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Windows on Intel Macs - Yes or No?
With the announcement of the Intel chip based MacBook, the door is now open for running the Windows OS on Macintosh hardware, right? jaypatrick writes "BetaNews reports that along with the announcement of the first Intel based Macs yesterday, many users have rejoiced in being able to dual-boot both Mac OS X and Windows. Unfortunately, this is not the case; due to Apple's use of the extensible firmware interface (EFI) rather than BIOS, current Windows releases will not run on the systems." I guess not. But, wait... Big Z writes "Phil Schiller, Apple's senior vice-president of worldwide product marketing, said in an interview Tuesday that the company won't sell or support Windows itself, but also hasn't done anything to preclude people from loading Windows onto the machines themselves." I think someone actually trying it out is the only way this is going to get straightened out.
I mean, you'd be paying a premium for the OS + hardware then downgrading the OS from Munix (?) to WinOS. That would seem like a complete waste of money. If you want Wintendo, then go buy a cheap $500 PC and load it up. I could see people possibly running other *nix OS's and even possibly running VMWare to get at some Windows features (even I run CX Office on my Dell laptop) that aren't available - yet.
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I hope Linux is quickly made to work on this Mac Intel hardware. Apple makes good hardware but I don't like Mac OS. It'd be good to be able to get an Intel based iBook and put Linux on it.
At what price learning? At what cost wisdom? The price is a man's peace of mind, and the cost is his life.
If Apple hasn't done anything to prevent Windows from running on Mactel's, then this is the biggest mistake Apple will ever make.
It will turn Apple into an OEM Wintel PC maker, like Dell, HP, Gateway, and the rest.
Turn Apple into a Wintel machine, and charge 15% to 30% more for it, why buy Apple, period? Apple will have to compete head to head against Dell, HP, and the rest. Dell and HP combined sell over 30 million PC's a quarter, Apple sells under 2 million. Why buy an Apple computer, which has the same OEM Asian components that Dell and HP have just because Apple puts it in a fancier box and charges you more money for it. Dell and HP will just as quickly put it in a fancier box, and charge less because they have the marketshare to drive prices down without hurting the bottom line.
Many may say, yes, but Mactel will run OSX. So what? OSX hasn't caused hordes of PC users to switch to Mac's. In fact, OSX hasn't caused any noticible increase in Apple's computer marketshare in the last 5 years. iPod has probably been responsible for more Mac sales then OSX, and that was before iPod supported Windows. What attraction do PC users have to running a computer that runs both OSX and Windows? It all comes down to price, and PC users have firmly supported the notion that they want computers to be cheap, along with flexibility and choice, all concepts Apple doesn't offer.
In the end, the first person to get Windows running on a MacBook or iMac, and Apple does nothing to stop it, this will mark a countdown that will lead to the end of Apple as a computer hardware company. People will lose interest in OSX and once people realize they are paying more for the same thing they can get cheaper from Dell and HP, Apple will not inspire much support in the market.
Lastely, the one reason why Apple exists to day is that they have always had a loyal and dedicated fanbase that has supported them through-out the years. What do these customers think of Apple becoming a PC Clone? Will the die-hard Mac using photoshop graphics guru continue to use Mac's, or will they find they can get the power and performance they need in a much cheaper PC that has the same features a Mac has? Are loyal Apple users happy about becoming PC users? If this fan base, that has created Apple's only niche market, loses interest, who will buy Apple computers?
I haven't thought of anything clever to put here, but then again most of you haven't either.