Macs do Windows too

Apple has released Boot Camp, a software that allows its Mac machines to run Windows XP! Boot Camp will be included in the next Mac OS and the public beta version is currently available for download. From PC Magazine:

To use the software, users need an Intel-based Mac with a USB keyboard and mouse, or a built-in keyboard and TrackPad; Mac OS X version 10.4.6 or later; the latest firmware update; at least 10GB of free space on the startup disk; a blank recordable CD or DVD; and single-disc version of Windows XP Home Edition or Professional with Service Pack 2 or later.

In an interview with PC Magazine, Brian Croll, senior director of marketing for Apple's OS X, said that the software's Boot Camp Assistant first creates a separate partition for Windows. The user determines how much capacity he or she wants for Windows and how much for OS X, and can set the Windows partition in either FAT32 or NTFS format. It then creates a CD-ROM with the Windows drivers to support the screen, audio, wired and wireless networks, keyboard functions such as eject key, brightness, and other functions. Users must then install Windows using a full Microsoft Windows XP SP2 disk.

This announcement by Apple may be good news for its stockholders. They may sell more Macs. More PC users may buy Macs now. We may see more Macs in the homes and offices. More revenue for Apple. More profit. Surely all these should be good for Apple right? I don't know. I always thought some of the reasons why people want to buy a Mac is because it is cool. It is different. And it DOESN'T RUN WINDOWS! Now with Windows, the Macs will be vulnerable to more virus attacks. From InformationWeek:

"When a Mac is booted into Windows, it can be attacked by the same [exploits] that threaten any Windows PC," said Dunham. "If you're running an unpatched version of Windows XP on any box, it'll be hacked pretty quickly."

Of the two operating systems, "naturally with Windows you're more at risk," said Dunham. Neither Mac OS X or Windows are invulnerable to attack -- the former was the subject earlier this year of its first zero-day bug -- but the latter is, by far, the one that draws most attacker attention.

Over at the BootCamp site, Apple says it best:

Don’t forget to follow best practices for updating and protecting your Windows system.... Windows running on a Mac is like Windows running on a PC. That means it’ll be subject to the same attacks that plague the Windows world. So be sure to keep it updated with the latest Microsoft Windows security fixes.

Thanks very much Apple for opening your world to the rubbish that is Windows.