Manipulators
There are opinions and theorized implications all over the netosphere regarding Apple’s release of Boot Camp– the semi-offically sanctioned software and driver pack that lets a user install XP on its own partition on a new Intel Mac. Rather than posit my own theory about the global impact of this development, I will offer what this means to me personally:
I will now have more money to spend on Apple goods and services.
Why? How?
Because I do need access to Windows from time-to-time. Yes, I have successfully weened myself from the need for daily use of Windows. but in my profession, crossing over is nearly unavoidable. Besides, being proficient in both (or “all three,” if we count Linux), gives one access to more solutions–one platform may make a particular problem many times easier to fix than another. Happens all the time for me.
But I digress– the real point here is that I no longer need to buy dedicated PC hardware! I am generally happy with Apple’s offerings (although some past ommissions of theirs have been baffling, and sometimes their forced upgrade paths are frustrating), and I know I am satisfied with the quality of the hardware overall.
Now that I can buy one box, run my OS of choice, and move to The Dark Side at will, I will save money by not buying essentially duplicate hardware for the OS X and the XP worlds.
Verdict: Awesome move, Apple. I wonder what your own internal thought processes were that compelled such a release. I hope others see it the same way I do, at the least.