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New Virtualization Software Lets Mac OS X and Windows Share Desktop
Boot Camp Beta: MacBook Pro Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
More Pigs Fly Over Cupertino
Windows: The New Classic
But What About My "Blue-Screen-of-Death"--or should that be "Aqua"?
The Mac Night Owl: I Install Windows XP on a MacIntel
The Mac Night Owl: Microsoft Reacts to Boot Camp Release
Has Apple Lost Its Mind? Well, Maybe Not.
Firm Follows Apple With Windows-on-mac Code
Boot Camp's Developer Dilemma
Apple's Boot Camp software is pregnant with possibilities for IT
Boot Camp Turns Your Mac Into a Reliable Windows PC
Will Windows Support in Leopard Kill OS X?
Apple Fans Divided On Windows News

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New Virtualization Software Lets Mac OS X and Windows Share Desktop

eWeek's David Morgenstern reports:

Coming on the heels of Apple's announcement of Boot Camp Assistant Beta, virtualization vendor Parallels said it will begin testing on April 6 a Mac OS X version of its Parallels Workstation 2.1 software.

The low-cost virtualization product will let Mac users run Windows XP or Linux together on the desktop of an Intel-based Mac.

According to Benjamin Rudolph, marketing manager, the software is based on the company's virtualization engine.

The Mac OS X port of Parallels Workstation 2.1 will let users build secure, "self-contained virtual machines running any version of Windows—all the way back to 3.1—Linux, FreeBSD, Solaris, OS/2 and DOS ... directly on your OS X desktop," he said.

For the full report visit here.
http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1895,1946848,00.asp







Boot Camp Beta: MacBook Pro Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

A new Apple Knowledge Base article says:

Learn answers to frequently asked questions about using Boot Camp Beta on a MacBook Pro.

You can check it out at:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=303575







More Pigs Fly Over Cupertino

Tho Motley Fool's Tim Beyers says:

Signs of the real apocalypse are supposed to come in bunches. Accordingly, you can color me a little worried this morning. Just days after Microsoft cuddled up with the Linux penguin, Apple announced that it would allow users of its newest systems to run both Windows and Mac OS X. Hide the children, folks. Judgment Day is upon us, and pigs are doing loop-de-loops over Cupertino.

Or maybe not. Microsoft and Apple may make for strange bedfellows in the history of personal computing, but more recent developments, including a contest in which two hackers made Windows XP work on an Intel Mac, suggest that this cataclysmic shift was all but inevitable. So let's move on and ask the question that first crossed my mind when Boot Camp was announced: How do we value Apple's stock now?

To answer, we'll need to dig into Apple's strategy. I've got my own opinions on that, but I'll first give the floor to an old friend of mine, Rich Levin, a former InformationWeek editor and host of a national radio show covering tech topics. We've debated this and that about the Mac for what seems like just short of forever. This time, however, I think he's spot-on:

"It's the first EFFECTIVE strike at Dell. It's also a strike at Microsoft, and uses its own OS against them. And it's a dual-edged 'Win' [sic] for Microsoft ... Every Windows user will consider a Mac if Apple prices them competitively, and continues to produce computers that have style, superior engineering, and better quality overall in a world of commodity tin-box PCs ... Flip side: Apple's strike at Dell and Microsoft will not be maximally effective unless users don't encounter limitations. They have to embrace Windows hardware, games, etc."

I couldn't agree more. (Another sign of the apocalypse?)

For the full commentary visit here






Windows: The New Classic

Daring Fireball's John Gruber says:

"Holy shit!" seemed to be the consensus reaction to Boot Camp's debut yesterday; it was my reaction, at least. But like many seemingly shocking announcements from Apple in recent years, after just a few hours, it now seems so… obvious.

As of just two days ago, though, it certainly didn't seem like an obvious move for Apple to officially or semi-officially support dual-booting between Mac OS X and Windows on Mac hardware. It was just a few weeks ago that OnMac.net awarded over US$13,000 for a completely unofficial not-for-the-faint-of-heart hack to get Windows XP running on Intel-based Macs. (I'm guessing many people who pitched money into that prize pot regret it now.) And it brings me no small amount of glee to point out that coverage of Boot Camp at Think Secret and AppleInsider only appeared after Apple announced it. Waiting for the press release is certainly one way to raise the accuracy of their rumor coverage.....

The old equation — decades old — is that most computers ran Windows (or, if you go back far enough, DOS) and some other ones, the ones from Apple, ran Mac OS. As of today, the new equation is that all computers can run Windows, but some, the special ones from Apple, also run Mac OS X. (Including other PC operating systems like the various Linux distributions doesn't really change the equation.)

The distinction between these two equations may strike you as subtle, but the difference is potentially momentous......

I.e. anything a regular PC can do a Mac can do, plus a Mac can do something regular PCs can't: run Mac OS X properly and legitimately.

For the full commentary visit here:
http://daringfireball.net/2006/04/windows_the_new_classic








But What About My "Blue-Screen-of-Death"--or should that be "Aqua"?

BusinessWeek's Peter Burrows says:

Like seemingly everyone else, I, too, was surprised by Apple's news this morning with Boot Camp. But while many others see this as a bold declaration of war on Microsoft, I view it as only the first move in what will be a fascinating chess game over the coming months and years. To me, Steve Jobs just pushed forward his first pawn, and it was an excellent first move. Now it's Bill Gates' turn.

I say this because I don't think today's news, in itself, will cause the hordes of Windows users to make the pilgrimage to the Mac. That may well happen in time, but only after Apple has baked Boot Camp into the next release of the MacOS, dubbed Leopard, and--more importantly--until it has accepted responsibility for supporting folks who opt to run Windows on their Macs. Once Apple does that, it could truly crank up its marketing engines to push the Windows-compatibily angle to its utmost. (My idea for a print ad, which I'm very proud of: a minimalist picture of a Mac on a white background, beneath the simple headline: "The Ultimate Switching Machine: Windows Optional")

For the full commentary visit here.






The Mac Night Owl: I Install Windows XP on a MacIntel

I had to feel strange. Here I was, prowling the aisles of the local CompUSA store in search of a copy of Windows XP Home Edition. Even stranger, I didn't intend to install it on a typical Windows box, because the three computers installed at my home office are all Macs.

Here's the URL for today's commentary:
http://www.macnightowl.com/news/2006/04/week2.htm#macintel

Note: You can also access our RSS feed, available at:
http://www.macnightowl.com/index.xml







The Mac Night Owl: Microsoft Reacts to Boot Camp Release

It appears to be business as usual for Microsoft's Mac Business Light, despite Apple's solution to running Windows on an Intel-based Mac. A Microsoft spokesperson told The Mac Night Owl, shortly after yesterday's Boot Camp release, that "The announcement from Apple this morning serves as continued evidence that some Mac users have a need to run Windows on the Mac. We've long recognized this need and offer Mac PowerPC users Virtual PC emulation software. The Mac BU continues to work with Apple to investigate the future of Virtual PC on Intel-based Macs. The Boot Camp beta offers an immediate dual boot option for Mac users who need occasional use of Windows."

Here's the URL for today's commentary:
http://www.macnightowl.com/news/2006/04/week2.htm#release

Note: You can also access our RSS feed, available at:
http://www.macnightowl.com/index.xml







Has Apple Lost Its Mind? Well, Maybe Not.

billpalmer.net's Bill Palmer says:

Let me see if I have this straight. By far, the biggest potential problem with Apple moving the Mac to Intel-based processors is the fact that some geek moron would figure out how to run Windows natively on a Mac and then publish a step by step process on how to do it, thus effectively allowing users to turn their Intel-based Mac into just another useless Windows box, and rendering the Mac platform nonexistent. But instead of finding an innovative way to keep this from happening and averting doom, Apple has instead released a software patch that allows you just go ahead and install Windows without batting an eyelash. Has Apple gone certifiably insane? Is it time to lock up Steve and the gang in a rubber room for their own safety and protection? Is doomsday upon us?

Well, maybe not.

It's tough to look at this one objectively, because I find the idea of this "BootCamp" software incredibly distasteful. So much so that the thought of it makes me literally want to vomit. And I know that most of you are having the same reaction. That's because it is distasteful. It's disgusting. If you don't find this offensive as a Mac user, then I don't want to know you. Starting soon, some people who "switch" to the Mac are going to continue using Windows, and I'm not talking about occasionally firing it up for this or that oddball software title. I'm talking about using Windows full-time, as if MacOS X weren't even installed, as if it didn't even exist. After installing Windows within minutes of first firing up their new Mac, some of them will never get around to going back to MacOS X for anything. Some of the stupider ones will even believe that they are in fact "using a Mac" by using Windows on Mac hardware, just because they bought the computer from Apple, mistakenly believing that Macs are Windows-based just like all the crappy computers on the market that they're used to.

Much as I'd like to think that there can't possibly be anyone on that planet that stupid, I'm reminded of the fact that some of the smartest people I know suddenly become some of the stupidest people I know, the minute the topic of computers enters the conversation. These people don't know the difference between Mac and Windows, they've managed to confuse themselves out of ever being able to understand the difference, and no amount of explanation will ever cure them of that. They're not going to buy a Mac because they already know that it's "not Windows." Except now they are going to buy a Mac, because they can continue to use Windows.

I find the whole thing patently offensive. And yet I have to applaud Apple for having the guts to do it.

For the full commentary visit here:
http://www.billpalmer.net/2006/04/has-apple-lost-its-mind-well-maybe-not.html







Firm Follows Apple With Windows-on-mac Code

The Register's Tony Smith reports:

US software company Parallels has posted a pre-release version of its upcoming virtualisation tool for Intel-based Macs. Coming in response to the release of Apple's Windows XP-oriented Boot Camp utility, the Parallel product eliminates the need to choose which operating system the users at start-up. Instead, users can flip between operating systems at will.

Parallels also said the software doesn't limit users to Windows XP as an alternative to Mac OS X - they can opt to run "any version of Windows (3.1, 3.11, 95, 98, Me, 2000, NT, XP, 2003), any Linux distribution, FreeBSD, Solaris, OS/2, eComStation or MS-DOS".

For the full report visit here:
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/04/06/parallels_offers_mac_vt_beta/







Boot Camp's Developer Dilemma

The Globe and Mail's Omar El Akkad says:

Apple Computer Inc.'s move to support the use of Windows XP on its Mac computers leaves developers with a tough decision: Ramp up development of Mac-compatible software or give up on it altogether.

By emphasizing Mac applications, developers are betting users will abandon Windows machines in droves. Others, however, may choose to focus exclusively on Windows programs now that the Microsoft operating system has cracked the Mac market.

Yesterday's release of Apple's Boot Camp software, which makes it easier to run both operating systems on a Mac, took many developers by surprise. While most don't know how the new software will affect their development processes, many are optimistic the new marriage will do more good than harm....

Many large software companies are taking a wait and see approach and won't be inclined to shift millions of dollars from one development department to the other until they see real signs of change at the consumer level.

However, smaller companies, especially those that develop software exclusively for Apple's operating systems, are optimistic their customer base will increase.

For the full report visit here.







Apple's Boot Camp software is pregnant with possibilities for IT

Computerworld's Mark Hall says:

Apple Computer Inc.'s Boot Camp beta is pregnant with possibilities for IT. Some are good -- very good, in fact. But it all comes down to how Apple will ultimately define its support of Windows.

Boot Camp is Apple's official acknowledgment of what everyone already knew: A computer with an Intel chip begs to run Windows from time to time and place to place. Yes, yes, Macintosh fans feign shock and horror at the thought. But the need is real, and Apple's heretofore indifference to that need has put a stake through the heart of many a planned corporate purchase of Macs since the advent of Windows 3.11, the real Mac and DOS killer. Now, it seems, Apple is begrudgingly taking steps in Mac OS X, 10.5 "Leopard" to -- dare I mention the word -- support Windows by integrating Boot Camp with its next operating system release.

For the full commentary visit here:
http://www.computerworld.com/hardwaretopics/hardware/story/0,10801,110257,00.html







Boot Camp Turns Your Mac Into a Reliable Windows PC

The Wall Street Journal's Walter S. Mossberg says:

For mainstream computer users doing typical tasks, Apple Computer's Macintosh models have huge advantages over the prevalent Windows computers from companies such as Dell and Hewlett-Packard. The Macs have sleeker hardware designs, a superior operating system, much better built-in software, and virtually no exposure to viruses and spyware. Apple's flagship model, the iMac, is the best consumer desktop on the market.

But, there's a big barrier for Windows users tempted to switch to the Mac: software. While there are thousands of programs for the Mac's operating system, called OS X, potential Mac buyers often find they have one or two Windows programs they must use that have no Mac equivalent. These range from custom software required by their employers, to niche programs for specific industries or hobbies, to games...

I've been testing Windows on a new iMac for several days and except for a couple of trifling annoyances, it runs perfectly, just like a stand-alone Windows PC. I was able to install Boot Camp and Windows XP Pro on the Mac in under an hour. After that, I installed 15 Windows programs, most unavailable in Mac versions, and all ran properly.

In Windows mode, the iMac was blazingly fast -- far faster than my two-year-old H-P Windows computer. And every function of Windows I tested, including Web browsing, email and music playback, ran flawlessly.

For the full report visit here.
http://ptech.wsj.com/archive/ptech-20060406.html







Will Windows Support in Leopard Kill OS X?

svenontech.com says:

SvenOnTech has posted about the details of Windows support in the next version of OS X, code named Leopard, and now with the release of Boot Camp, many are fearing this could be the end of OS X as we know it. The thought is if Apple builds in support for its rivals operating system, OS X will be killed off like IBM's OS/2 did. This fear is ungrounded and the reason for OS/2's demise afore mentioned is not necessarily true.

IBM killed OS/2 with poor marketing, not the inclusion of Windows apps. Figures showed the majority of OS/2 users used native applications and had little Windows 3.x based programs installed. Due to OS/2 applications being more robust and stable, like OS X programs, users preferred running them over sloppy 16-bit Windows code. I see the same thing happening with Leopard. People will only run the Windows application if an OS X alternative does not exist. As a former OS/2 user myself, I can attest to this.

For the full commentary visit here:
http://svenontech.com/2006/04/06/will-windows-support-in-leopard-kill-os-x/







Apple Fans Divided On Windows News

MarketWatch's Shawn Langlois reports:

For some of the Mac faithful out there, it was a clear sign of the apocalypse. Dump the iPod, bring back the Newton, give Ringo a controlling stake to make that lawsuit go away. Please, they said, anything but this....

Never short on hyperbole, the outspoken bunch turned it up a notch this week -- and for good reason. Apple Computer Inc. on Wednesday lifted the curtain on software that will let its newest computers run Microsoft Corp.'s Windows operating system....

Still, there were plenty of others who looked past what they deemed an objectionable pairing and saw nothing but dollar signs for Apple, especially considering the double-digit percentage surge in the stock.

You can check it out at here.




Charles W. Moore

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