Who wants to answer this super dumb question?

So I know about Bootcamp and the Mac's ability to run Vista / XP, etc.? My question is since the Mac Book now mimics PC hardware - is there a way to simply buy a Mac, take OS X off, format and reinstall Vista and make it a PC but running on Mac hardware (Or PC hardware) (Or PC hardware in a Mac Shell?)

Sorry for the stupid question of the day? But in Theory should'nt the MacBook Pro be like Dell / Sony or any other laptop maker - purely a hardware maker and run any OS of the users choice?

The MacBook Pro has the best 15.4" specs and design and I was wondering why Apple would not take advantage of the hardware by becoming a pure hardware maker and support Vista / XP?

 

Because it gets sales and props for OS X?? lol.

 

I believe it's not possible to have a pure Windows partition on your hard drive. You can shrink the OS X partition to a minimum and give the rest to Windows though.

 

So in theory - can what I am suggesting be done? Use Mac hardware to be a pure PC?

Sp00n - what would limit the windows partition? I mean how does the software know what allegiance the computer has - I mean it reads a bunch of diff components and loads appropriate drivers and goes about its business - again, I am probably talking out of my A** so sorry about the dumb questions?

 

Yes, it's possible.

 

Easier said than done. Also keep in mind that it's still a "Physical Mac". Removing the Mac system (personally I think it's ludicrous) and installing Windows doesn't make it a PC. You will still be using the Mac keyboard layout and the single click button. I'm a Mac user and I love the Mac hardware but I use my Mac as what it's designed for and that is to be a Mac, not a Windows machine.
To get full functionality just go get a Sony Vaio or a Dell and be done with it. It's more trouble trying to what you want and more expensive unless your copy of Windows is not legal by MS's licensing terms.

 

1.) Apple and Windows are RIVALS. Why would they support a purely based computer by starting up with Windows OS.

They only did that to attract people to switch from Windows to apple, and to make other Apple customers happy.

They are SELLING THEIR OWN OPERATING SYSTEMS. Why would they sell their Rival's OS. It's completely absurd!

 

Point taken - the MBP pro specs were so tantalizing but I am a Windows user - have been for the last 13 years so its tough for me to change to OS now considering all my software / files are for PC.

Oh - well, it was worth a shot. I guess I'll have to get a fugly dell or some other monstrosity.

P.S. food for thought - If Apple were to become a hardware maker and charge a premium for their hardware, their penetration would increase? I understand that it is ludicrous as you state but if Dell can sell linux laptops, why not a dell laptop with OS X if you want or why not a MAc with vista / linux or OS X....... I mean the hardware is all the same now..let the consumer decide what software they want.. just my .02

 

There is a very similar thread here, take a look around. Macs use EFI instead of BIOS for booting, that neither XP nor Vista supports natively. That's why you'd need OS X and bootcamp to install and maintain Windows on Mac hardware. But it is possible in theory, after installing Bootcamp, as long as you don't mess with EFI and BIOS emulation. But I know no one who has done it yet.

 

I know people who ask the same question as you, then end up using OS X anyway. Really.

 

just leave OSX on and only boot into Windows. Your paying for OSX anyways so might as well keep it around.

 

You can do it.

Right click is holding down both fingers on the trackpad and clicking. IMHO easier than a "real" right click trackpad.

Now why on earth would you want to do that when you could just buy a Dell and be done with it? Oh, wait, let me answer that right away - perhaps because you want the best looking laptop by a very far margin instead of a dull ugly box? Hmmm...

Sony Vaios are some of the best looking PC laptops but IMHO still a far cry from the perfection of the Macs - however, Sony disqualifies itself with horrendous after sales service from hell. Sony's bad service is legendary.

 

Keep the OSX .. trust me, a few weeks into it .. you'll find yourself curious and will end up exploring Apple's OS X .. and once you do, Windows/Vista/Microsoft will be history! ..

take it from someone who was in your shoes, a year ago! ..

Bilal

 

Vcash, I understand what you are saying but understand this, think of it as Microsoft integrating all of their software to keep the competition locked out. Microsoft's biggest enterprise app is Outlook. Any other app they make is easily duplicated from other developer's apps. Even MS Office can be duplicated from NeoOffice and OpenOffice. When Microsoft integrates their programs with Outlook with specific features it's hard for anyone to look elsewhere for alternative apps.
With this tight control Microsoft can do a bit more for their customers. (Which is really BS. IMO).
Apple is not opening up the Macs or their OS to the public to do what they please because their tight control will be lost and then the quality will be just be on par with the rest of the industry.

Why do Mac users love their Macs so much? It's because Apple keeps the software and the hardware tightly integrated and everything works a lot better and offers more. There would be nothing but viruses and messed up hardware if Apple allowed people to do what the hell they wanted with their computers.

Apple is not the only one, every company does this. Take a look around, Apple is just a big icon. Ever try to use a Sony Vaio install disc inside of a Dell machine? PC's can't even share all the same drivers. It won't work. All companies use closed integration.

 

Why does anyone think Apple is a hardware maker? Last time I checked PCs were a component business. In fact, I think Asus makes a lot of commercial laptops, don't they- Just stick a new label on it and sell it.

Just like the same company makes your local store brand generic cookies as well as the brand names = they just lower the quality a little.

 

lol I love that comment... "how does the software know what allegiance the computer has"

Oh, and by the way, I am about to do what you proposed doing. I'm going to buy a mac and use windows mainly on it for games and school (we will see if that remains true after I get used to OS X ).

 

Wow, and I want to do the exact opposite. I want a thinkpad running OSX alone.