'Boot Camp' runs Windows faster, easily
updated 02:00 am EDT, Thu April 6, 2006
Mossberg talks Boot Camp
Apple's decision to offer 'Boot Camp' technology to run Windows on an Intel-based Mac is dubbed as "historic" and "huge" in a new review by The Wall Street Journal's Walt Mossberg. "I've been testing Windows on a new iMac for several days and except for a couple of trifling annoyances, it runs perfectly, just like a stand-alone Windows PC. I was able to install Boot Camp and Windows XP Pro on the Mac in under an hour. After that, I installed 15 Windows programs, most unavailable in Mac versions, and all ran properly. In Windows mode, the iMac was blazingly fast -- far faster than my two-year-old H-P Windows computer. And every function of Windows I tested, including Web browsing, email and music playback, ran flawlessly." The review notes a few minor "annoyances" with running Windows on an Intel-Mac: having to reset the clock every time you run Windows, to purchase a new copy of Windows XP, using a wired keyboard and mouse during installation, and "one dangerous step in installing Windows" -- not selecting the 'C' destination drive during installation. [free link added]
Stating the obvious!
04/06, 04:04am reply
"...far faster than my two-year-old H-P Windows computer"
Naw, it's not, is it?! Imagine that, a new computer being faster than a two year old one. Is this guy actually a recognised tech reporter?
Geobunny
Grizzled Veteran
Joined: Oct 2000
agreed...
04/06, 04:15am reply
with bunny. that was a silly statement :-D
made me laugh.
rtbarry
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Aug 2001
No subscription needed
04/06, 05:39am reply
The same (?) article is available here: http://ptech.wsj.com/archive/ptech-20060406.html
Tutman
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Sep 2001
re: stating the obvious!
04/06, 08:57am reply
Well, while I do agree that was a silly comment, there's a historical reason behind it: until the Intel/Macs and, officially, until yesterday, the only way you could run Windows on a Mac was through VirtualPC.
And the performance of VPC on a Mac was, to paraphrase the comment "far slower than anyone's 5-year-old e-one Windows computer".
So, the comment Mossberg made does convey some useful information for those who have tried that route in the past (and gave up). Especially seeing that Win/PCs haven't really sped up in the past 2 years by much ;-)
tomodachi
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Apr 2002
re: stating the obvious!
04/06, 09:25am reply
I have to agree with tom. Anyone who has used VPC knows it's the worst possible solution. I tried XP on a Dual 1Ghz mac and was disgusted with perfoormance. I backed it down to Win2k which was a little better, but still dog slow.
eldarkus
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Joined: Feb 2004
funny
04/06, 09:36am reply
And isnt it funny that 2 of the 11 programs were spyware/anti virus apps! LOL!!
eldarkus
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Feb 2004
Faster than a 2yr old PC
04/06, 10:54am reply
This is just truth in disclosure. If he had a faster PC, he would have said it was fast than those too.
If he had said it was faster and not disclosed the facts, people would have asked, "what was the PC". If he had then disclosed it, he'd be roasted for being biased and a bad reporter.
Walt is a good reporter, but had he tested it against a newer PC and disclosed that information too, it would have been more informative. However, I'm sure he just wanted to get this story out fast and he may follow up on it with a more detailed report.
As a side note: A four year old G5 desktop is still a great system. A two year old PC is just about ready for the trash and in a story like this... makes people laugh.
Deal
Mac Enthusiast
Joined: Apr 2001
What's good for the Goos
04/06, 04:03pm reply
Is good for the Gander. What are people going to say when PC boxes start shipping with the ability to Run Mac OS???
webraider
Forum Regular
Joined: Nov 2004
only problem is...
04/06, 04:47pm reply
You cannot buy OS X separately to run on anything you want it to. And Steve Jobs is not going to license the OS to PC makers.
The number of hackers who just HAVE to try and get it to work on their PCs is very insignificant to Apple's bottom line.
bigpoppa206
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Joined: Jun 2003