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On Apple's Boot Camp

by Linda Sharps on April 5, 2006

In response to some questions about Apple's freshly announced Boot Camp, a quote from Omni's CEO Ken Case:

In general, I think we'll see Microsoft selling more copies of Windows to Mac users (like the [copy] I'm just about to buy), and Apple selling more Macintoshes to Windows users:  I know it will be a lot easier for many people to buy Macs now that they're not an either/or proposition, which naturally means a larger market for our software.

Is it financially feasible to continue to write apps for Mac OS X, when equivalent apps may exist on Windows XP?  Of course!  We simply have to make sure that our applications provide the best possible experience on all platforms (not just on Mac OS X)—which, I hope, is exactly what we're already doing.

 

 

Comments

Mac users (like the one I’m just about to buy)


You're about to buy a Mac user? I can get you one for free if you throw in a copy of OmniGraffle…


Seriously, I'd rather see Apple work on integrating something like WINE so most Windows apps could run native.

Richard Albury

04.05.06 5:21 AM

I don't think it's quite fair to say that there's a Windows equivalent to OmniOutliner.

Andrew Dunning

04.05.06 5:23 AM

What do you mean there isn't an equivalent Windows-based program to OmniOutliner?!  Of course there are!  Like…um…Word.  Yes, Word makes a great outline.  I also have this neat pencil and paper thing which ALSO can create outlines.


Seriously though, I did do a bit of research a couple of months ago, and after never quite finding a proper outliner under Windows, I bought a copy of OmniOutliner so I could draw up some swell looking outlines.  And now I use OO to create plenty of lists, even if just for the fun of it!


And where can I buy some of those Mac users?  I'd love to bring some more into my company. :)

Chad

04.05.06 12:09 PM

We simply have to make sure that our applications provide the best possible experience on all platforms (not just on Mac OS X)–which, I hope, is exactly what we’re already doing.


That's exactly the attitude I like to see. ;)

Abhi Beckert

04.05.06 2:02 PM

Well, right.


People tend to overlook the fact that the Macintosh operating system has many capabilities the much older Windows XP operating system lacks.


Apple's OS is pretty fresh: it was refreshed in 2005.  Microsoft's OS has not been refreshed since 2001, so it will be well over 5 years when it rolls out sometime in 2007.


Apple is able to design more power in their operating system because they don't have to waste time analyzing one million different configurations of motherboards, chip sets, and video cards.


Also, they don't have to assemble a warehouse with thousands of different computers in order to run their hardware compatibility tests.


Which is why Apple has got Quartz Extreme in OS X - and Microsoft has not got it in Windows XP. 


Fewer different hardware platforms translates to more powerful OS.


And a more powerful OS translates to more powerful applications. Faster ones too, probably.  I guess we will be seeing more side-by-side comparisons in the coming months.


Now that Mac hardware can run either OS. Lots of people will be able to do objective cross-OS application comparisons.


The Mac has other features:  scalable icons, alpha-transparency (translucence, for those more artist than scientist), and other graphics features. Pretty advanced ones.


Not just visual things: consider how often you create PDF versions of documents and web pages.  Windows XP does not come with a way to do it - you have to buy Adobe Distiller for $250 to do what the Mac does for free.


People think it is just because someone at Apple is a good programmer. They overlook the fact that Apple's managing their own hardware, judiciously creating a limited number of system configurations also helped make it possible.


Running on an ancient OS with a disorganized rabble of hardware is possible.


It means giving up those OS-enabled features for one to six years.  It means higher software development costs for somebody too.  Ultimately, the consumer pays for it.


I think staying on OS X will be fine. The market share is growing and tons of new Macs get sold every quarter.


You know what two apps I run most frequently on Windows XP under Virtual PC on my Mac?


Windows Update, and Firefox 1.5 (to update Firefox and its extensions).


Having the ability to run Windows XP is fine.  Having the urge to actually do it, is a different thing entirely.

John

04.05.06 4:42 PM

I don't know if anyone has managed to try this beta-testing-now virtualization software or heard any responses to it.


http://www.parallels.com/en/products/workstation/mac/


But I'd be curious.  Windows, Solaris, Linux all capable of running within a window under OSX.  There doesn't seem to be speed hits under Boot Camp, can't see that applying under virtualisation, but I'd be curious.


That said, I completely agree on the ability/desire issue.  I mean, I can use Notebook…


I am wondering on the other side of things… though where desire might be pulling PC owners to install OSX.


The ragtag nature of most PC boxes might be offset by a certification process.  A 'Will run OSX' badge if you like. I think Apple should manage that process. It seems inevitable that PC users will come up with some way of picking up boxed copies of OSX and installing it easily.  Either a low end manufacturer not minding the fine legalities or easily available freeware making it possible.  Once the genie is out of the bottle, you can't stop it.

Tommy Weir

04.06.06 6:02 AM

I think it is absolutely a move in the right direction. Mac users may never need it but for those who are wavering in the middle it might just tempt them. It makes switchng positively no risk. Anyone remember Apple making iTunes for Windows and the iPod mountable under Windows. Now what a 'bad' decision that turned out to be. By the way. Omni make such great applications.

Keep it up.

Gary

04.06.06 9:29 AM

Tommy -


I installed XP Pro under Parallels on my MacBook Pro 2.0 and it runs extremely well. The only thing it lacks is 3d acceleration and has a few limitations in the beta (no sound, no full screen display (runs in a window) and a couple other minor bits). I was very impressed.


I plan on installing Boot Camp to compare the two. However, I like the idea of virtualization (Parallels) better than dual-booting (Boot Camp).


Either way, it is a boon for me. I work in IT management for one of the largest advertising holding companies in the world. Obviously, we use both Macs (predominantly for creative) and PCs (for accounting, research and IT). With Boot Camp, I can use my MacBook Pro to do everything my job requires. I no longer require the Dell Optiplex GX280 in the corner of my office to do those few IT-related tasks anymore. And now I can do it all from home or when I'm on the road on my MacBook Pro.


Even better, when the time comes to refresh my PCs I'll probably consider getting Mac minis/iMacs for the flexibility that will give me. If the machine is being used in accounting by a user who prefers Windows, no problem. Or, if the machine will be used in account management by a user who prefers OSX, just run it.


Low cost. Incredible flexibilty.

Scott

04.07.06 12:16 AM

It's not entirely fair to say that Windows hasn't been updated since 2001.  They have had two service packs then, the last being released around September 2004 for SP2.  However, what is the biggest “feature” I've seen included since XP originally hit the streets in 2001?


The Pop-Up Blocker for IE.


That's about it.  That is not to say that there has been nothing else of use or additions to XP in the service packs, but that is pretty much the most important new feature I've seen.


But compared to the continual drip of new features and fixes Apple has released in the past 4-5 years, Apple wins hands down.  But they had good reason to push things along.  Mac OS X was in development for a good number of years before it finally saw the light of day, and it still took a few years to mature and get back up to match OS 9 feature for feature.  But I think we can all be confident in knowing that Mac OS 10.4 is a very advanced and sophisticated OS, far more than XP at this time.  But where do we go from here?  Will Leopard just release a couple of smaller features (a la Panther to Tiger), or is the intro of Boot Camp just the beginning of Apple letting us know that something BIG is in store for Mac OS 10.5?


We can wait and see….


But what is the biggest thrill about Boot Camp?  Knowing that I will hopefully have an Intel-based PowerMac someday, and be able to install Windows Vista alongside Leopard, and occasionally jump over to Windows to play some games from time to time, whether they are old games or new….or maybe I'll just fire up DOSBox instead for a rousing game of Quest For Glory. :)


So, when are we going to see a PPC emulator?

Chad

04.07.06 1:52 PM

I'd be interested to read other people's experiences of using Word as an outlining tool. I used to have a more or less cobbled-together methodology for working up a finished document that involved starting in TextWrangler, pasting into Word in Outline mode, working up in that, then moving to Page Layout mode. The trouble with that was, Word's style sheets don't always seem to work properly out of the outline, so I'd have to re-do lots of formatting that should by rights have done itself off the bat. Now, I still start in TextWrangler but use OmniOutliner for everything else, and the formatting's all taken care of.

Nigel

04.10.06 12:12 AM

I have to use OSX, Windows, Linux and others in what I do.  When Aqua arrived, I began using my mac more. Then I discovered graffle and outliner - and yes there are many other programs out there that can diagram/draw and outline. But like everything else in life, its not WHAT your software does - its HOW it does it.  Despite having it on my mac(s), if you launched these programs for Windows I buy licenses for them again as its damned inconvenient for me to switch machines just to use graffle!  Thanks for making such great software - keep up the good work!

Tim Challenor

Tim

04.12.06 8:55 AM

Please keep WINE off the Mac. Anything that means developers can skimp out on developing the best user experience should be shunned. Yes it is work porting a program, but in the end if the program is not worth the porting effort, then it is not worth being used on the the host OS.

Andre

04.16.06 1:35 PM

I'm amazed at how many (Java) developers I know/ read about are currently using mac or switching to it. I'm a very recent convert (3 weeks), and I absolutely love it, for a large part because of the excellent programs Omni brings out. And it's sooo good to have a decent shell under the hood.


I would like to try bootcamp just to be able to play games. And virtualization software to run programs like Enterprise Architect (UML tool) and software testing purposes.

Eelco

04.19.06 12:19 PM
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