An Apple store in central London. The maker of the Macintosh computer and iPod music devices on Wednesday rolled out a software patch that enables Intel-based Macs to install and run Microsoft's Windows XP operating system software. (Dylan Martinez/Reuters)Now this is interesting. From Yahoo News:
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.
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.
"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.
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.Apple computers are seen at the Paris Apple Expo, September 20, 2005. (Charles Platiau/Reuters)
If there ever is a problem within the computer industry, it is the Apple / Microsoft Windows rivalry. Apple computers have always had the more stable operating system, and the easier graphical interface than Windows, but Windows always had the greater selection of software titles over the Apple Macintosh. I've used both Macs and Windows computers, and I will say I prefer the Mac's stability over Windows--Lord knows how many times I've had to reinstall the different Windows operating systems (Windows 3.1, Win 95, Win 98, Win ME, and Win XP) on my computers. And yet, I'm still typing and working on a Windows computer, since all the software that I have invested in is Windows-based software. I've always been reluctant to make the switch to Mac because I would have to repurchase my software for the Mac system.
But now that Apple has unveiled this software that allows users to switch from the Mac OS to a Windows OS, this is an incredible achievement. This allows computer users even greater choices in tailoring their systems for their own use. Computer users can now take advantage of the Mac OS for graphical design and desktop publishing, and then switch over to the Windows OS for MS Office work--all on the same computer system.
I like that. :)
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