Boot Camp = WinXP + Mac OSX on MacIntels

Apple today introduced Boot Camp, new public beta software that enables
Intel-based Macs to run Windows XP.

http://www.macnn.com/articles/06/04/05/boot.camp.for.mactels/

Obviously things are heating up with other companies also jumping into
the arena with such solutions.

Things are getting interesting.

I have put the Dell M90 on permanent hold. Time to visit the Apple
store today and get a MacBook.

Bo

 

Microsoft must be rubbing their hands with glee at the prospect of selling
XP licenses for Macs too.
What's the message that Apple are sending out? - seems to be " and now you
can buy a computer from us that finally gets the job done properly by
running Windows".

John Harland

 

Microsoft was just rated 20th out of 22 (near worst) in customer
satisfaction by Forrester with Apple & Dell on TOP!

http://www.informationweek.com/industries/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=184425798

I will not allow my Dell on the Internet for all the known reasons.

Apple runs everything but SolidWorks for me, and my productivity is
high as a result, and my MS/Wintel partners seem to have continual
problems.

Why anyone would want to run a car where you have to double clutch, use
a floor starter pedal to engage the starter, run on mechanical brakes,
and have a 6 turn lock to lock steering wheel without power steering is
beyond me.

Why anyone would want to subject themselves to all the similar things
on Windows, given the alternatives is good for an interesting consumer
psychological study on inertia of working with the devil you know as
opposed to the devil you don't.

Just opinion, but indeed I use both machines every single day of the
week.

Bo

 

I used to be a Mac Zealot too, but solidworks got me onto a PC and have
never looked back since - its soooo good to be apart of the crowd
rather than a 3% 'outsider' ;-) . I have friend who works in the Apple
Design ivory tower (or is that Iveory towers ;-) - (they use PC's
too). I still Luuuurve apple design and at one stage considered getting
him to give me a powerbbok shell to build a PC into ... but t'was too
much hassel. Now the prospect of getting a nice slim ali powerbook with
XP on it could be a dream come true.

 

I gues the key thing is whether the graphics card is fully OpenGL,
rather than the 'games' cards apple usually use.

Why fight XP .... it like trying to resist breathing air .... accept
and get on with it ;-)

 

I did accept WinXP, and use it daily. It works fine for SolidWorks.

As long as WinXP runs SolidWorks & MS Office only, it runs fast and
virtually never ever crashes.

Got nothing against dedicated machines when they offer a true
advantage.

Heavy assembly work and giant file sizes would dictate the heaviest
hauler available and that would be a major Wintel box, but I don't do
that type of work.

Hence, laptops are all I need. I pick the best tool for MY jobs. I am
not a "zealot".

Bo

 

Yeah, but there are at least 2 Virtualization systems coming out in the
next few weeks that will let you run several OS's including windows at
the same time rather than the multi boot in BootCamp et. al

I want it, I want it, I want it, I want it, I want it, I want it,
Ohhh!!! all the geeky goodness and glory of it all

My business credit card will hurt in a week or two, something I just
cannot resist...Must.....Stop.....Hide.....Card.....Gahhhh....


Ben

 

Think SWX will take up the gauntlet?
http://www.apple.com/universal/

Logically it would mean more market share....

 

No problem

 

I'm ordering a MacBook.

I will load WinXP SP2 and SolidWorks and post my observations once I
get them.

Bo

 

.................... Thanks Bo ........ please hurry up - I'm
holding my breath

 

Supposedly they will ship in 3 days or so, but you can never tell
exactly on these things. I'ld be willing to bet it will be a week.

Bo

 

Bo kirjoitti:

Interesting to see how Radeon x1600 runs SW...I'm wondering is it
possible to patch it to FireGL with RivaTuner(?)

regards
Markku

 

Regarding Video Cards: I actually got SolidWorks to work inside of
Virtual PC, which has an emulated video, so I am sure it will work, and
it is only a question of how well.

Bo

 

Just in on a first impression from a user of Windows on the iMac from
the web:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/pcworld/20060406/tc_pcworld/125325

Bo

 

FYI

Parallels released their Windows virtualization solution for the Intel
Mac today. The product is called Parallels Workstation 2.1 Beta and a
free fully functional copy is available for download now.
http://www.parallels.com/en/products/workstation/mac/

Unlike Apple's Boot Camp solution which was released yesterday,
Parallels solution allows you to run Windows XP (and other Intel-based
operating systems) from within Mac OS X. Rebooting or Dual Booting is
not required. This allows users to maintain their daily environment
while also being able to use any desired Windows applications. It is
only available for the Intel Macs and should provide near-native
performance.

Parallels Workstation 2.1 Beta for Mac OS X is NOT simply a "dual-boot"
solution; rather, it empowers users the ability to use Windows, Linux
and any other operating system at the same time as Mac OS X, enabling
users to enjoy the comfort of their Mac OS X desktop while still being
able to use critical applications from other OSes.
Parallels appears to be taking advantage of the Intel Virtualization
Technology which was included in the Intel Yonah processors that are now
shipping in the Intel Macs.

While in free Beta testing at the moment, the final software package for
Linux and Windows is priced from the company at $49.99.

Also

The September lineup for the desktop PowerMac replacement systems is
still a mystery but initial machines will probably ship with four, eight
and perhaps 16 processor cores.
The upcoming Conroe dual core and Kentsfield quad core processors will
form the basis of these systems for at least the following year.

Kinda makes you wish that SW worked on multiple cores this would be
amazingly fast....


Ben

 

The virtualization software has more limitations like drivers and video
card emulation than the full separate NTFS partition with Win XP Pro
that Boot Camp uses.

Thus anyone needing decent performance in a 3D visualization will not
likely want to use Parallels method, and pick Boot Camp.

My MacBook should be in here on Tuesday, and I'll put WinXP on it as
soon as I can followed by SolidWorks.

Twill be interesting indeed.

Bo

 

I am waiting to get your report on this Bo. One last tidbit, Rumors are
swirling around about the Windows API being present inside the upcoming
Leopard (OS X 10.5).That means an app written for Windows will run on
the Mac without any other process behind it. Maybe they should call it
Liger.

I am just quoting a computer guru friend of mine so this all may not
work for us, but one can dream.

Ben

 

MBF Tools is what I want...(More Better Faster)

We will see.

Bo

 

I'll be danged if they didn't deliver the MacBook Pro this morning
after Friday afternoon order.

Busy setting it all up now with updates, applications, Boot Camp, XP
Pro.

I have separate XP Pro disks I bought for Virtual PC, and the separate
SP2 update disk and hope those will work with Boot Camp.

Later - Bo