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One Step Closer to Conversion
I so badly want to scrap my windows laptop for the new Intel-based MacBook Pro, but I am held back by the need to run certain windows apps, mainly Outlook. The Gotham Gal has solved this problem by using Entourage, but that just doesn't cut it for me.
Today Apple announced a beta release of Boot Camp which allows you to boot the MacBook Pro (and all other Intel based Macs) in either OSX or XP.
That's not completely ideal (what I really want is to be running both OS's at the same time and be able to toggle back and forth between apps on both), but its a step closer.
Boot Camp is going to be part of the next release of OSX, called Leopard.
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» Apple's 30th Anniversary show number one: Boot Camp from Computerworld Blogs
In case you missed it, this month is Apple's 30th Anniversary.
Those Apple fans and watchers among us are expecting big things, for example a new video iPod.
But today Apple made a surprise, but comparatively subtle, announcement: Boot Camp.
The softwa [Read More]
Tracked on Apr 5, 2006 11:13:01 AM
» Mac Bootcamp: OS X Eats Windows from /Message
I agree with Fred Wilson: I don't really want Bootcamp -- the ability to boot Windows on a Mac, per se -- what I want is to boot both at the same time, and switch back and forth: [from A [Read More]
Tracked on Apr 5, 2006 5:31:03 PM
» Boot Camp from Coty's Weblog
Though everybody and their brother has already mentioned it, I feel I would be remiss if I didn't mention Apple's release of the public beta of their solution for installing and running Windows XP on Intel-based Macs: Boot Camp. If [Read More]
Tracked on Apr 15, 2006 8:03:05 AM
Posted April 5, 2006 in Venture Capital and TechnologyComments
Made the switch last year for home machine - it's a great little laptop but (at least with last year's model) underpowered compared to my ThinkPad - and the wireless sucks - though I hear Apple's been working on it...Also, the Apple photo suite is strangely not nearly as good as ADobe's light stuff - Photoshop and Album. Was shocked to find Apple so far behind in managing and editing pics...
Posted by: Tom W. | Apr 5, 2006 11:38:44 AM
http://www.microsoft.com/mac/products/virtualpc/virtualpc.aspx
Posted by: Berislav Lopac | Apr 5, 2006 11:44:49 AM
Fred,
I use Mac for most things at home and PCs at work. I agree that the ideal would be simultaneous usage, however for me this made a future purcahse that much easier.
Tom W. mentions underpowered performance next to his Thinkpad, which is true for the PowerPC chips. However the new Intel-based Macs are essentially the same as the ThinkPads, thus there should not be any significant power trade-offs.
Berislav cits Virtual PC, but at this point MS has not agreed to support Intel-based Macs (...perhaps they understood that the dual-boot option was coming). VirtualPC is workable if you have plenty of time on your hands. It is far to slow to use pratically.
I use Outlook at the office, but still prefer Entourage. There are some issues that it does not synchronize everything with Exchange however.
Jobs has certainly been thinking of this move for a long time and I suspect that there are other surprises ahead.
Posted by: Ted W. | Apr 5, 2006 12:14:35 PM
Fred,
Just VNC your worries away. Take your existing PC computer and boot it up in the corner of your office. Allow remote desktop access (this is built into XP Pro, but if you don't have XP Pro then just grab some VNC software). Turn off the monitor and make sure the hard drive won't turn off if the computer is idle too long.
On your shiny new MacBook Pro you can switch between four different desktops, one of which you can set to be your remote PC desktop. Now you have access to outlook and XP through the form factor of a PC. Since high speed connections are available everywhere, you'll experience virtually no lag.
I saw a SysAdmin at AOL doing this, so although I'm a little shaky on the details of implementation I've seen it work in practice.
~Andrew
Posted by: Andrew Parker | Apr 5, 2006 1:40:25 PM
I second Andrew's comments about remote desktop. I've got my old PC humming away in the corner, and I can connect with RD from my Mac in a click. Copy and Paste works perfectly, so it's pretty much like having both OS's running right there on your machine (except without the slowdowns you'd expect).
You don't even need to have a monitor running on your PC - Hook your monitor up to your new Mac laptop and go dual screen...
Lastly - If you need Windows access on the go, you can set up port forwarding on your router and bingo! you have access to windows via Remote Desktop anywhere there's internet.
Posted by: Mark Thomson | Apr 5, 2006 3:46:10 PM
Sounds like true virtualization may be coming soon, Fred -- that means running both OSes simultaneously, and much faster than emulation software like VirtualPC.
Posted by: Mathew Ingram | Apr 5, 2006 4:06:40 PM
True virtualization isn't coming soon, Mark, it's here - Parallels just released a beta of their parallelization software at http://www.parallels.com/en/products/workstation/mac/.
Posted by: Joe Block | Apr 7, 2006 12:01:35 PM
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