Apple puts on new Boot Camp

By Stan Beer
Wednesday, 16 August 2006 18:30

Home IT

Apple Computer has issued an upgrade to its beta dual boot program which enables the new Macintosh range to run Microsoft Windows XP. According to Apple, the 202 MB download of Boot Camp 1.1 beta is a significant improvement on its predecessor with a number of additional features.

Boot Camp, which will be integrated with the next version of Mac OS X, version 10.5 Leopard, together with new virtualization programs such as Parallels and soon VMware, have put the Macintosh computer back on the same playing field as Windows only PCs, with the huge advantage of Mac OS X.

Changes in Boot Camp 1.1 beta listed on the Apple site include:

    * Support for the latest Intel-based Macintosh computers
    * Easier partitioning using presets for popular sizes
    * Ability to install Windows XP on any internal disk
    * iSight camera support
    * Support for built-in microphones
    * Right-click when pressing the right-hand Apple key on Apple keyboards
    * Improved Apple keyboard support including Delete, PrintScreen, NumLock, and ScrollLock keys

Apple advises:

If you previously installed Boot Camp beta, you should update to Boot Camp 1.1 beta. You don't need to partition your hard drive again (unless you want to change its size) or reinstall your Macintosh and Windows software or documents, but it's very important to update the Boot Camp Assistant software, create a new Macintosh Drivers for Windows CD and install the updated software it contains on Windows XP. Complete instructions are provided in the Installation and Setup Guide included with the Boot Camp 1.1 beta software.