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Once again Apple Computer is trying to convert PC users to Mac users. In the past, attempts were made to run Microsoft operating systems on the old PowerPC chassis via hybrid hardware. This time the company has unveiled software that will allow owners of the new Intel-based Macs to run Windows XP on these machines.

The new program is called Boot Camp, and Apple has made a beta test version available for free download. A full version of Boot Camp will be available as a feature the the upcoming Mac OS X version 10.5 Leopard. When the company first introduced the iMacs with Intel chips in January, they insisted that they had no intention of supporting or selling Windows on its machines, but that doesn't mean that it would prevent users from running the operating system on its hardware. But now they are providing a tool that would allow people to run a Windows partition right along side OS X.

In terms of performance and security, it doesn't make much sense. OS X is the superior operating system. It's faster and more secure than Windows XP. Having used both OS X and XP, I've substantially less trouble with the Mac OS. Who would want to run Windows on a Mac?

However, commercially this is beneficial. After all, Microsoft dominates the software market. There are a great many Windows-only programs that will become available to Mac users with this Boot Camp software. They can have the security of OS X for email and surfing the web and run the software they need.

Hopefully, this will lead Apple to take bigger strides in the operating system markets. Perhaps the next step will be for Mac OS X to be made available for PC users instead of just Mac's own proprietary hardware.

To read more about Apple's track record, read this.

Posted in Apple Computer | Boot Camp | Mac OS X | Microsoft | Windows XP Musings of a Wordsmith | | | | 361 reads