OS X Leopard to boot XP, Tiger gets Boot Camp
Apple just released a beta tool, Boot Camp, that lets their users dual boot Windows XP from their newer, Intel-based hardware. I consider this good news since Apple's hardware is rather attractive (as in sexy) but I really am not that fond of OS X. Apple wrote drivers to support their hardware under XP and the only caveat is that you can't run all flavors of Windows -- no Media Center Edition 2005 on that flashy iMac just yet. I see this as one step closer to Apple selling hardware that comes with XP. Then again, I think it'd be a cold day in hell if that were to happen. The underhanded stabs at Windows in the right gutter of the web page kinda emphasize this:
EFI and BIOS
Macs use an ultra-modern industry standard technology called EFI to handle booting. Sadly, Windows XP, and even the upcoming Vista, are stuck in the 1980s with old-fashioned BIOS. But with Boot Camp, the Mac can operate smoothly in both centuries.
Word to the Wise
Windows running on a Mac is like Windows running on a PC. That means it’ll be subject to the same attacks that plague the Windows world. So be sure to keep it updated with the latest Microsoft Windows security fixes.
Then again, I still say one step closer to Apple selling hardware with Windows XP! I can see it now, the wMac.
Update: