Interested in Bootcamp.A few questions.

[laughingbabe16]

After reading a few posts that included sometype of Bootcamp comment and questions, and after reading the website page on apple for bootcamp, I am very interested on how this thing works.

When I get my MacBook, I think I may download this thing, but until then, here are my questions.

1) Is it easy to install? Easy to uninstall? (I am especially worried about the uninstall option because I do not want any errors, bugs, or warnings popping up after uninstalling BootCamp.

2) Do I have to purchase anything in order to get XP Windows fully running on the MacBook? It seems to be a little 'too good to be true' situation, if one can just download bootcamp, restart the computer, and have the option to run Windows XP.

3) Now that XP would be installed, I can use my windows programs, such as Paint Shop Pro and Spanish Learning Guide, on my Mac? Just put in the cd, install, and I am good to go?

Thanks for helping, if you can!

 

[ManchesterTrix]

2) Do I have to purchase anything in order to get XP Windows fully running on the MacBook? It seems to be a little 'too good to be true' situation, if one can just download bootcamp, restart the computer, and have the option to run Windows XP.]

You have to purchase Windows XP.

 

[livingfortoday]

1. Yes, it's easy to do both. I recently uninstalled my partition, and it took about two minutes for it to do it. Real fast, real simple.

2. You don't need to purchase anything but a copy of Windows XP.

3. Yes, you can boot up in Windows and use all your Windows programs normally like you would on a Windows PC. You could also use Parallels to run Windows while in OS X, at the same time, and do it that way. Either way, your programs will work.

 

[robbieduncan]

3) Now that XP would be installed, I can use my windows programs, such as Paint Shop Pro and Spanish Learning Guide, on my Mac? Just put in the cd, install, and I am good to go?

Once XP is installed you can use any Windows programs that run in Windows XP WHEN YOU BOOT TO XP. You cannot use your Windows programs in Max OSX. You must reboot to Windows to use them. Once you are running Windows it's lile Windows on any other machine.

 

[laughingbabe16]

VERY fast replies. WOW.

Hah! They get you coming and going--I have my PC windows xp cd. Would this work?

 

[danp]

VERY fast replies. WOW.

Hah! They get you coming and going--I have my PC windows xp cd. Would this work?

Would it work? Possibly. Depending on who supplied your PC, you may or may not have a version of XP that will install. Some PC manufacturers include copies of Windows that are tied to specific hardware and won't install on your Mac.

Is it legal to do so? Unlikely. Unless you have a fully boxed retail version of Windows XP, and you also uninstall it from your original PC, you'll likely be breaking Microsofts acceptable usage policy.

 

[laughingbabe16]

I could try it. but poop, thanks for answering my questions. I knew it was too good to be true!

 

[plinden]

You can install Windows and you don't have to activate it for 30 days. You can use this period to decide whether you want to continue using Windows, but you will have to buy a license or an installation disk at the end of the 30 day period.

If you decide to try this and your PC's install disk doesn't work, you can try slipstreaming and burning an XP install disk using something like www.nliteos.com - this will create a bootable disk image that you can burn to a CD and may remove any limitations imposed by the OEM disk. You'll still need to buy a license after 30 days though. That limitation won't be removed.

You may find in those 30 days that you don't spend enough time in Windows to make it worth your while to buy a license. I know I don't ... I'm coming to the end of the 30 day period on my Parallels Windows VM and I'm unlikely to spend the $120+ (OEM price) for XP Pro or $85+ (OEM price) for XP Home ... being able to play CivII is nice but isn't worth that much. It may be worth it to you if you have lots of Windows software you don't want to have to get Mac versions for.

Edit: and depending on the programs you want to use, Parallels might be a better solution than Boot Camp. I doubt PaintShop Pro requires 3D acceleration. I know that PhotoShop CS2 doesn't. But Parallels is an extra $40-$70 (depending on when you buy) for the convenience of not having to reboot.

 

[laughingbabe16]

Oh yeah, I forgot about the 30 day trial thing, before having to register windows and use the full version of it.

I might do this after I get my MacBook.

Anyways, thanks again for the quick replies. I appreciate it!!

 

[bericd]

3. Yes, you can boot up in Windows and use all your Windows programs normally like you would on a Windows PC. You could also use Parallels to run Windows while in OS X, at the same time, and do it that way. Either way, your programs will work.

I think this needs some clarification: You cannot run your Bootcamp installation from within Parallels. If you have Parallels and Bootcamp, you need a seperate install of XP for each.

I installed Bootcamp the moment I got my MBP, but soon started playing with parallels. I realised I'd not used Bootcamp in a month and removed it just by clicking a couple of boxes.

Unless you are a gamer, you'd probably prefer the Parallels solution as you don't have to reboot - and backups are much easier - just copy the .hdd file.

 

[ImNoSuperMan]

But Parallels is an extra $40-$70 (depending on when you buy) for the convenience of not having to reboot.

Please correct me here. But I remember reading somewhere(on MR only) that parallels will be included in Leopard. ie we wont pay for anything but Leopard and get BootCamp and Parallels free with it? I m not sure bout this though. Bootcamp will be free with Leopard for sure. Parallells..... I dont know.

Someone might know. Anyone?

 

[yankeefan24]

It is rumored that apple may make their own version of emulator in leopard.

Maybe this will make it clearer.

 

[ImNoSuperMan]

It is rumored that apple may make their own version of emulator in leopard.

Maybe this will make it clearer.

Yeah. thats what I was refferring to. I just confused virtualization with Parallels as it also an OS emulator. Still I wont be buying Parallels until I m damn sure that Leopard wont have some similar software builtin. I hope Leopard has it, as I might not be able to resist myself from buying Leopard anyways. Otherwise I`ll be paying 120 odd bucks for Leopard and 40-50$ extra for Parallels. .

Cant wait till WWDC.(I aready have a widget in my dashboard with countdown to WWDC . T minus 58 days)