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Latest Macs Can Run Windows: Apple Users Could Switch Between Operating Systems.

Posted on: Thursday, 6 April 2006, 12:00 CDT

By Clint Swett, The Sacramento Bee, Calif.

Apr. 6--Aiming to lure legions of Windows users into its camp, Apple Computer released software Wednesday that allows its newest Macintosh computers to easily run Windows, the widely used operating system of its rival Microsoft.

The move could provide a boost for Macintosh sales by drawing customers attracted to the Mac's sleek styling and capabilities, but deterred because it didn't run the thousands of Windows programs used by businesses and consumers worldwide.

It also could help Apple expand beyond its modest niche of about 4 percent of the U.S. personal computer market.

The surprise shift was greeted as a welcome development by consumers and analysts alike.

"It's a very smart move by the company," said technology analyst Tim Bajarin. "Overnight it makes the Mac the most versatile computer on the planet."

Wall Street apparently agreed as investors drove up Apple stock Wednesday by $6.04, or 9.9 percent, to close at $67.21 in Nasdaq National Market trading.

It also could cool a longtime rivalry between Apple and Microsoft. "Windows is a great operating system. We're pleased that Apple customers are excited about running it, and that Apple is responding to meet the demand," said Kevin Kutz, a Microsoft Windows executive, in a prepared statement.

The free software, called Boot Camp and available for download at Apple's Web site, allows Windows to run as fast on a Mac as it would on a PC from Dell or Hewlett-Packard. Previously those wanting to use Windows programs on a Mac needed to use "emulator" software that mimicked Windows but ran much slower.

Mark Aplet, a Sacramento graphic designer, said he uses both platforms and the dual capability would be useful. "It would be really nice to switch back and forth, especially when I'm on the road with a laptop," he said.

And Evan Wallis, a senior at UC Davis and longtime PC user, said he might switch to a Mac if he had the extra money. "I would definitely consider it. I hear the Mac operating system is better at what it does," Wallis said. "And the Mac definitely has the style thing going for it."

Boot Camp will only run on the newest Macs using Intel microprocessors. About half the new Macs for sale today use the Intel chip, but Apple's entire line is expected to be converted by the end of the year.

Brian Croll, an Apple product marketing director, said that after the company announced in January it would begin selling computers using the same kind of Intel chips used on Windows PCs, it began hearing from customers interested in using both Mac and Windows software.

He said some current PC users were reluctant to buy a Mac because they didn't want to lose the use of some Windows programs. "This gives them a safety net," Croll said.

Experts differed on how many potential customers might switch to a Windows-capable Mac.

Such a machine would likely be most popular among home users, said tech consultant Bajarin. A family might want a Mac for its general lack of virus problems, as well as its highly praised music, photo and movie-editing software, while the parents would want a computer compatible with the Windows programs they use at work. It also could help make the Mac more acceptable to Windows gamers, who currently can choose from a much larger selection of titles than Mac users.

A more versatile Mac could help offset its higher price, which is often $200 or more above the lowest-priced PCs from companies like Hewlett-Packard or Dell.

But price might not even be a barrier, predicted Silicon Valley analyst Rob Enderle. He said the Mac's design might have the same kind of allure as Apple's iPod, which has snatched more than 70 percent of the portable music player market despite being more expensive than many other MP3 players.

However, Chris Le Tocq, an analyst with Guernsey Research in Los Altos, said the technical skills required to install Boot Camp or even to load Windows XP might be more than many users would want to attempt.

Rather than a sales bump for Apple, Le Tocq expects more of a "tick," adding, "This really addresses the concerns of only a small number of customers."

Large businesses, which have been a bastion of Windows computers for well over a decade, also are unlikely to switch, said Tim Burke, whose Sacramento-based Quest Technology installs business computer systems and networks.

He said Apple's announcement Wednesday that it will not provide tech support for Windows would likely dissuade many companies from buying new Macs. "If Apple isn't going to support it, they just won't migrate in that direction," he said.

Converting a Mac to run Windows with the Boot Camp software requires a bit of tech savvy, taking about an hour to load Windows XP, said Apple's Crull. Once it's installed, the user must first turn off and then restart the computer to switch between operating systems.

The Boot Camp software only enables Mac users to install Windows XP, which must be purchased separately - at about $150.

Currently only available by download, Apple said the software will be imbedded in its newest operating system, code-named Leopard, which is expected to be released late this year. If Apple hits that deadline, it could gain an advantage over Microsoft for the 2006 holiday shopping season. Microsoft has delayed the release of its newest operating system, Vista, until early next year.

Van Baker, an analyst for Gartner Inc., said the requirement that the computer be restarted to switch to a different operating system is less than ideal. But he said Apple could benefit from having the two competing systems running side by side.

"It will be interesting because this could invite head-to-head comparisons" between Mac OS and Windows OS, he said.

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Copyright (c) 2006, The Sacramento Bee, Calif.

Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.

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Source: The Sacramento Bee

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