Apple to Sell Software to Allow Windows On Macs

[PittsburghAfterDark]

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Apple Computer Inc. (Nasdaq:AAPL - news), the maker of the Macintosh computer and iPod music device, on Wednesday rolled out a first-ever software patch to run Microsoft's dominant Windows operating system on its PCs, a move that could draw millions of new buyers.

By enabling the move to Windows, the world's No. 1 operating system, Apple hopes to draw people who want Macs, considered by many as easier to use and more stylish, but prefer the Windows operating system.

Apple shares rose 5.7 percent in early trade on Nasdaq.

Apple said the "Boot Camp" software, available immediately as a download, enables Macs powered by Intel Corp. (Nasdaq:INTC - news) chips to run either Windows XP or Apple's Mac OS operating system software.

Apple's rivals Dell Inc. (Nasdaq:DELL - news) and Hewlett-Packard Co. (NYSE:HPQ - news) primarily use Microsoft Corp.'s (Nasdaq:MSFT - news) Windows software.

"We think Boot Camp makes the Mac even more appealing to Windows users considering making the switch," said Philip Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing, in a statement."

In addition, with the patch, Macintosh users will now likely be able to run some games and other software on their Mac OS X computers without buying a separate Windows based computer.

The final version of Boot Camp will be available as a feature in the upcoming Mac OS X version 10.5 "Leopard" personal computer. Apple said it will not provide support for installing or running Boot Camp and does not sell or support Microsoft Windows software.

Cupertino, California-based Apple said last June it would shift to microprocessors made by Intel, the world's biggest chipmaker, from those made by International Business Machines Corp. (NYSE:IBM - news). It plans to move its entire Macintosh line to Intel chips by the end of 2007.

The stock was up $3.48 to $64.65 on Nasdaq.
Link (http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060405/bs_nm/apple_dc_7)

They're throwing snowballs and making snowmen in hell today.Â*Â*It just froze over.

[Deacon]

I want a Mac!, but I am stuck with a Windows, right now I am building a Linux desktop, becasue I can play my games in Linux with WineX. But, I think that putting windows on a Mac is cool, but could wipe out Apple's OS division, and they could become soley a computer manufacturer

[Old Corps Gunny]

"Apple said it will not provide support for installing or running Boot Camp..." Seems rather strange since Apple created the patch. Makes you wonder if it will cause the system to crash if a user tries to run Windows.

[Churchel]

I work with a few dozen mac users, closely. I have figured that they will never change. I am betting if someone came up with a way to run a quartz shell on windows XP half of the crowd would never know there was a difference.

Apple sells image over anything. I like panther, I have not bought tiger.

[Churchel]

Apple is all about image, and cornering niche markets. There is an apple product almost anyone can buy. From a 100 dollar shuffle to a 25,000 G5.

[bobbylien]

I think Apple has finally realised that they will never beat windows. If you cant beat em, join em.
Apple has a serious opportunity to promote their other brands right now, what with the iPod and iTunes doing so incredibly well. I think we will see many more mac products go mainstream if they are able to make them iPod compatible. Sony and Microsoft seem to think that the iPod is just one product and not a big threat. The iPod is huge, if they can market other devices even half as good as they have with the iPod, they will have a major problem on their hands. The best thing about it is that if they make software with the same interface as iTunes, they will be able to sell very high tech devices to a much larger market. The reason the iPod and iTunes have been so successful is because they are so damn simple to use. My grandpa knows how to use them and thats really saying something. The iPod seems to have brought portable music players into the mainstream of America and not just its youth. People of all ages are able to use iTunes to import their own cds and buy songs with ease. Apple has a great future ahead if they keep it up.

[bobbylien]

I think Apple has finally realised that they will never beat windows. If you cant beat em, join em.
Apple has a serious opportunity to promote their other brands right now, what with the iPod and iTunes doing so incredibly well. I think we will see many more mac products go mainstream if they are able to make them iPod compatible. Sony and Microsoft seem to think that the iPod is just one product and not a big threat. The iPod is huge, if they can market other devices even half as good as they have with the iPod, they will have a major problem on their hands. The best thing about it is that if they make software with the same interface as iTunes, they will be able to sell very high tech devices to a much larger market. The reason the iPod and iTunes have been so successful is because they are so damn simple to use. My grandpa knows how to use them and thats really saying something. The iPod seems to have brought portable music players into the mainstream of America and not just its youth. People of all ages are able to use iTunes to import their own cds and buy songs with ease. Apple has a great future ahead if they keep it up.

[bobbylien]

I think Apple has finally realised that they will never beat windows. If you cant beat em, join em.
Apple has a serious opportunity to promote their other brands right now, what with the iPod and iTunes doing so incredibly well. I think we will see many more mac products go mainstream if they are able to make them iPod compatible. Sony and Microsoft seem to think that the iPod is just one product and not a big threat. The iPod is huge, if they can market other devices even half as good as they have with the iPod, they will have a major problem on their hands. The best thing about it is that if they make software with the same interface as iTunes, they will be able to sell very high tech devices to a much larger market. The reason the iPod and iTunes have been so successful is because they are so damn simple to use. My grandpa knows how to use them and thats really saying something. The iPod seems to have brought portable music players into the mainstream of America and not just its youth. People of all ages are able to use iTunes to import their own cds and buy songs with ease. Apple has a great future ahead if they keep it up.

[bobbylien]

I think Apple has finally realised that they will never beat windows. If you cant beat em, join em.
Apple has a serious opportunity to promote their other brands right now, what with the iPod and iTunes doing so incredibly well. I think we will see many more mac products go mainstream if they are able to make them iPod compatible. Sony and Microsoft seem to think that the iPod is just one product and not a big threat. The iPod is huge, if they can market other devices even half as good as they have with the iPod, they will have a major problem on their hands. The best thing about it is that if they make software with the same interface as iTunes, they will be able to sell very high tech devices to a much larger market. The reason the iPod and iTunes have been so successful is because they are so damn simple to use. My grandpa knows how to use them and thats really saying something. The iPod seems to have brought portable music players into the mainstream of America and not just its youth. People of all ages are able to use iTunes to import their own cds and buy songs with ease. Apple has a great future ahead if they keep it up.