Editor's Review - Apple Boot Camp | | |
Features
Stability
Usability
Interface
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| | Apple Boot Camp allows you to use multiple operating systems on a Intel-based Macintosh.
This product has been designed in order to give you the possibility to install Microsoft Windows on your Macintosh, by using a multiple boot configuration. This version works with Windows XP SP2 and Windows Vista.
Besides these operating systems, Boot Camp can also handle a Linux installation, so its Boot Managing capabilities are quite good. Installing a Linux isn't supported by the application that you can find into this package, so if you would like to use a Linux distribution on your Mac, you need to read some How-Tos.
The distribution package of Boot Camp provides you the documentation and an installation package. The installation package places an application called Boot Camp Assistant into your /Applications/Utilities directory. It also adds a new Preference pane into the System Preferences.
The Boot Camp Assistant has just a few but important features. This is the application that can start the Windows installer, repartition your HDD, it can burn a Mac Windows Drivers disk, or it can restore the startup disk to a single volume.
The Mac Windows Drivers disk is important after you finish the installation. It provides drivers for Mac-specific devices like: graphics interface, networking, soundboard, wireless networking (AirPort), bluetooth, the brightness control for the built in displays (MacBook, Mac Book Pro and iMac), and it also installs the Apple Keyboard support on Windows, including the 'Eject' key.
If you want to restart into the other OS, then you have multiple choices. Either you can select the system you want to boot from the Preference pane that the package installs into the System Preferences, or you can simply hold down the Option(Alt) key when the system starts up. A graphical boot menu appears so you can chose which OS your Mac should load.
Pluses: it gives you the possibility to install multiple operating systems on your Macintosh.
Drawbacks / flaws: this is still an immature project labeled as 'Beta', so it's highly recommended that you should not use this on production machines, unless you really know what you are doing and you are aware of the consequences.
In conclusion: this is one of those tools that makes useless the owning of a regular PC if you already have a Intel-based Macintosh.
version reviewed: 1.2 BETA
Apple Boot Camp Publisher's Description Apple Boot Camp allows users with a Microsoft Windows XP installation disc to install Windows XP or Vista on an Intel-based Mac, and once installation is complete, users can restart their computer to run either Mac OS X or Windows XP or Vista. Boot Camp will be a feature in 'Leopard', Apple's next major release of Mac OS X, that will be previewed at Apple's Worldwide Developer Conference in August.
Boot Camp simplifies Windows installation on an Intel-based Mac by providing a simple graphical step-by-step assistant application to dynamically create a second partition on the hard drive for Windows, to burn a CD with all the necessary Windows drivers, and to install Windows from a Windows XP installation CD. After installation is complete, users can choose to run either Mac OS X or Windows when they restart their computer.
Boot Camp lets you install Windows XP or Vista without moving your Mac data, though you will need to bring your own copy to the table, as Apple Computer does not sell or support Microsoft Windows. Boot Camp will burn a CD of all the required drivers for Windows so you don't have to scrounge around the Internet looking for them.
Boot Camp burns a CD with all the Mac-specific drivers for Windows:
Graphics
Networking
Audio
AirPort wireless
Bluetooth
The Eject key (on Apple keyboards)
Brightness control for built-in displays
New in v1.2b
Boot Camp 1.2 beta contains several updates and is intended for all new and previous Boot Camp beta users.
Boot Camp 1.2 beta includes:
Support for Windows Vista (32-bit)
Updated drivers, including but not limited to trackpad, AppleTime (synch), audio, graphics, modem, iSight camera
Support the Apple Remote (works with iTunes and Windows Media Player)
A Windows system tray icon for easy access to Boot Camp information and actions
Improved keyboard support for Korean, Chinese, Swedish, Danish, Norwegian, Finnish, Russian, and French Canadian
Improved Windows driver installation experience
Updated documentation and Boot Camp on-line help in Windows
Apple Software Update (for Windows XP and Vista)
Updating to Boot Camp 1.2 beta
If you previously installed Boot Camp beta, you can easily update to Boot Camp 1.2 beta. You don't need to partition your hard drive again (unless you want to change its size) or reinstall your Macintosh and Windows software or documents, but it's very important to update the Boot Camp Assistant software, create a new Mac Drivers CD and install the updated software it contains onto Windows. Complete instructions are provided in the Installation and Setup Guide included with the Boot Camp 1.2 beta software. System Requirements Mac OS X 10.4.6 or later, Intel-based Mac, blank recordable CD, purchased copy of Microsoft Windows XP, Service Pack 2, Home or Professional (No multi-disc, upgrade or Media Center versions.) |
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