Apple's Boot Camp: Innovation or Gimmick?
I'm a long-time Windows user. How long? Back to the 80s when PageMaker needed a runtime version of Windows to load on PCs. You might then think that I have some kind of affinity for Windows and the boxes it runs on. But you would be wrong. Fact is, Windows itself is neutral at best, annoying at worst, and historically the hardware it runs on is totally banal. But you see, that's just the way I like it.
This is something that many Mac users just don't understand about us Windows folks. Essentially, we just don't give a damn about the user experience. The work's the thing. Make the enabling technology fast, cheap and reliable and then have it fade away so we can get something done. I'm reminded of Colette, the French writer, who had a stunning view of the Mediterranean from her office but when it was time to write, chose to face a wall in the other direction. For me, anyway, Windows is that wall.
From that perspective, I always assumed Apple's "switch" campaign was geared more to Mac users, to reassure them that we Windows droids spent our every waking hour trying to dream up ways to dump our PCs and join the Mac community. I may have missed it, but I don't recall hearing the sound of a thundering herd of Windows users tearing down the doors of their local Apple Store. And yet, with the release of Boot Camp, providing the ability to install and run Windows XP on Intel-based Macs, we're presented with a reworked version of the same premise: if we can only get these dummies to try OS X, they will drop Windows and never go back. There's something inherently arrogant and condescending in that pitch that demonstrates a lack of respect for the majority of computer users on the planet. This is reinforced by much of the text on Apple's Boot Camp page, such as "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." I guess there are still a few Mac faithful who believe that OS X is innately secure.
Time will tell but I think history will see this more as yet another fascinating gambit on the part of Steve the dizzying business strategist, than as a tectonic platform shift. Really, if a Windows user craved a Mac, they'd just go out and buy one. Most households already have multiple cars, televisions and computers—what's one more box? The same holds true for business. But the dual-boot approach conjures up nightmare support scenarios for battled-scarred IT veterans, so there's little chance of this initiative having much impact in the office, even if Microsoft decides to provide support for Mac-based Windows, something which it has not yet done.
What about in a Mac-based design environment? I know designers who keep Windows systems around for occasional use, simply for the ability to run Windows-only graphics apps, as well as test Web sites for Explorer compatibility. If Windows apps indeed run as smoothly as promised (which remains to be seen), the dual-boot option could make such tasks simpler. But bouncing back and forth between operating systems runs counter to current graphics and design production workflow thinking, for which even having to leave the confines of a suite is increasingly deemed counter-productive. Just ask Quark how difficult it is to thrive as an essentially self-contained application.
Would this be useful for service bureaus with occasional needs to output Windows files? Maybe, if the environment was rock-solid. How about situations in which designers are forced to use PCs at work but prefer the Mac environment? Such a box at home would potentially let them continue their office work (although there have been reports of problems running Microsoft Outlook, the PC-standard mail app), while spending quality time with OS X. At least until next year, that is, when the Windows world embraces Vista—no word from Apple on whether that will ever run on Mac hardware.
Beyond these relatively modest scenarios, I can't see much appeal for current Mac designers. Perhaps I'm missing something here, so I'd very much like to hear from both Mac and PC designers who see a dual-boot system in their future. I'll be happy to collect these for a future post entitled: Top 10 Reasons Why Designers Like Dual-Boot Macs.
Chris Dickman
Editor, Graphics.com
I remember back when Orange Micro introduced the x86 on an expansion card so that mac users could run windows on their machines. Not much has changed conceptually with "BootCamp". It's still the same old "It wont run windows" objection that has plagued the mac platform for years going back to the IBM commercial that had software titles stacked up to the sky and none of them (supposedly) would run on a mac. Rest assured that multi-boot OS's are here to stay and with VMware microkernal systems on the rise, the world will be a different place for both mac and windows users.
I've been using Windows since version 3.1, and I've upgraded everytime Microsoft told me to. But in 2004, when gasoline prices began to skyrocket, it dawned on me, Windows is just like gasoline. The spending never stops. You have to upgrade everytime Microsoft tells you to and you have to spend money every year on software such as Anti-virus, Firewall, Anti-hacker, Anti-spyware, Anti-spam, and so on. I bought my first Mac in 2004 along with my graphic design software from Adobe, and I only payed ONCE. I haven't spent a penny since. I could upgrade, but only if I want to. Life is wonderful with a Mac.
Hello,
I read the blog about boot camp with much interest. Aboot time! Your points are well thought out and I must say you are looking at this development from a completely different view point from my own. I've never thought of the OS as neutral or transparent before, but you are right, when I get the creative mode it's right brain focus, damn the operating system, full speed ahead.
That having been said, have you considered this:
Say you must travel from Washington, DC to L.A. Ca in the vehicle of your choice. You can choose between the most common car on the road, whatever that is, with just the basics in comfort. OK it has air, heater, stereo etc. and a luxury car of your choice with leather seats, sunroof etc. One ride is sterile, neutral, hey you can really enjoy the scenery and talk alot to the people who are travelling with you. The other is sweet, you could do it alone, just the to drive it is exciting, the scenery just seem to look that much better. What do you think? Is it a good analogy?
From my own life experience we have "The Real Canadian Superstore" or RCSS for short here in BC. A huge store with a warehouse feel (I like to shop at Costco by the way) with rows of low priced whatever in plenty. We also have Safeway. I'm not sure what Safeway is like in the U.S. of A. but here they present a class act. I feel better walking into the store, the product is displayed better, they even have more expensive brands than RCSS, but I like it somehow. The atmosphere, the feeling I'm buying something of quality (probably same supplier). On Vancouver Island they have "Thrifty's" another class act, it's fun just to go in to see how they decorated and displayed product.
Is Mac better, are Windows machines better? I really don't know or frankly care. I have invested money in Mac and the applications to run on it.
Are you seriously saying Windows users are essentially different than Mac users or is this an editorial comment to generate comment?
I work in a newspaper production environment and the company that owns the Macs has done all it can to strip away the bells and whistles and leave us with a true "work station" emphasis on "work". So, we by design. face "the wall" every day at work, not really a creative environment by the way. Most people at the end of their lives will not say that they did most of their creative work in a hospital bed, the beach or that mountain retreat maybe.
So, I guess Windows users shop at the big warehouse supermakets. I was wondering about that.
No, there is no mad rush of Windows users to switch to Macs.
Thank you! I'm glad!
Most of my friends have Windows machines and they try to get me to help them with their machines. "What?" they say, "I thought your were a computer guy?" "Why yes I guess I am, but I have a Mac and I'm not sure what your problem is, why don't you call Tim Wilcox, he's a wiz with Windows?" It's great really, the problems they have are not mine to fix.
Yes, I do have problems with my Mac even on the sacred OS X! But, I can fix them or find some resource on the web or at my MacStation to fix it.
And if there's one thing you Window users don't understand about us Mac users it's that we don't really want to find the right driver for whatever some third party software/hardware company needs.
Boot Camp!
finally the guy gets to the point of the discussion.
I'm due for a new machine next year. I figured out some time in the past that every 5 years a new machine. That works for me.
(What's with the guy who commented on this blog — he's never upgraded his mac. Must enjoy system 6, 7 or 8.)
So, next year I hope to buy a laptop with dual core, 17" or larger if they make one. By then they should have the newest OS in it plus Boot Camp, plus maybe they will be using Intel's latest dual core, that they just annouced, and of which Apple had no comment. (Yeh, you guys who bought the first dual core will probably hav the slower machine).
Yes, I will use Boot Camp and yes it will be an inconvience to log out and in. I have Virtual PC now with Windows XP Pro, runs like molases in the winter. Still it operates the one program I want. The Watchtower Libray from Jehovah's Witnesses. They only produce for Windows.
By the way, I'm sure they won't allow anyone to have Windows/Mac boot ability in the company I work for, only the IT people.
They will be able to service both from one company laptop. Good for IT.
Will I design on both platforms? No.
It will just be a convience and I won't let my friends see that I do have Windows, they will try harder to have me fix their plug and pray machines.
Thanks
Chris, Were you a Ventura or Corel user? I remember your name perhaps at one of Rick Altman's events. I started the VP User Group in Balto. I used PCs starting with the CPM environment and WordStar, then a 286 12Mhz w/2 floppie drives. I ended up at a Govt position with all the latest Macs. Two weeks and I was fine with the system. I prefer Photoshop to PhotoPaint but still like CorelDraw to Illustrator. My money is in the MAC Dual 2.5GH, 4.5Gig RAM and 30" monitor. The PC is to check web pages in Explorer and illustrate in Corel.
Rick: Yes, I presented at some of Rick Altman's events. In fact, he contributed to my first book on CorelDRAW, which I did in Ventura, creating camera-ready separated pages directly on a laser printer! That was how Peachpit Press did things back in the wild days of 1990. Curious to know if you ever tried Xara Xtreme, it's an interesting alternative to DRAW.
I find it hard to believe that you find windows a "neutral" environment. How can something that crashes regularly and requires a full system reboot everytime something goes wrong "neutral"? I call that a waste of good productive time.
Frankly, until OSX, I didn't see any advantage of Mac over PC, except that the good graphics software all ran best on a Mac. Now with OSX, there's a clear advantage to people who actually want to get work done.
Margrit, sorry to hear you have had such problems using Windows. All operating systems have their strengths and weaknesses, I think you'd agree. When it comes to Windows, I can only speak of my own experience of using since the 80's and I honestly haven't had significant problems with it crashing or locking up, and I typically run my systems 10 to 12 hours a day. Perhaps I've just been lucky.
Hi Chris, I used Xara when it first came out. I took a class with Gary Priester at a Corel Conference where we had to draw a wine glass with the reflections in it. I liked the program but didn't stick with it. Using Ventura, I worked with a company that did proposals and we spent two years formatting and revising more than 50,000 pages in this one proposal. All the figures and tables were auto-numbered which would have been almost impossible in another program.
PS- I do enjoy your site and get a lot of benefit from it. Thanks for being there.