Navigating a Windows-Dominated World: Apple Computer Launches Software for Mac Computers with Intel Chips to Run Both Mac OS X and Windows XP
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Source: Mediazone |
Following this announcement, Apple’s stock price surged by 10% on Wall Street, bringing the company’s total market capitalization to $57.04 billion, an increase of over $5 billion from before.
Analysts believe this new move will help Apple expand its market share in the global personal computer market beyond the modest current threshold of 3-4%.
“The Mac will become the most versatile computer on the market right now“, which may increase its appeal to users and enterprise customers, noted analyst Tim Bajarin from Creative Strategies.
Recently, hacker enthusiasts of Apple and the Macintosh line of computers have been competing to be the first to “break” the “Windows exclusion” capability of the new Intel-based Macs, achieving success last March. The reward for the two young men who accomplished this feat was up to $13,854 in cash. However, their achievement has now lost significance with Apple’s announcement to support Windows on Intel Macs.
Currently being released for free as a beta version, the “Boot Camp” software allows users to install Windows XP on their Mac computers. Users can then easily switch between the two operating systems (of course, only one can be used at a time) by rebooting the machine.
However, to use this software, you must already have a copy of Windows XP. Obviously, Apple cannot bundle Windows XP for free with its longtime rival, Microsoft.
A Change in Attitude?
With this almost unimaginable decision, Apple has removed one of the biggest barriers in its long-standing battle against Windows dominance.
“Customers who previously considered Macs but hesitated due to low system compatibility no longer have to worry“, Bajarin stated.
When Apple introduced the first Intel-based Mac computer last January, the company boldly claimed it had no intention of selling or supporting Windows on its products. However, they also did nothing to “forbid” users from doing so themselves.
As of yesterday, Apple insisted that they were adhering to that statement; the new software would simply help customers feel more comfortable using their computers. The Boot Camp beta will expire after September 2007, but Apple indicated that the complete version of Boot Camp will be included in the upcoming Mac OS X version 10.5 (code-named Leopard).
Before Apple made this unexpected move, independent hackers had developed programs that allowed Intel Mac users to switch between the two operating systems successfully on several occasions over the past few months.
Part of a Strategy?
It seems that Apple is gradually implementing Windows support quietly and without fanfare, starting from the choice of Intel chips instead of IBM, Freescale, or AMD. Previously, Mac users could not access many software programs written specifically for Windows. Transitioning to Intel chips will enable them to run Windows on their machines without the need for emulation software (which significantly slows down performance).
However, everything has two sides. Along with expanding access to Windows users, Apple must also accept that they will become a target for hackers. The renowned safety of Mac machines will now have to withstand viruses, worms, and Trojans just like Windows.
In response to this event, Microsoft expressed its happiness. “We are pleased that Apple customers love Windows so much, and we are also glad that Apple has responded to that demand.”
With this unprecedented decision, the previously “impossible” scenario, as analyzed by Vietnamnet yesterday, of a merger or partnership between Microsoft and Apple may indeed come to pass. Let’s wait and see.
Tian Yi
