Be-switched.

Yep. I've "enforced" Mac usage for documentation at work (mostly to save on font and software licensing), generally on people who have only used PCs in the past. The computer they almost always reach for first, at both work and at home, is now a Mac. My PC is basically an Outlook machine at this point.

This was a very smart move on Apple's part. The cross-platform support for the iPod has opened many doors (and wallets) for them.

If he would not dare use OSX before, why do you think he chose to spend more money on an Apple laptop? Lust? Or does he believe the hardware to be substantially better, despite the one button trackpad ?

I fear that this will end up making Apple suffer from something similar to the OS/2 effect.

I was floored when I heard this announcement. I think I just might have to spring for a Mac Mini.

@ Jordi

I'm sure many have tought about an OS/2 effect, but I think the situation is quite different.
OS/2 was infinitely less strong than OSX in terms of available software, killer application, customer satisfaction, hardcore user base, "mindshare"...

Apple has a stable, estabilished user base to count on, and people who preferred spending on Mac platform even if it wasn't compatible with Windows won't stop preferring using OSX just because they're Windows compatible now.

Customers who can now consider buying a mac because it supports Windows could just add up to this user base, not decreasing it.

I don't see existing Mac developers being discouraged to keep supporting OSX in this scenario.

This definitely made by day. And probably that of anyone else to which crossplatform developing and testing are his bread and butter (MSIE, anyone?). I've been a Mac user for about eight years, and though I can perfectly get by on a PC, I always scoffed at the eventual requirement of investing on an ugly PC box just for testing and stuff (and don't get me started about crappy emulators - have had it with those). If I already was a loyal Apple user, this day I am just becoming more so.

OS X won't go away - the alternative isn't a tenth as good as OS X is, and the only reason everyone and their mother uses it is because of brute-force ubiquitous market share. Plus OS X is essentially what makes a Mac a Mac.

And guess what - even the most diehard Windows geeks at my workplace now say they want a Mac. Now that's progress.

Just another thought for the skepticals...

Some people ask "why developer should bother rolling out an OSX version if you can reboot and use the windows one?"

People should keep in mind that a dual booting scenario is anything like that an emulation/blue box scenario.

Rebooting is impractical and workflow-distruptive.

Telling users "reboot in windows to use our app" is basically almost the same than telling "go out and get a windows box to use our app".

It can work for developers of apps that you launch once in a while to perform a specific task, or for apps that totally absorbe user activity for a sustained period - like games.

It just don't work for developers that want you to use their app while performing your daily task, or that want to integrate it in your professional workflow.

So I think the world will keep spinning as usual: shops that decided it didn't worth the effort to support OSX will keep not supporting it (like Autodesk), while others that decided it was profitable, will keep doing OSX versions (like Adobe).

The real benchmark for a hypothetical "OS/2 warp effect" is going to be when software emulation and software/hardware vistualization will be widespreaded in the Mac/intel community.

At that point, there's a conjectural risk of spiraling - a rising share of non-native apps running on top of OSX, to the point that the value of keep running OSX is zeroed.

But I think this is _very_ unlikely, given the many qualities of the OSX "core foundation", and the simple fact, among others, that Apple itself produces many killer apps, both in the consumer and professional markets, that could justify keep running OSX

god im so f****g verbose XD

I loved this Apple announcement. I was holding off on buying a Mac because I heard of the switch to Intel chips. I was excited about being able to use both OSX and Windows on a single, beautiful machine. I can use all the Windows apps I already have (and do not have to rebuy for OSX) and still switch over to OSX whenever I can. Now I'm just waiting for the larger sized laptops and Leopard!

All this hinges on the success of beta software, mind you. There's only so many dollars Apple would be willing to spend in developing their bootloader and Windows drivers. Not to mention all those people that will be disappointed when they find out the Genius Bar is not going to support anything outside of Mac OS X.

While this is a great development for the Mac, hopefully Apple haven't set up their new customers for great disappointment. I certainly wouldn't build a business on Macs running Windows.

it's only a matter of time before he starts to tinker with the Mac OS X "side" of his new laptop and find greener pastures without the need for fifty firewalls and anti-spyware apps.

This is true, but if Mac OSX was installed by 90% of the population, there would be the same need for firewalls and anti-spyware apps. Perhaps not as much, but it's important not to forget that a lot of the reason Windows gets 'attacked' so much is through its sheer ubiquity.

Now what I want to know is, when will OSX run on PCs? That's really going to make things interesting, and will probably show what part of Apple people prefer: the slick hardware or the OS?

I'm this close to purchasing a new mac mini right now. I've always wanted to switch to a mac as my primary machine (I have an iBook for leisurely stuff). The problem is that I use a bizarre windows-only graphics app (Tarzan X) and LOVE IT. But now, I can keep my crazy program AND get OSX. If I only had the cash...

Yep, it's always that one crazy app that forces you to stay on one side. I have to run Windows XP because of that, so this is an interesting situation now. You can have both on one machine, but it seems a bit insane to run Windows software on the sexy Mac hardware, especially when OS X is even sexier.

Of course there's this bit of hope that Apple will officially sell OS X for non Apple hardware. Of course that would probably force OS X down to the level of Windows in order to support everything and anything under the sun. I guess you can't have everything.

I think a lot of people like Mike will finally realize that working on a Mac in a PC world isn't that hard and will continue to use OSX.

I persoanlly love Remote Desktop because the only thing I need the PC for these days is Outlook. Entourage blows.

I thought I'd be more excited for this day, but Microsfot sucks. I don't even care about it anymore. Who wants to run XP on a nice machine and have it get all crapped on with bloatware and viruses. I'll continue using my cheap ass PC for Outlook and web checking through Remote Desktop. I don't want Microsoft anywhere near my Apple.

"From here on out, a person buying a Macintosh doesn't mean they'll be using a Macintosh." ... oh dear me...good point. I can't see that I would want to run Win apps that much, but there certainly will be folks that need to. I emailed my architect friend who HAS had to buy WinTel due to AutoCad about this new feature of macs.... he is off to MacStattion on the weekend to buy the machine he has always WANTED: MacBook Pro! He says otehrs in his ofice will be going this route for their next machine.

cristinamarie writes: "I say, pick one."

Boot Camp is a better mousetrap, er, the best possible replacement for VirtualPC. And for people such as myself who've been on Wkindows for waaayyy too long, it's perfect... because all that money and time I've poured into getting and learning the Windows versions of apps will not, in fact, be wasted.

And that, I might add, is the reason why I'm writing this comment on a Windows subnotebook and not the iBook I almost bought instead.

(If the heat issues get worked out, when it comes time to replace this machine I'll probably get a Mac instead of buying a follow-on model.)

Finally, Bootcamp is the answer to many a Webhead's prayer. Giving a damn about what Mac users see and experience on our sites will no longer require us to buy two machines or impose on our friends who play for the other team. It's about damn time.

Jack - Why would Apple need to support Windows? That's Microsoft's job, and you already paid them to do that when you bought Windows.

Joshua - I would recommend skipping the Mini and going with an iMac, Macbook Pro or (yet to be released) Intel iBook. The Mini has rather disappointing performance (especially in graphics) compared to the rest of the Macs.

Christinamarie - It's more like being bisexual than having a sex change. You don't have to cut anything off, or add any fake boobs or penises to get the best (or worst) of both worlds. It's not like going under the knife, it's more just like changing a set of booty preferences.

Gordon - No, it would not have been easier for Apple to develop a virtual machine. That's a much harder task than making a bootloader, and other companies are working on that, anyway. This is especially appealing to those who are gamers, and would not run a game under virtualization, anyway.

Yeah, talk about getting it RIGHT. My boss here is having crap-fits reading about the stock increase. He had a chance to buy a good chunk of stock for his portfolio but opted not to. Not a day goes by he doesn't curse his name. Poor guy.

So, here's a question...can this enable you to set up a fast, clean system to swap Mac/PC browsers quickly for web site testing purposes? Right now I'm waiting for a copy of VirtualPC to arrive, though I'm told by a trusted source that it runs like a hog.

I guess it's really for that Special Someone who wants to try Apple, but is worried that it'll either a) take over their life b) make it hard to go back to Windows or c) is crazy because deep down they know that Apple makes the world a happier place. But, it's not for me. I guess it's just not for everyone.

Old Skool,

Yeah, I'd say Bootcamp is for the buy-curious. I guess for someone who is a PC user might be a little afraid of going Apple Just Because. I know most people who use a PC would never even think of going to a Mac because of compatibility and the whole "swtiching over". I myself was once a PC user and I never thought of even touching an Apple because I had no reason to. However, I switched because I studied Graphic Design in college and that's what the platform was. However, I think Bootcamp now gives someone who is curious about Apple and using OSX, but not sure if it's really for them. Therefore, Bootcamp gives someone the best of both worlds. You can be OSX and your regular XP. Yeah, so for the buy-curious. Or the buyer curiousity.

Since I couldn't trackback...

Until this afternoon I was practically wetting myself over the fact that Intel-based Macs can now easily dual boot both Windows XP and Mac OS X. This is obviously a cool development with many potential upsides for all involved. My problem with it began when I read Greg's account of his Mac-hating buddy lining up at the Apple Store to buy a shiny new MacBook Pro on which to run Windows XP. How is this a problem? Until now the Apple store had been a sort of refuge from your typical computer geek (not used affectionately here). You know the type; poorly dressed, coffee-breath-breathing, wannabe I.T. workers stalking confused-looking consumers in the aisles of your local Best Buy, waiting for someone to ask a question about the benefits of Windows vs. Mac OS X or firewire vs. USB 2.0. These guys (this is an almost exclusively male pursuit) live to spew incomprehensible streams of tech jargon (mostly incorrect) towards unaware and visibly impressed neophtyes for hours on end. Usually the Best Buy help makes some vain attempt at rectifying the situation, but ultimately succumb to the superior punditry of the formidable, slightly chubby geek that has wooed the potential customer into his lair of lies and half-truths. This is my fear - an army of these guys descending on the local Apple Store, braying about how "it's about time Apple realized that OS X sucks - good hardware - but they had to admit they needed a new OS - so they're moving towards Windows XP." Look out Genius Bar resident gurus, you may be in for some "heavy" competition.

Now someone find a way of running mac os x on my pc :P

i like the mac os, i could careless aabout the overpriced hardware