Mac Forum / General / Portable Macs / April 2007

Yes. Apple has a beta version of their "Boot Camp" software, which sets
up the computer with two partitions and assists in installing Windows XP
(requires service pack 2) or Vista. Boot Camp includes Windows device
drivers for most of the Mac-specific hardware. The end result is that
you can boot the Mac into either Mac OS X or Windows.

Boot Camp will be a standard feature of the next major release of Mac OS
X (10.5, due for release in October).

See http://www.apple.com/macosx/bootcamp/

There are also third-party virtualisation solutions (Parallels Desktop
and VMWare) which will allow you to run Windows or Linux in a virtual
machine within Mac OS X.

I don't know how you might go about installing Linux on the "bare metal"
- driver support may not be there yet.

Consider it as an Intel Core 2 Duo computer with the specifications you
can see at Apple's web site. Anything you can run on a comparable
Windows laptop from another manufacturer will run on the MacBook.

You will want plenty of RAM - maxing it out to 2 GB is probably a good
idea.

All of the above are also available as Mac OS X applications, so you
don't need to buy or run Windows as long as you own the Mac versions of
these apps (you might be able to cross-grade some of them from Windodws
versions).

What makes any Mac special (apart from the external look of the
computer) is the Mac operating system and applications, and the degree
to which the entire software and hardware combination work well
together.

If you only intend to run Windows and/or Linux on a MacBook, it will
work out rather expensive compared to a laptop preinstalled with Windows
(you will probably have to buy a full retail copy of Windows XP as well
as the MacBook), and you will negate most of the advantage of having a
Mac.

It would give you the option of trying out Mac OS X and seeing if you
like it. If you decide to switch over to Mac OS X as your primary
operating system, you can continue running Windows or Linux (probably in
a virtual machine) for the applications you haven't converted.

See http://www.apple.com/getamac/ for some general propoganda about
switching from Windows to Mac.

You may want to consider the macBook Pro instead, as it would serve
you better for the apps you want to use.

- check here for comparing specs: apple.com
be sure too to look at:
http://www.apple.com/pro
http://www.apple.com/macatwork
http://www.apple.com/support/mac101/
http://www.apple.com/support/quickassist/
http://www.apple.com/support/tiger

and, here for more info: http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/macbook_pro/faq/index.html

- see these articles: http://tinyurl.com/2a4moe    (scroll down a bit)

http://guides.macrumors.com/Mac_Beginner's_Guide

-If you are using a camera; still or video, be sure to check out
specs, and compatibility with Mac, first.

- Get as much Ram , as possible, and Applecare in the first year.

- Do you qualify for the Apple Education or Pro discount?
- Don't overlook good deals on refurbished units at: Apple.com/store
then go to sale,, and smalldog.com, powermax.com, lowendmac.com,
everymac.com. megamacs.com, dealmac.com., macsales.com.
Sign-up for alerts at dealmac.com

If you are Switching from PC world:

http://www.apple.com/support/switch101/
http://switchtoamac.com/guides/
http://lifehacker.com/software/mac/hack-attack-a-guide-for-switching-to
a-mac-224674.php

*** No worry about viruses! Mac Viruses=0 PC=150,000+- Do not put
Norton/Systemworks on your Mac,  IE is no longer supported for Macs,
anyhow. NeoOffice or ThinkFree.com is good substitute for Word, etc.
Check out crossover before putting Windows on your Mac.

- Suggest the book by David Pogue - Mac OS X The Tiger Edition.
Includes everything you need to know about installing OS X, using OS X
& maintaining OS X.

Cali-Kate

Yes.
Windows will install either as a native boot or as a process under
OS X. My son says that XP boots in less than 50 seconds using
Parallels on his MacBook Pro.

Linux will boot, but why? OS X is a BSD unix with all the bells
and whistles. If you need Linux kernal, I use OS X and verify
the results with Linux running on another, (an old) machine.
(If you want to modify the linux core then DO use a test machine)
There are good development tools for OS X. Networking tools meet
GOOD Unix/server standards. Most open software now comes with
Darwin/OS X installs.

PHP, Apache is included in OS X. Photoshop and Dreamweaver have
OS X releases. Probably cost you to change platforms.

Some recent surveys indicate that MacBooks are cheaper than
equivalent Dell's. Pricing of course varies by the minute.

The real advantage is OS X. A good, stable, fairly secure BSD
unix core under a mature, supported user interface. My PowerBook
has been up for 30 days since the last system, 10.4.9, upgrade.
Far fewer external spyware and virus threats. A fairly complete
user suite and LOTS or other options if you don't like Apples
software. 64 bit software support without 32 bit problems or
driver hassles. Lots of bells and whistles and yes it will
run windows if you HAVE to have it.

KLK

Yes. I use Parallels virtualization software to run Windows Vista.
Works just fine (for Vista, that is). :-) Parallels does not have Vista
drivers that take advantage of all the capability of the graphics card,
so 3D games are out. But then, I have never played 3D games anyway and
have no desire to do so. I suspect that they would really bog down the
system if I tried. Boot Camp does have a complete graphics driver for
Vista and I think one of the other virtualization programs does, too.

The latest rumor on Boot Camp is that when Leopard is released, Boot
Camp will work as a virtual system.

Vista will not install in a virtual system unless you buy the
"Business" or "Ultimate" versions. Microsoft's installation software
checks to see it if it is being installed on a virtual machine and will
not install. Plenty of users have complained about this, but Microsoft
seems to think that if you have the potential to run multiple copies of
Vista simultaneously then you should pay them a larger licensing fee.

It can, but you will need lots of memory. Better to switch to OS X
versions of all of the above. Adobe will send you OS X versions of
their software for the cost of shipping - a nominal charge. Then you
just keep doing as you did before. Adobe makes you send them a letter
certifying that you destroyed all the PC versions of their software
that you are replacing.

I switched to Mac a little over two years ago. Mainly what I have found
is a lot fewer system problems. There is Mac anti-virus software, but
all it does is detect whether your email contains Windows viruses so
you don't forward them to your PC friends. There are no Mac viruses.

I like the lighter weight and general design of the MacBook Pro, the
FireWire 800 ports, etc. Networking capability and security is well
beyond that of the ThinkPads I used to use. I like being able to store
information in password protected folders, each of which will look a
little disk drive when opened.

I am not especially happy with the Bluetooth Mighty Mouse which eats
batteries and the right click does not work well. I also (rarely) miss
having an INS key.