Apr 06 6

Boot Camp: an expensive downgrade for your Mac?

Posted by Munir Kotadia @ 16:44 30 comments

So Apple has launched Boot Camp, which is a piece of software that allows its customers to choose between Windows XP and OS X when booting up. But if you have OS X, why would you downgrade?

I am an Apple customer and although I couldn't use Boot Camp -- because I have a prehistoric PowerBook G4 instead of a trendy new Intel-based system -- I wouldn't want to.

I have already made my decision and bought my platform of choice, which is OS X and not Windows. There is a good reason for this.

Having used Windows for years I was surprised to find that an operating system could be a pleasure to use. OS X doesn't annoy me with intruding dialogue boxes that take over the screen and make me stop what I am doing; instead, Mac applications that need my attention gently bob up and down on the dock and wait for me to make time for them. How refreshing.

How effortless is it to install an application in OS X? There is none of the rubbish you have to deal with when using Windows XP. Just drop the icon from one box into another and hey, all done. Simple. Easy.

Microsoft Vista seems to be similar to OS X in many ways but it is still almost a year away. And even after it has been released, Microsoft will have to spend the next year cleaning up all the bugs that were missed during its extensive testing programme.

This week I spoke to Kevin Weiss, president of antivirus firm McAfee. During our conversation, he admitted that over Christmas he had just bought his first Mac -- to go with his well used iPod.

"I like it. It is very intuitive and it just works. It is easy -- Windows is not easy," Kevin said.

He also made a good point about the future prospects of Apple: "Now they are Intel based I think the prices will come down and they will compete very nicely with Microsoft in the consumer space but there are so many corporate applications that are written for Windows that it will be an uphill battle to get there."

This, I think, was his most important point.

I understand that some people have applications that need Windows. I understand that. I really do. I feel truly sorry for these people. You have my deepest sympathies.

But the future is all about browser-based applications and the sooner your corporate applications are browser-enabled the better.

IMHO, when compared to OS X, Windows XP is simply third class. In terms of usability, looks and security there is no comparison.

As Apple points out, "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 why do it?

Talkback 30 comments

Mate I agree... Anonymous -- 07/04/06

I'm not even a Mac user (although my friends have them) and I agree.

WHAT THE HELL IS APPLE THINKING ??????

Seeing that godawful bootup screen on the lovely Mac hardware is just..urghhhh...it's like seeing your grandmother naked, it's just plain WRONG !

Anyway, at least the Penguin is safe.... YellowDog is the real deal.
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You're missing the entire point of Bootcamp Anonymous -- 10/04/06

Apple aren't introducing Boot Camp to convert Mac users to Windows. They know you are loyal and won't (generally) want anything to do with Windows.

They're targeting Windows users, not Mac users. This is not a product for Mac users. What this does, it allows Apple to sell boxes to the mainstream personal computer user base - and in the process - perhaps - convince some of them that the Mac OS is better than Windows.
Actually, Apple missed the point! Anonymous -- 12/04/06

Perhaps it is just me, and I understand fully the implications of what I am about to say, but wouldn�t it have been much more impressive (and strategic) if Apple�s �Boot Camp� announcement had been about making OS X available on more general Intel platforms?

Given the delay in Vista, a strong �halo effect� created by the iPod and the likely emergence of an acceptable Linux desktop, surely the time was ripe to offer OS X as a real alternative desktop/media centre OS?

To me, Boot Camp looks like an admission of defeat (and it�s not all that new, really � w a a y back, I had one of those Mac II�s with an internal PC card) that ran Windows, and you could share files and cut and paste between Mac OS and Windows), whereas licensing OS X more widely would be seen as a much more market attacking strategy, one which opens a much wider market for OS X software developers.

So, with my contrarian view, I am very disappointed with Boot Camp � another opportunity lost and one which will, in fact, further marginalise OS X. In my opinion, this is the third time Apple has �blinked� at Microsoft, instead of stepping forward.
1. Yeah but it seems you've overlooked a point yourself. Anonymous -- 04/01/07
  
  M$ spends SO MUCH of their time programming to make windows compatible with every possible hardware config u can think of (exc. power pc based comps ofcourse). I mean the amount of trouble shooting they have to do, the cost and time that takes is enormous. Not to mention the amount of money apple makes on hardware.
  
  Releasing OS X for other computers, while a good idea in theory, just wouldn't work to Apples advantage, they'de loose too much money, waste too much time and you forget.
  
  Some people actually CHOOSE to use windows over OS X. This is actually a huge number of people. they are unlikely to purchase os x furthering apples losses. I mean i personally am glad apple doesn't go releasing the ir os to every pc. i want my mac to be stable, stay stable, have the support it current has and most importantly. i want my mac to "just work."
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I disagree Scott -- 13/04/06

I, for one, will be installing boot camp this weekend but only because there are a few games available only on the PC that I want to play.

Everything else I need for work is on my Mac already and if the games were out for the Mac then I wouldn't even have to go near XP, but as it stands I'll be installing Boot Camp to game.

The only other people I can see using it are those who need certain programs to do their job but are more comfortable with Mac OSX for everything else.
About bleedin time Shams -- 17/04/06

This is great news! Now all I need is the cash to afford one of these wotsits. One thing people are missing is that macs are still feckin expensive which means that even a trick like this won't make life hard for the people advertising microsoft arse. Sorry I mean microsoft windows.
Yeah your probabally right Anonymous -- 20/04/06

I work in Sys admin and I study, I use both Apple and PC. When I'm doing research, the mac file structure seems to be better indexed and theres less interuptive automation about. I think the PC is disributed more widely as people can pirate the microsoft system, so costs are down, but if it was just for quality the mac seems a touch better.
Shame on you Locomotion -- 29/05/06

Why would one want to switch to OSX when XP is just so nice to use???
As a dedicated Windows Support Person and someone who also supports OSX, I find that Windows XP is the most easiest OS to configure, support, diagnose, and teach people to use. Its highly customisable, runs on anything, and you can customise software installations sooo easily.
OSX is just a biatch to setup, support and use. Plus I hate what Apple is doing here in Tasmania!
Macs trying to be IBM now? Anonymous -- 06/06/06

If Macs are so good, and Mac OS X is so good, then why are Apple trying to switch to the best OS and most stable OS... Windows XP for?
Apple know that Macs can't do as much as windows machines so they're switching to Macs that also run windows as well. Best of both worlds. Not a bad idea, all they have to do now to get a perfect system is to remove the Mac part form the machine...hehehe.
Macs are so unreliable and crash a lot. At least on XP if somehting crashes it doesn't crash the whole system whilst you're in the middle of something; like Macs do.
I have an old G3 iBook that doesn't even boot up half of the time. Something to do with the hardware sa i['ve tried various Mac operating systems on the machine and it still stuffs up and doesn't want to boot up most of the time. I call my Mac iBook a Crapintosh instead of a Macintosh. I paid $3000 for a laptop that hardly starts up let alone work stable.
Macs don't come with anything when you buy them, unlike IBM's that come with everything. Macs are just copying IBM.
Windows was first to have MP3 formats too, which Macs have now adopted. They even have windows media player for the Mac too but limited compared to IBM's version. Quicktime sucks, you can't even get decent full screen video on a Mac with Quicktime. now considering most of Macs movies are in quicktime format, that isn't good at all.
Upgrading a Mac cost so much, whereas IBM is so easy to upgrade and cheap too. IBM's are so much cheaper than Macs, hardware, software etc... Macs cost an arm and a leg, even though they switched from their SCSI hard drives to the cheaper ATA drives, they are still expensive compared to IBMs.
IBM is so much more compatable with more devices on the market than any Macs.
Apple know that if they really want to get anywhere these days then they have to keep up with windows users and IBM's.
My old G3 iBook didn't even come with a DVD reader let alone a DVD burner. Apple wanted $500 just to put a DVD reader drive and DVD decoder chip in the system, whereas at that particular time, every IBM on the market came with DVD burners as a standard, whether desktop or laptops.
Macs have been around for many years now and they still don't have as much software available as IBM users have. They're still unstable, expensive and they don't even have SATA drives for Macs.
Installing a program on a Mac is a nightmare... all the security screens that come on just to install a program are ridiculous and time consuming. On an IBM you just double click and install. IBM's are so much faster than Macs too and are always ahead of Macs in this department.
IBM is so much easier to use than Macs as well. You can run many operating systems on an IBM, unlike Macs which are so limited to which OS you can install.
Windows is much more backward compatable with software applications, unlike Macs.
You'll find that most serious businesses use IBM machines to do their business, not Macs. That says it all in a nutshell as to which is the best machine to use.
1. IBM??? mike smith -- 13/06/06
  
  What is it with all of the references to IBM this and IBM that? The common theme is Windows - not the Wintel hardware they are running on - IBM is just one of many - HP, Dell, Gateway - the list goes on.
  I'd be more impressed if Apple sold osX in a form that ran on standard Wintel boxes. (apparently it can be done - but not exactly out-of-the-box)
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2. Wow, what a dweeb Anonymous -- 31/08/06
  
  All I can say is "Jane you ignorant ****"
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What a laugh Redback -- 20/06/06

I hate to burst the Mac frantic bubble , but has anybody told these people's that the Mac Machine's are nothing more than a PC box , (white box model) made and delevoped by others without Apples input and has been doings so for decades , plus Apple's higher than mighty charges for what ? . Apple fancy GUI on top a BSD O/S . Please give'me a break .

P.S I don't use Apple nor do I give a Toss.
1. What? Anonymous -- 22/06/06
  
  Is there a single accurate statement in this posting? Apple iMacs etc have been 'white box' PCs for decades? What alternate reality does that bear any relationship, even slightly, to the truth?
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2. Go back to your little Windows box Noonen -- 21/10/07
  
  You said it all - you don't use "Apple". So how can you comment? Why are there so many people willing to comment disparagingly, with an air of self-importance, about things they know nothing about ?
  Go back to the only OS you know, Windows.
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Arg, flashback! David Keaveny -- 21/06/06

"But the future is all about browser-based applications and the sooner your corporate applications are browser-enabled the better."

I think you must have been channelling Scott McNealy or Larry Ellison for a moment there. The future is *not* the browser, as even with buzzword-du-jour Ajax pixie dust sprinkled everywhere, Web 2.0 applications are still affected by network reliability and performance.

Anyway, back to Boot Camp. Prices are unlikely to come down, even with the shift to Intel. Apple commands a premium because people imagine that they are buying into something a bit special, more exclusive than a Wintel PC. Of course, these days, it's more illusionary than ever. I guess it's just like buying cars - if everyone owned a Porsche, then how could you show off to your neighbour? (In fact, IIRC Porsche Australia are concerned by their increasing sales, as it reduces the exclusivity of their product, and are actually aiming to reduce the number of sales).

The price premium is still a significant barrier - I just splashed out over $3000 for an LG S1 laptop. An equivalently specced Macbook Pro costs up to 20% more. It *was* tempting, but for that sort of money, not tempting enough. If I want to get onto the Apple bandwagon, it'll have to be through an Ebay-sourced Mac Mini (and not the Intel variant, either). At least *they* are more reasonably priced.
1. Not exclusiveness Anonymous -- 23/07/06
  
  Mac buyers don´t buy exclusiveness like a Porche etc.
  They buy the peace of mind that they can get everything done without any fuss.
  
  They look cool and that is a bonus, still most would hide any tower under their desk and leave it there.
  Macs don´t have virus problems and the os is modular like any *nix. That makes it possible to easily build programs that speak to each.
  And as mentioned, security is a lot more idiot proof.
  
  This makes Mac Os X a great experience compared to Windows. That is something to pay a litle extra for.
  
  Myself, i got al Win. laptop (ca. $500) and an iMac. The iMac is over a year old and has not had any problems.
  The laptop with Win XP Home is about 7 months old and is fixed, tweaked and virus/malware washed several times already.
  That time spent on fixing the PC way overprice the laptop compared to the iMac.
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2. Problem isn't Windows, My Friend blinkdt -- 05/07/07
  
  "The laptop with Win XP Home is about 7 months old and is fixed, tweaked and virus/malware washed several times already."
  
  Picklehead. Please, stay with your overpriced Mac because you clearly can't use a 'real' machine. Like mine: Core 2 Duo ('bout time you guys came around) pumpin' 3 Raptors in RAID 5 w/4GB Corsair PC2 6400 RAM on a kickin' Asus Mobo and triple monitor Samsung displays (20" or better) run off two Gigabyte NVIDIA-based cards all packed in a super-sweet Lian-Li case (put that bad-boy in VIEW) running Vista Ultimate (OSX? OSWhat?), Office 2007 Enterprise, Creative Suite, and a host of software you never even knew you needed.
  
  And NO anti-virus software, 'cause none required if you have half a brain!
  
  Guess how much I paid? No, really, guess. . . And if any component ever fails (not bloody likely given their premium quality [not price]), I know how to RMA the part.
  
  You Mac-o-philes are pitifully dependent, and Stevie-boy is laughin' all the way to the bank. Typical Mac user? A diapered self-centered whiner.
  
  Get a second job so you can give a Mac to the kids to go with their IpOD, but power users prefer Windows together with its versatile mix of premium hardware and software, thanks. I got'cher Garage Band. . . .
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3. Problem isn't Windows, My Friend Aware -- 16/06/08
  
  come on are you serious?? blinkdt
  
  Is that the machine you are saving your pocket money for while reading PC Mags lol 20 inch or better lol.
  
  have you even used a mac in the last 5 years, you must like fiddling with every little thing just to get standard things to work . the only thing windows can do better than OS X is games.
  
  trust me anyone who likes windows is either a robot or a tool lol
  
  get a mac and get your life back. and as for your dream machine give me a mac pro over your bitsa anyday it will do twice as much twice as well at half the trouble ,
  
  why dont you rent a mac if you can afford one
  lol
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4. One More Time Anonymous -- 23/06/08
  
  Just found this post again, thought I'd update. My system is now updated to Quad core with 8GB RAM running Vista Business x64. Index is 5.9 across the board. Nice.
  
  Hey, 'aware,' have you even tried Vista? Played around a bit with Speech Recognition and such? Office 2007 and Adobe CS3 rule, I think we can agree? "the only thing [Vista] can do better than OS X is games." Hahahaha, good luck with that iLife thing.
  
  And I figured I needed a laptop of late, so I picked up a Dell Inspiron 1720: C2D 2.0GHz, 4GB RAM, 320GB HDD, and everything else (bluetooth, Wireless-N, Webcam, lots/lots more) from the Dell Outlet store. With bag and BT travel mouse? $785, delivered.
  
  Case closed, you loose.
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Why bootcamp? Open Source. Andrew Sinclair -- 26/07/06

I believe boot camp is a technical ruse designed to permit developers of Open Source operating systems etc to port their software to the new MacBooks. It is simply marketed under the guise of compatibility with Windows.

If they cared for their competitor that much, there would be one file system shared between the two operating systems.
FUD lantzn -- 30/08/06

Could you be anymore wrong in your dribble? Try using a modern Mac before you try defending your PC, or as you call them, IBM. I could take each of your statements and easily prove you wrong. Sadly it would do no good PC fanboy.
Here's "why do it" Henry Bowman -- 01/09/06

Because good software for some applications just flat-out isn't available for the Mac -- and I say this as a pro-Mac bigot.

Need mapping and routing software to run on your laptop while traveling? DeLorme is the cat's pajamas... but they discontinued their Mac package six years ago. (I still use it, but the maps are way out of date.) The only Mac package is Route 66, which is so horrible I can't believe it was ever QA'd.

Do you want full-featured personal finance software? Quicken for the Mac is a cruel joke (see the Amazon reviews). Intuit puts all its effort into Quicken for Windows.

And if you're a gamer... well, never mind, anyone who would ask this question obviously isn't a gamer
1. Don't forget switchers Andrew Bell -- 16/09/06
  
  Not only are there apps only available on Windows, there are also Windows users who are considering switching. (I got my first Mac ever in March, though I also still have PCs.) Those users have apps that they don't want to give up or pay to replace yet, and with Boot Camp they don't need to.
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Bootcamp is great for gamers Joey Cristina -- 05/06/07

Just face it. If you run Windows and do not access the internet, you have no problems at all.

This is why Bootcamp is great. Those who love games, but love Mac for everything else, can finally have the best of both worlds.
Fanboy Anonymous -- 16/06/07

Apprantly this is the only thing a Mac "fanboy" can say when they are forced to face the truth.
1. fanboy Aware -- 16/06/08
  
  no it should be pc fanny boy!
  
  windows really is a soup of stuffups and very expensive for a cheap and nasty OS
  
  Im running ubuntu , xp pro, vista, and osx leopard on my moderately speced pc box
  
  guess which OS is top of the list in GRUB?
  
  if you guessed OS X Leopard you would be correct
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Boot Camp is an excellent idea! Anonymous -- 18/09/07

I have been a PC user for over 15 years and recently decided to get a Macbook Pro. Mainly for graphic and video work which coming from windows is a massive improvement! With boot camp I have been able to play my PC direct X games that only run on windows (during my relaxing times... :))).. Since the Macbook has an excellent graphics card these games run perfect.
Great idea in my opinion and in no way would I consider boot camp as a step backwards.
I was in the market for a notebook ( I've had 11 of them in the past) and after hearing about boot camp, I ended up buying a Mac and using it has made me realize how much better OS X is!
ps I love the look on peoples faces when they see my mac running windows!
Blinkdt, um what? Your Daddy -- 24/10/07

This machine you describe must be louder than the space shuttle at lift-off.
I built high-end PCs for years, and the problem was never the hardware. . . it was always Windows.
Gaming is best left for the PS3 on a large plasma Television (with a comfortable Italian leather chair in front of it).
As for Bootcamp, who cares? Users have been able to run Windblows in Linux and BeOS shells for many years. I have never understood the appeal of having multiple operating systems on the same box (one is always superior to the other).
I got'cher "missing config.sys"
1. This is What . . . Anonymous -- 23/06/08
  
  No, the machine is nearly silent. The Gigabyte video cards have no fan, and I use Zalman products to cool all the rest. *SILENT* I picked up a Lian Li hard drive cage with dedicated fan for the three Raptors (replaced with a Zalman), those drives are audible, but not bad at all.
  
  I agree with you on the gaming score. I tell my students, "you want to game, get an xBox." Also, I don't dual-boot anything anymore. MS Virtual PC is a godsend.
  
  And try Vista (any version, but I recommend Business). Get a good microphone and work with Speech Recognition. You WILL be amazed.
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The Great War Anonymous -- 23/02/08

Personally, i prefer Macintosh over Windows Machines, i find them easy to use, but Windows is also quite a good OS if you use it correctly, in the end, they both do almost exactly the same things and I refuse to participate in "The Great War" between Macintosh and Windows computers.

Boot Camp is directed at Windows Users not Mac Users!
1. I have to agree to a point. M. Ann -- 19/06/08
  
  Both systems are perfectly fine, but really it depends on your purpose. I use my Macbook pro for video editing and all my animation non-sense. Now PCs are great for business software, and so animation software. Also, PCs are excellent when it comes to editing sound.
  
  There a few things I'd like Boot Camp for. The Microsoft office package is much easier to navigate on a PC, it would make my life slightly easier, you know? It's not a downgrade and it's not a war. Both systems can work together so you and your work can stand out as the best of the best...if you know how to use both system to their fullest.
  
  Boot Camp is not necessarily directed at Window Users, it is made by Apple for Mac users.
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Munir Kotadia

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Securify This! by Munir Kotadia

Boot Camp: an expensive downgrade for your Mac?

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Talkback 30 comments

Mate I agree... Anonymous -- 07/04/06

You're missing the entire point of Bootcamp Anonymous -- 10/04/06

Actually, Apple missed the point! Anonymous -- 12/04/06

Yeah but it seems you've overlooked a point yourself. Anonymous -- 04/01/07

I disagree Scott -- 13/04/06

About bleedin time Shams -- 17/04/06

Yeah your probabally right Anonymous -- 20/04/06

Shame on you Locomotion -- 29/05/06

Macs trying to be IBM now? Anonymous -- 06/06/06

IBM??? mike smith -- 13/06/06

Wow, what a dweeb Anonymous -- 31/08/06

What a laugh Redback -- 20/06/06

What? Anonymous -- 22/06/06

Go back to your little Windows box Noonen -- 21/10/07

Arg, flashback! David Keaveny -- 21/06/06

Not exclusiveness Anonymous -- 23/07/06

Problem isn't Windows, My Friend blinkdt -- 05/07/07

Problem isn't Windows, My Friend Aware -- 16/06/08

One More Time Anonymous -- 23/06/08

Why bootcamp? Open Source. Andrew Sinclair -- 26/07/06

FUD lantzn -- 30/08/06

Here's "why do it" Henry Bowman -- 01/09/06

Don't forget switchers Andrew Bell -- 16/09/06

Bootcamp is great for gamers Joey Cristina -- 05/06/07

Fanboy Anonymous -- 16/06/07

fanboy Aware -- 16/06/08

Boot Camp is an excellent idea! Anonymous -- 18/09/07

Blinkdt, um what? Your Daddy -- 24/10/07

This is What . . . Anonymous -- 23/06/08

The Great War Anonymous -- 23/02/08

I have to agree to a point. M. Ann -- 19/06/08

Munir Kotadia

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