The day has come! Apple has released public beta software that enables Intel-based Macs to run Windows XP. Available as a download now, Boot Camp allows those with a legitimate Windows XP installation disc to install Windows XP on an Intel-based Mac.

Once you’ve completed Boot Camp, simply hold down the option key at startup to choose between Mac OS X and Windows. (That’s the ‘alt’ key for you longtime Windows users). After starting up, your Mac runs Windows completely natively. Simply restart to come back to Mac.

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. Before you get too excited, it’s worth noting that Apple has no desire or plan to sell or support Windows, so your own your won if things go wrong. Apple thinks 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-ROM with all the necessary Windows drivers, and to install Windows from a Windows XP installation CD.

The Boot Camp burns a CD with the drivers Windows needs to recognise Mac-specific hardware. It is very important to do this before starting the Windows installation.

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.’

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 a single-disc version of Windows XP Home Edition or Professional with Service Pack 2 or later.

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BIOS, Apr 06, 06 | Print | Send | Comments (0) | Posted In Apple Mac