Okay MBP got XP then what?

Everyone is writing about booting up Windows XP on the MBP, and yeah that pretty cool but you don't install WXP on a MBP just to get WXP. You install it to be able to run all those pc/windows specific apps. So I was wondering if when I install WXP my MBP would be lika an ordinary PC with WXP? Does all programs work? Like photoshop/flash/3d studio max/Adobe After Effects ? And yes I'm talking about the PC versions for WXP not the mac specific...

 

Apple claims any MacIntel with BootCamp and XP installed should work like any other ordinary Windows PC. It also should be noted that installing XP on a MacIntel opens the Windows partition up to Spyware/Adware/Viruses.

 

Apple claims? Where is the proof? If you look around in the forum it seems like a lot of people have installed WXP but I haven't seen one screenshot with any application which not is a WXP built in app.

Adware/spyware isn't a problem if you know how to deal with a windows computer, but mac users may have to learn tho

 

Have you tried to install/run XP on your notebook yourself? If you haven't, you can't really claim anything won't work. People have benchmarked the notebook and say their apps/games run fine.

 

Check the CNET webpage. They have the proof for you. They have tested photoshop on Windows XP (on macbookpro of course). There are noticeable performance gains from windows XP

 

If you get a good firewall, get your mail on Yahoo and use FireFox you'll be in good shape.

 

In that regard I would recommend installing Firefox browser and SpywareBlaster shareware. This at least gives some protection. With IE there is no protection whatsoever!

 

I would like to see proof before I go ahead and install XP if I can run Windows software then I will install it

 

Don't know what the big deal is... it's dual boot right?

So... ummm... if it doesn't work, just take it off and call it a day?

Or, are you thinking of getting a Mac for the SOLE purpose of running XP? If that's the case, then you really need to reconsider the decision...

1) Bootcamp is *BETA*, expect bugs.
2) Apple will NOT support XP, period. Even if you get XP to work, don't expect Apple to troubleshoot anything for you if anything goes wrong.
3) Why? OSX is perfectly nice for a Mac, and there are sooo many decent XP machines out there that the whole notion is somewhat strange to me. So essentially, you just want the MPB look, right? Is it worth it to get it just so you can run an *unsupported* OS? You know that if anything goes wrong, or if you happen to fry your computer, Apple can just claim you were doing something they didn't support...

cheers,

yass

 

Yes I know it's stupied to buy a Mac to run Windows XP. I'm a web developer and have found out that most of the apps I use can run under OSX to, most of them not all. Thats why I'm not totally sure about buying a mac, yet.

btw I feel like I'm in apple's boot camp target group

 

I don't see why it wouldn't work like any other PC. Seems ridiculous to me that this should even be a question. You're using the same retail version of XP that runs on any other Intel hardware, the only thing Apple provides is the bootloader and a few hardware drivers which shouldn't have any impact on how XP itself runs. It's the exact same operating system as on any other PC. There shoudln't be any difference. If it couldn't run all the same PC software, what would be the point of using it in the first place? That's like saying that a certain version of Linux won't run the same software on a Dell as it will on an HP. Just doesn't make any sense.

 

Apple provides some of its own hardware and puts it into their notebooks, which could cause conflicts with the software (EX: Airport Extreme Card). XP itself should run fine on an Apple notebook with the new Intel CPU, however, there are some small quirks that have to be worked out when OS 10.5 is released.

 

As far as I can recall, Airport Extreme is simply a Broadcom 4301 so I don't see a big problem there as Broadcom has drivers (proprietary though they may be) for it's own hardware on the PC as well.

All I was trying to say is that Windows XP running on any other hardware is still Windows XP. Can't imagine why all the same apps wouldn't run on it just like it would if I were running XP on a Dell, Toshiba, HP, or Virtual PC or VMWare for that matter.

 

The innards of a Mac notebook are similar to PC notebooks, but have some unique hardware to them and don't look exactly the same. To my knowledge, Macs use different MOBOs than most PC notebooks, which is causing some small quirks with XP (time management won't work on XP, etc.).

I was just using AirPort as an example, not saying it wouldn't acutally work, but Apple's hardware can come into conflict with XP easily if not properly installed.

Not all PC software will work with a Mac either - things like CPU-Z/HD Tune/Some OC software don't work on a Mac...yet. I think OS 10.5 will clean up a lot of the mess with BootCamp Beta.

 

Understand.

Understand that as well, but those kinds of progs rely on accessing chipset level hardware to function. I also would expect some games to be a little fidgety. I was thinking more of generic examples like the original poster was mentioning - Photoshop, Illustrator, etc. that simply rely on the codebase of XP to run regardless of the hardware as long as you have enough memory.

 

For those using Windows on your MBP, how do you do it with only one mouse button? Or do you use an external mouse instead?

 

That's a darn good question. Because usually in Mac OS you "ctrl=click" to right click. Wonder if there's an equivalent in Windows?

 

I think Apple's supposed to release a model of the MacBook with a two button clicker, but fused together into one button (like the mightymouse).

 

personally i like the single click, that way i don't accidentally right click like i tend to do on my old averatec 6130.

 

Has anyone tried running games on XP with bootcamp...now there is a question I would like answered

 

All "PC" mouses are working with Mac, just buy a 2 or 3 button USB mouse and plug it in, no problemo!

I think the keyboard will be harder, without XP keys and stuff

 

The mouse stuff I knew but yeah the keyboard on a MAC is all different. I suppose if you are a regular computer user you should know where what keys are...like me

 

despite what apple claims is there "target market group" for the Boot Camp move, it is apparent that a huge chunk of the people now considering buying apple hardware are PC users who will only run XP. steve jobs may be stubborn, but he's not stupid. apple hardware not only looks better, but it's lighter and smaller than EVERY PC notebook with the same specs. i'm tired of hearing all this pretensiousness of "mac is all in the OS", as if they don't want PC users just to buy the hardware. what is this elitism all about?
i'm sorry, but i don't think apple would make a business move this half-assed. i believe they fully intend to make Boot Camp run as smoothly as possible...it's in their best business interests, even if they don't offer support.
PC users now buying apple hardware with the sole interest of running XP on a mac is not stupid. it is exactly what apple wants from this situation. they aren't targetting current mac users....those people already have macs, and for most mac users, they aren't going back to PC's now.....instead, the target group for this move are PC users who appreciate fantastic design, but are only held back by the software conundrum. now that that hurdle is passed, apple's hardware market share will skyrocket!

cheers!

 

Exactly!

I am a person who would have NEVER considered buying a Mac before... I had so many problems with them back in college/graduate school/postdoc - any time I would try to multitask on one, it would lock up.

However, the MacBook Pro notebooks are nice pieces of hardware! If I can run Win XP on one AND have the ability to dual boot to the Apple OS and play with it - Sounds great!

People like you and me are EXACTLY who Apple is targeting with this.

 

What are you talking about man...get your facts right. Ever heard about Sony. The only thing that doesnt really match is the GPU (sonly is slightly worse) otherwise its the same thing if not better. But then again there is no real point in having an awesome gpu if you arent gaming. And we both know the amount of games made for mac in comparison to mac.

 

yes, i've heard of sony....exactly which model are you talking about??? because from what i've seen, it's like apples and oranges (no pun intended).
there are no sonys as thin as the MBP, or designed as sleek....as you pointed out, the sony GPU blows where MBP has one of the best right now, and a powerful GPU is essential in viewing 3d models in real time (not everyone plays games)....it is not possible to get a 7200rpm HD on sony (at least not listed as an option).....sony doesn't offer 667mhz RAM.....finally, the sony display resolution is joke for doing any kind of graphics work (not that MBP is the best, but it is better than the vaio)
so....there are my facts....

 

by the way, aer0sense, i realize that you work on a sony SZ, and i don't mean to offend as i almost purchased one myself....but i do believe that the MBP has the drop on it

cheers