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Next up: virtualization included and OS X and Windows XP running side-by-side

After Apple's release of Boot Camp, allowing customers to install and run Windows XP natively on its Intel-based Macs, many predicted that it would simply be a matter of time before Macs started shipping with Microsoft's Windows XP preinstalled. Now it seems the inevitable has occurred.

One of the largest online Apple dealers, MacMall, has announced that it is now shipping iMacs, MacBook Pros and Mac Minis with a choice of Windows XP Home or Windows XP Pro pre-installed as an option. According to both MacMall's website and Apple's online store, a identically configured 1.83GHz Core Duo MacBook Pro can be pre-installed with Windows XP Professional for $100 -- which is actually a discount.

It's quite interesting to see this occur because currently, Intel-Macs are the only computers available that can run both OS X and Windows XP natively. While it is possible to install OS X on home-built PCs, the systems do not have proper drivers and support (save for some very specifically configured hardware), and with current OS X versions, operation is haphazard at best.

Analysts are predicting that a trend such as that being done by MacMall, will give Apple a considerable foot-hold in competing with companies such as Dell, HP and others. Those customers who previously wanted to switch to a Mac but were held back by application support concerns now have virtually nothing to worry about.

Interestingly, as soon as Parallels releases a final retail version of its Workstation 2.1 virtualization application, we might begin seeing Macs with virtualization pre-installed with Windows XP. This will allow a level of OS X and Windows integration that was not possible before. Apple's switch to Intel is clearly becoming more interesting everyday.

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Guess
By Griswold on 4/24/2006 9:57:17 AM , Rating: 2
Who will be the first to predict doom for microsoft without realizing that MS also makes money with this?




RE: Guess
By Johnmcl7 on 4/24/2006 11:19:00 AM , Rating: 2
The issue is that although both one copy of XP and one OS X copy are sold, the copy of OS X is worth more to Apple than the XP copy is to MS since XP already dominates the market.

John


RE: Guess
By caboosemoose on 4/24/2006 11:51:05 AM , Rating: 2
Well, that ignores the key point that bootcamp may well help people to switch OSX permanently. So when they buy a new laptop, maybe they go for a MacBook instead of a standard PC laptop. And then maybe they never switch back to windows...Sure, in that scenario M$ makes one more XP sale. But after that...

Still, I'm amazed this is happening and it gives me hope that a general X86 build of OSX will be released in the near future...


RE: Guess
By Trisped on 4/24/2006 7:03:59 PM , Rating: 2
You would think that, but many people are more likely to switch from OSX to WinXP because it is more commonly used and more programs are written for it. Bootcamp is more likely to hurt Apple then Microsoft in my opinion. Virtualization would be more in Apple's favor because you would never actually leave OSX.


RE: Guess
By creathir on 4/24/2006 11:59:16 AM , Rating: 2
Well, I would actually see this as just trouble for every PC manufacture out there... not Microsoft.
All this will do, is make the already competitive market, even more competitive. The end result of this, not too far down the road, we will see a Dell running OSX, or something to that affect. (Prob. more like OSXI... ;))

- Creathir


:(
By Chadder007 on 4/24/2006 11:47:10 AM , Rating: 2
I'd hate to see Apple become just another PC maker. Could this be a bad thing for OSX??...thats what makes an Apple special IMO.




RE: :(
By hmurchison on 4/24/2006 1:32:04 PM , Rating: 2
No

Dell
HP

etc cannot run OS X. So Apple will never become just another x86 vendor.


RE: :(
By TomZ on 4/24/2006 3:33:17 PM , Rating: 2
The Mac is just another x86 computer in my book, albeit possibly with a nice design, and maybe a little expensive?

The OS is only a means to an end - it serves the purpose of running apps that give the computer actual value to the end user. Your presumption that OS X is something unique/special assumes that there are important classes of apps that only exist on OS X and do not exist on Windows, Linux, etc. But I don't think this is really the case.

You may have a preference for OS X, or maybe even a religious devotion to it, but for the majority of consumers, what is important is what we can do with a computer, regardless of what OS it runs.


RE: :(
By slashbinslashbash on 4/25/2006 2:27:33 AM , Rating: 2
The OS is just a means to an end, yes. A road to a destination. But would you rather take the mountainous foot-trail or the paved highway to get to your destination? Or how about a Star Trek-like teleporter?

Also, every Mac includes iLife, which is an exclusive Mac-only destination that's actually probably worth $150 or so in terms of PC software -- quite a bit more if you count all the interconnectedness between the iLife apps.


Misleading Headline
By hiscross on 4/24/2006 12:10:01 PM , Rating: 2
As is the current practice in the media (bloggers, inet sites, paper people, tv, etc), headlines are made to mislead people. Only MacMall is making XP available and no one else. Apple has clearly stated they won't support any OS other than MacOS X. The fact that Apple has made BootCamp available as a FREE UNSUPPORTED software package, doesn't mean Apple is supporting XP and will license XP. That may happen, but so far, Apple hasn't announced such a option or service. It would be nice if the media (and their readers) would report what I just wrote. BTW: Apple once sold DOS cards that included DOS (not windows) and they also lisenced a copy, of that is now known as Virtual PC (1994).




RE: Misleading Headline
By TomZ on 4/24/2006 3:15:50 PM , Rating: 2
I see your point, but MacMall is also a major reseller of Apples, so that makes it somewhat newsworthy, in my opinion.


RE: Misleading Headline
By hiscross on 4/24/2006 5:46:32 PM , Rating: 2
MacMall is trying to sell XP copies. That is why they are offering XP. This has nothing to do with Apple.


RE: Misleading Headline
By threepac3 on 4/25/2006 9:46:19 AM , Rating: 2
I could have swarn Apple was also providing drivers for Macs that were running XP on BootCamp.


Missed call
By bjorn47 on 4/24/2006 10:16:23 AM , Rating: 2
Tried to get Satan on the phone earlier, he didn't pick up. The phone answering service said they were having a snowball fight. Being Hell, I'm sure the snowballs had lava rock inside them though.




RE: Missed call
By josh609 on 4/24/2006 10:26:41 AM , Rating: 2
Now only if OSX would just work on normal PC's.


Intgeresting
By CoreGamer on 4/24/2006 9:44:39 AM , Rating: 3
A few years ago this would have seemed impossible...things are changing fast




Not a Mac anymore!
By igloo15 on 4/24/2006 11:48:30 AM , Rating: 1
Well this is it I guess we can start calling them PCs now a PC with a two OSs on it.




RE: Not a Mac anymore!
By Eug on 4/24/2006 12:35:19 PM , Rating: 2
Just a note:

New Macs have been shipping with Linux preinstalled for just about forever.


Nitpick..
By Sanctusx2 on 4/24/2006 12:51:56 PM , Rating: 2
Just nitpicking, but it's spelled haphazard, not "half-hazard".




selling beta?
By Visual on 4/25/2006 3:25:48 AM , Rating: 2
butbutbutbut... but bootcamp is still in beta no?
how can they be selling it this early?

and your title is misleading, its not apple that sells windows, its just one of their retailers.




3D modelling on Macs new system
By boejler on 4/25/2006 9:31:03 AM , Rating: 1
Hey
I'm wondering if there would be any problems running 3D modelling software on a mac with windows.
I want to change but are not sure if Alias, Solidworks and autodesk can be used on the new mac.




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