing web. they are not interested in p2p, chat or anything. wndows is not unsafe, it is all the rubbish we throw at it and expect it to be solid like the ground we walk on. must agree with yonex here. just practice safe computing.

 

[MacTruck]

Apple - I love you. There's some potential problems brewing, though. One, Mac users will now purchase Windows games and programs. That would eliminate the need to port them to Mac OS X, resulting in slower porting. Two, it's tossing Microsoft crash. Part of the reason I plan to make the switch is that I don't want to give money to Microsoft. They built that company on lies. I own a copy of Windows XP Home Edition already, so I shouldn't be speaking.

Who cares. Mac games SUCK! Bring on the goods!

 

[FixIt]

no, but...

Yes, it's all a huge conspiracy by Apple to switch us all back to Windows

...they could really give up their (expensive to maintain) kernel in favor of an OSX compatibility box that runs on Windows....

 

[DTG]

All of you who keep crying about the death of the Mac as a platform should stop and think a moment.
Apple are not giving you a license of Windows with your shiny new Apple Mac. All those people who buys Macs because they're Macs (including you and I) are still going to buy Macs, why, because of OS X of course. By default these machines will be running Mac OS X unless the user explicitly decides otherwise. Not everybody out there cares about how and why their computer works as much as we do, (since we're sat here in Mac forums) so will buy what works better, Macs.

Yeah this is big news, but it is hardly the impending doom of Mac OS X.

 

[Tastannin]

...they could really give up their (expensive to maintain) kernel in favor of an OSX compatibility box that runs on Windows....

Nah, I don't think so. Then Apple would be at the mercy of M$ - do you really want to wait several years for a new kernel?!? Billy G would delay Windows Vista or whatever's coming next just to put a knife in the Mac.

 

[legacyb4]

My main drive is partitioned into two anyway; will be interesting to see if you can install XP to a second partition and once done, if the Windows XP system will see the "primary" OS X partition?

Guess we'll know in a matter of hours...

To those worried about the garbage along with XP and possibly touching the OS X stuff, you are way too worried about the alarmists view.

 

[Chef Medeski]

If your talking 0 degrees celsius, then there wouldn't be any winter sports

No he would be reffering to absolute zero.

-273 degrees celsius
0 degrees Kelvin

The point at which no movement occurs, all molecules would effectively stand still and never move. Its almost surely an impossibility, its theory is still controversial, and no one has ever reached this points.

At this temperate there is no winter, there is no sports, there is just one giant solid.

 

[RollTide]

What if like every 2-3 weeks your mac would make windows mess up just a little, like the blue screen 5 times in a row, and then say well maybe its time to start using Tiger some more. hmmm maybe that would make more people appreciate what OSX has to offer

 

[kukito]

Service Pack 2 only........ What can you do if your PC came with XP SP1 on a CD? Nothing I guess?

You can create a slipstreamed Windows CD that includes SP2.

Remember that OEM versions of Windows that came with PCs are not transferrable to another computer. You can try, and hope that the activation software doesn't catch you. Also, most pre-built Windows PCs have a generic Windows key installed, which means that you could use the actual key on your computer's Windows sticker. I was able to transfer my Windows licence from a Dell to a homebuilt machine just by getting it activated. This is not kosher, but it's not my fault that Dell sold me a crappy noisy machine. At any rate, try it. You might be able to get it activated like I did. You can also get a cheap OEM version of Windows from Newegg for around US$90.

 

[cnetguy]

CNET News.com reporter on Boot Camp

Hello, there,

This is Daniel Terdiman writing. I'm a reporter with CNET News.com.

I'm writing at 10:45 am pacific time Wednesday because I'm doing a story on deadline this morning about the Mac user community's response to Boot Camp.

What I'm looking for at this point is Mac users who are opposed to this news (as I already have a plethora of people who think it's good news). So, if there is some reason that you think this is bad for Apple, for Mac users, for Mac software developers, etc., please contact me at the email address ASAP.

Thanks so much. I look forward to hearing from you.

Daniel Terdiman
Staff Writer
CNET News.com
daniel.terdiman@cnet.com