Windows XP coming to Mactels?
apple news/media reports
03/14/2006, 6:30pm, EST
Tuesday, March 14th
OsXBook.com has developed software dubbed "BamBios," which allows legacy booting of operating systems on Intel-based Macs. A non-EFI version of Linux can be readily booted using BamBios, and developers are excited about the possibilities of using the software to multiboot several operating systems on the new Mac hardware. "Linux works fine, and we have made good progress with booting an unmodified Windows XP installation." Meanwhile, the "Windows XP on an Intel Mac" contest is boasting a cash prize that has swelled to over $12,500, which may have already been won by one developer. A recent post by a user who is said to be very credible on the "WinXP on Mac" forums has submitted his process to the owners of the site for review, and there is now a thread on the forums asking for testers -- three MacBook Pros, three iMacs, and three Mac minis, according to Ars Technica. As yet no definitive evidence has been released to the public that Windows XP is running on an Intel-based Mac, however. [updated]
Microsoft has already said it would have no problem granting a Windows license to Apple, in precisely the same way it currently provides licenses to Dell and HP, according to PCPro.
"Just like all Microsoft's OEMs, Apple can build industry-standard hardware that's compatible with Windows; Microsoft has an open specification and a process for certifying the hardware," a Microsoft spokesman said. "Microsoft would support Apple the same way it supports every other PC manufacturer."
03/14/2006, 6:30pm, EST
Tuesday, March 14th
OsXBook.com has developed software dubbed "BamBios," which allows legacy booting of operating systems on Intel-based Macs. A non-EFI version of Linux can be readily booted using BamBios, and developers are excited about the possibilities of using the software to multiboot several operating systems on the new Mac hardware. "Linux works fine, and we have made good progress with booting an unmodified Windows XP installation." Meanwhile, the "Windows XP on an Intel Mac" contest is boasting a cash prize that has swelled to over $12,500, which may have already been won by one developer. A recent post by a user who is said to be very credible on the "WinXP on Mac" forums has submitted his process to the owners of the site for review, and there is now a thread on the forums asking for testers -- three MacBook Pros, three iMacs, and three Mac minis, according to Ars Technica. As yet no definitive evidence has been released to the public that Windows XP is running on an Intel-based Mac, however. [updated]
Microsoft has already said it would have no problem granting a Windows license to Apple, in precisely the same way it currently provides licenses to Dell and HP, according to PCPro.
"Just like all Microsoft's OEMs, Apple can build industry-standard hardware that's compatible with Windows; Microsoft has an open specification and a process for certifying the hardware," a Microsoft spokesman said. "Microsoft would support Apple the same way it supports every other PC manufacturer."
Comments
Originally posted by Zenga
Microsoft has already said it would have no problem granting a Windows license to Apple, in precisely the same way it currently provides licenses to Dell and HP, according to PCPro.
"Just like all Microsoft's OEMs, Apple can build industry-standard hardware that's compatible with Windows; Microsoft has an open specification and a process for certifying the hardware," a Microsoft spokesman said. "Microsoft would support Apple the same way it supports every other PC manufacturer."
I can't help but wonder about this. Would Apple need to pay MS to "certify" Macs for Windows? What would the downside be for Apple? I bet a whole lot of people would buy a Mac if Apple specifically made them cross-platform. Apple wouldn't lose any OS X sales, because if people only wanted to use Windows, they wouldn't buy a Mac in the first place.
I suppose it's better to just let people do it on their own, so that Apple wouldn't have to take calls from people trying to get Windows spyware off their Macs.