There has recently been a hack published that allows owners of an Intel Mac to install Windows XP and dual-boot the icrosoft and Apple operating systems. This took quite a bit of know-how to set up, and the Windows software didn't have any of the correct drivers necessary to operate the Macintosh hardware at full capacity. Apple's monitors were not fully supported, and while running WinXP there was no way to even operate the Mac's internal fan (which is necessary to cool the system as it runs).
But now, Apple has released the public beta of software named (at least for the moment) "Boot Camp," which will allow Windows XP SP2 to be installed on Mac hardware running Intel processors.
THIS. IS. AWESOME.
Apple Unveils Software to Run Windows XP - AP
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The Geek Code desperately needs updating, but in any case here's mine (as of 2010-02-28):
-----BEGIN GEEK CODE BLOCK-----
Version: 3.12
GIT/MU d+(-) s:+>: a C++> ULXB++++$ L+++ M++ w--() !O !V P+ E---
W+++ N o++ K? PS PE++ Y+ PGP t !5 X- R- tv+@ b++ DI++++ D--- e*++
h--- r+++ y+++ G+
------END GEEK CODE BLOCK------
If you really care about knowing what that all means, you either know the code already, or you can get it decoded for you here.
6 comments:
We don't share near the same enthusiasm over this... Somehow getting a mac to run a windows os doesn't strike me as a "leap forward"... the reason that i hold apple in such high esteem is because they aren't microsoft, and because of that - they do things well...
However, a few months back (i forget when exactly), i set up osx on my gateway laptop running a p4 2.x something processor (i don't really care about what speed it is, due to it being a laptop and all)... anyhow, that was awesome... running good code on decent hardware... the best of both worlds... the only thing i couldn't get to work was wireless lan... anyhow...
now that macs have gone to intel processors, they've opened up a bridge between the two worlds... granted, not a step in the right direction, but i can't wait to see the slow degradation of "eliteness" current mac owners somehow possess...
Well, you have to remember that Apple is not promoting, supporting, or encouraging this use in any way... it's only meant to be a stop-gap for those who absolutely must use Windows for some things (e.g. to access the Microsoft Exchange server at work).
This removes the final barrier of entry for those who want to switch to Mac but haven't been able to.
the only thing that was stopping me about using anything that apple has made so far is the price point... not everyone can afford their products - thus the elite mentality i assume...
(granted it's not supported, but in the perspective of cross-platform-uh-ness) my only question is, why would you buy macintosh hardware only to run windows on it?.. i'd rather just buy cheap "ibm compatible" hardware and smack it together with duck (as it was originally called) tape like usual, for a much cheaper price - and you're guaranteed to have drivers for it...
i'm sorry, but i still think it's dumb... 'but thats what blogs are for' *the more you know
Of course, it's not for everyone. I'm not even sure if I would set up an Intel Mac to boot Windows if I had one available. But the main thing for me is the idea. I think it's a strong business decision that might increase Apple's marketshare.
And there's certainly no sense in buying Mac hardware "only to run Windows on it," as you say. Of course the dominant operating system will be OSX, but having the opportunity to run Windows on the same box in order to plug into your Windows-based corporate network is a major boon for the modern businessman.
Again, I'm not saying that it's cool in a "I'm going to go do this for myself" kind of way; it's more of a "it's awesome that this opportunity is available" thing. Especially for gamers who like Mac for productivity but whose favorite games run only (or run best) in Windows.
Aren't you glad I got the two of you together? Play nicely, boys!
booooooo windows!
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