Earlier today Apple released two Macs, the MacBook Pro and iMac, that both feature Intel processors. Unlike the previous IBM Gx series of chips that couldn’t feasibly run Microsoft Windows, the new Macs can actually run Windows. Obviously, Apple will not sell Macs with Windows loaded on them, but sources say that nothing is stopping an advanced user from loading Windows on their new Intel Mac. Older Macs utilized an Open Firmware instead of a BIOS, however the new Macs are different and support the architectures utilized by Microsoft’s popular operating system. Apple’s VP of worldwide marketing, Phil Schiller, had the following to say on this issue:
“That’s fine with us. We don’t mind. If there are people who love our hardware but are forced to put up with a Windows world, then that’s OK.”
This opens up a whole slew of opportunities to say the least, including dual-boot Windows and OS X systems. You could bring your MacBook to work with XP and come home to OS X on the same computer. Or, more appropriate for me, run the Visual HAM IDE for programming on the GameBoy Advance for my CS2260 course which requires Windows and then still have that lovely OS X environment. For the full AP article, check out MSNBC here.
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Question is, has anyone actually tried it yet and what sort of hardware incompatibilities did they run into? I’d assume not that many because they’d be using mostly standard Intel and other branded components for things like USB/Firewire hubs, keyboard interface and that sort of thing.
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Give it a week and then places like Anandtech and TomsHardware should have definite answers. :-)
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That would be nice as my work is a Windows shop and it drives me mad at times.
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Wait… so you can’t vice versa that and run osx on a regular ibm compatible comp?
I held off on buying a powerbook when they first announced the intel chip because i was hoping that I would be able to run osx on my current computer.
That is snazzy though. The only reason I kept this computer instead of switching to a mac before is because I play pc games.
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I’m more interested in running Linux on one. I can’t imagine putting Windows on either of these new machines; I’m not an anti-MS zealot, it just doesn’t make sense.
Other than simply proving it can be done, of course. :-)
Next question: can the version of Mac OS X which will run on the intel macs be made to run on generic x86 architecture? Now that would be interesting.
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Actually although Windows can technically run on the new Intel macs, XP will most likely be out of the question. The new Intel macs use an Extensible Firmware Interface instead of a regular BIOS. Vista is set to support this, but most likely XP will never support it.
Now @Phil: You tell me. :-)
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Not by Apple, ever.
However, it has already been done with the copies of OSX supplied on the developer machines – TPM cracked and able to run on standard machines (Hey, I used to have a makeshift Mactel at one stage). However, you need to get as close to the hardware of the actual Mac’s for driver compatibility anyway.
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Actually Phil, it makes perfect sense to run Windows on Mac hardware if you are a hardcore gamer. While there are some good games written for the Mac, there just simply isn’t the level of support that there is for PC’s running Windows.
If you don’t play games and your OSX covers all of the apps you use, then yeah I totally understand. I think this is a great thing honestly. Although I would much rather be able to buy a standard PC and run OSX 10.4.4 on it than buy Mac hardware but only because of cost. The Mac hardware is too expensive for my taste.
Although if the new desktops come out and they are reasonably priced I will consider it.
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BetaNews has more on the EFI problems that would prevent Windows from running on an Mactel machine (or at least 32-bit versions of Windows anyway). Link is here.
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Thanks for the link Mat. That being established, Vista may still be possible.
Yes, but why does x64 Windows run on 32-bit chips?
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@Paul: Why x64 Windows can run on 32-bit chips:
“Windows XP Professional x64 Edition is designed to work with 64-bit processors from AMD and Intel that support the x64 extensions to the x86 architecture. These include the Athlon 64, Athlon 64 FX, Mobile Athlon 64, Turion 64, and Opteron processors from AMD, and the Xeon with EM64T and Pentium 4 with EM64T from Intel.”
Some Dual Core processors (although actually 32 bit) have EM64T support.
I talked about some of these issues on my website today. Frustrating if you ask me. I was starting to get excited about buying a Mac. I have Mac and Windows at work, would love the same ability at home… just don’t want two computers.
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Paul, Intel Macs “could” run Windows but as it stands, NO current shipping version of Windows will work. The reason being is that Apple is using EFI and not the standard PC BIOS. Windows Vista will support EFI although I haven’t test it myself to see if current CTPs have the functionality.
BTW, great site.
Hmmm wonders will this EFI chip be crack? May be later on we will see “mod chips” for Macs to run Windows. Just a though.
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Jibone, nothing is being done to prevent Windows from being run on a Mac. It’s just at this current state in time XP does not support EFI. Microsoft’s next OS, Vista, is suppose to have EFI support and most distros of Linux currently support EFI.
What EFI is really preventing is OS X from being run on a standard Windows machine. Since it does not use BIOS, OS X does not have a way to use the hardware of the machine, locking it out. This currently works very well because there are only a couple of PC motherboards that have EFI (and also BIOS legacy support), however that’s about to change. If Intel has their way, almost all Intel motherboards will start using EFI, but as it usually is, Intel doesn’t get their way. BTX anyone? I do think Intel will get their way with EFI, though, because EFI is yet another part of DRM, and the XXAA is all over that.
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I just bought a new iMAC and was told by the sales person I could run Windows on it. I have not tried yet, actually, I have not figured out how to do it. I can’t even find it on that computer. This is my first MAC, and I am kind of lost.
I downloaded a program that I used frequently in Windows, but there is no ‘run’ window on the MAC. Now I can’t run it?