MS contemplating WinXP on Mac support
updated 01:45 am EDT, Thu April 6, 2006
MS to support WinXP on Mac
Microsoft is still uncertain [subscription required] about whether it will provide support for running Windows XP on Macs when using Apple's Boot camp technology; however, the possibility of running Windows on a Mac may push some professional users to purchase Macs and sell their PCs. According to The Wall Street, Microsoft said it is still studying whether it will offer technical support for Windows on Macs. "There are several open questions to address before we have a final answer," says Kevin Kutz, director of Microsoft's Windows client group told the publication. The report also notes that Apple's Boot Camp requires a new copy of Windows XP, which it notes is available for suggested retail prices of $199 and $299. "It won't work to use less-costly upgrade versions or software installation disks for PCs that users already have."
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Nov 2001
Why would they NOT
support it? Someone is paying MS $300 for the OS and MS is an OS-supplier company. If someone "builds" (as in assembles) their own PC or if Mom-and-Pop Computers puts together a generic PC, MS would support a purchased copy of Windows. They support Windows running under Virtual PC. But not for Apple's Intel Macs...?
Sounds to me like MS is a bit concerned that if a Windows user has an unbiased side-by-side comparison of Windows XP versus Mac OS X on the same hardware, they will eventually migrate to Apple's option.