Apple runs Windows XP

[sarcle]

Apple Unveils Software to Run Windows XP By MAY WONG
The Associated Press


SAN JOSE, Calif. —
To broaden its appeal in a Windows-dominated world, Apple Computer Inc. unveiled software Wednesday to help owners of its new Intel-based Macs run not only its own operating system but also Microsoft Corp.'s rival software.
Apple's shares surged as Wall Street bet the move would help Apple grow its current worldwide personal computer market share beyond the current range of 3 percent to 4 percent by attracting more business and home users.
"It makes the Mac the most versatile computer on the market," said Tim Bajarin, a tech industry consultant at Creative Strategies.

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 it on the Mac. Users could then switch between the two operating systems _ using only one at a time _ by rebooting, a process that could take a few minutes.

Users would have to get their own copy of Windows XP _ the home edition retails for $199.

Apple shares rose nearly 10 percent on the news, raising its market capitalization to $57.04 billion _ an increase of more than $5.1 billion.
Van Baker, analyst at research firm Gartner Inc., said Apple is removing one of the hurdles it faced in its long-standing battle to win over Windows-based converts.

"Consumers who were thinking about Macs but hesitated don't have to worry anymore about not being able to run PC software that didn't run on a Mac," Baker said.

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 on Macs. The test software will expire and become unusable after September 2007 but Apple said it will feature Boot Camp 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 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, independent hackers have been diligently working on programs to let users of Intel-based Macs switch between the two competing operating systems.

Others, like Chris Miller, an information technology worker at Johns Hopkins University, have been looking forward to a so-called dual-boot technology so he could play PC games on his Mac.

Apple turned to Intel chips, the same ones used to power most PCs that run Windows, after saying its previous suppliers, IBM Corp. and Motorola Corp. 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, without the need for emulation software that slows performance. But until Wednesday, the user needed some technical expertise to pull it off.

American Technology Research analyst Shaw Wu described the announcement as a "significant game changer," while Forrester Research analyst Ted Schadler called the move "smart."

"When they opened the iTunes software for Windows, the market for iPods exploded," Schadler said. "And similarly here, they have a great hardware product, but they've been shut off from businesses and consumers who want to run PC programs, and now they have the software that will allow that."
Yet as Apple expands its reach to Windows users, it is at risk of becoming a higher-profile target for hackers, and it potentially opens its machines to viruses that have long plagued Windows users.

The bulk of Apple's revenues still stems from its computers, though its popular portable iPod players grew to account for about a third of Apple's record $13.9 billion in sales in its fiscal year 2005.

Apple may be trying to break down some of the barriers between Windows and Mac systems, but it still does not allow the reverse, keeping its proprietary Mac OS software tethered to its own computers. Earlier this year, Apple even sent legal notices to force Web sites to remove links to information on how to hack Mac OS X software so that it runs on non-Apple machines.

Microsoft welcomed the development.
"We're pleased that Apple customers are excited about running (Windows), and that Apple is responding to meet the demand." Kevin Kutz, a director in Microsoft's Windows Client Group, said in an e-mailed statement.
Microsoft declined to comment further.

Apple shares gained $6.04, or 9.9 percent, to close at $67.21 on the Nasdaq Stock Market, while Microsoft shares rose 10 cents to $27.74 and shares of Intel rose 18 cents to $19.48.

Thanks DavyBUK for pointing this out to me.

[Olney]

Yeah I saw this on Digg
I have a big feeling this may be one of the reasons why Vista was pushed back.
They probably felt it was too compatible...

[gammascalper]

I smell a long-term Dell/Apple pairs trade.

[touchring]

Mac is really a lifestyle computer (other than for graphic and multimedia designers), as opposed to being a utilitarian machine, so if they start switching to Windows, they would be losing their cool image.

[rhys]

Originally Posted by Olney

Yeah I saw this on Digg
I have a big feeling this may be one of the reasons why Vista was pushed back.
They probably felt it was too compatible...

That's interesting speculation but I doubt it to be true. There are plenty of easier explanations for Vista push back like they simply needed more time for debugging key features and like the piece says, MSFT would embrace a chance to crack into the 3 or 4% market share Apple represents.

The game changer would be if Apple does make its OS compatible for PCs - that would be interesting.

[Rubber Duck]

Well that suggests that to me that Apple could now position itself to for the Christmas market and take a big chunk out of the IBM Compatible Market, which is now effectively in limbo, due to Microsoft's ineptitude.

As previously stated, I think we could be witnessing the end of the dominance of both the IBM compatible and Microsoft. If all Microsoft can come up with is more anti-competitive tricks, I think they stand to loose out big time. The essential problem is their main selling point is backward compatiblity, if they go the IBM route and make themselves incompatible with their own back catalogue, they will end up going the the way of IBM in the PC market. Down the Tubes!

Frankly, I think Bill is dreaming. The Japanese already have High Definition Television on their mobiles. Why would they want Bill's software on their phones. There really is just no appeal as far as I can see. Its about time we move to common open source standards, so that we all have a choice and are not all hostage to the thuggery of one company.

[touchring]

Well, in the big business world, the thug always win, the same with politics.

[sarcle]

Originally Posted by Rubber Duck

Well that suggests that to me that Apple could now position itself to for the Christmas market and take a big chunk out of the IBM Compatible Market, which is now effectively in limbo, due to Microsoft's ineptitude.

Well said. I can now consider getting an Apple do to this move. The only thing that was limiting me from getting one was for certain applications that Windows had. But now that Apple will be in more homes this Christmas expect to see more programs being built with OS X in mind.

A wise move on Apple's part.

[blastfromthepast]

Content removed.

[rhys]

Originally Posted by Rubber Duck

Well that suggests that to me that Apple could now position itself to for the Christmas market and take a big chunk out of the IBM Compatible Market

It's important to have a dream. It's glorious to compete!

[Drewbert]

Are we having a screen shot contest?

[Drewbert]

Whoops.

How do I make a picture appear in the message rather than as an attachment?

[blastfromthepast]

Originally Posted by Drewbert

Whoops.

How do I make a picture appear in the message rather than as an attachment?

Click on the little yellow box with the mountains when you edit in advanced mode (you may want to adjust your User CP settings to get this mode all the time.)

I always like visuals, it helps to understand the topic.

Where did you get the IDN tool? Made it?

[idnceo]

Originally Posted by blastfromthepast

The good news is Macs are highly multilingual, and have supported IDNs for quite some time.



OS X has been a great tool for IDNs!

I have said this, u want IDNs? get a mac! the other day i was trying to help someone to buy IDNs in his pc, what a lot of time takes on pc to do the same i do on my macs! mac got so easy to use and fast tools, the multilingual interface, the dictionaries, simple stuff like the translation widgets, etc, etc i mean the support for everything.

And i agree VirtualPC sucks!!

Anyway glad to see so many IDN members are mac users. Smart guys.

[Olney]

Mac USER
IDN Forums was made on a Mac... (The concept & development anyway)