Recently in Tech::Mac Category
Who cares if Microsoft has Flash Lite on their smartphones? The whole iPhone vs. Microsoft smartphone has much more to do with usability, stability and "it just works" philosophy. With the arrival of the iPhone SDK, the June software update and the coming wave of cool new applications via iTunes, Apple's offering will continue to dominate the smart phone / all-purpose pocket device for seasons to come.
And kudos to Jobs for demanding a Flash Player for iPhone that won't fill the device with hacked-up sludge.
Finally, my time has come. This weekend I became the proud foster parent of a brand new Intel-based Mac mini. A good friend of mine spent a couple of days with us and we embarked on a little side project. I'll be working on some Java code for him over the next few months and we thought the best way to keep everything self-contained would be to buy a cheap Windows desktop. At the same time he had asked about the new Mac minis and the usefulness of having a Mac around the office for working with graphic designers, etc. I mentioned that the newest Mac minis are capable of dual-booting Mac OS X and Windows XP. He also mentioned that he needed another Windows workstation for one of the workers at his office back in England. At that point the deal was sealed.
So after a bit of attempted haggling over price, the two of us came back to my place with three Mac minis. The plan was to set all of them up with Windows XP and to leave one of them here for me to work on our joint project. In one evening we were able to easily get all three of them dual-booting and completely updated.
Now, although I'm still a bit shocked and impressed at having Windows natively running on this beautiful little oh-so-Apple-styled machine, I have to say that it didn't all come off perfectly.
As soon as we plugged in the first mini we realized that hundreds of MBs of updates would have to be installed prior to enabling the dual boot mechanism. In addition there were two different firmware updates required - both with very different tricks needed for a successful update.
After all required updates were installed, I downloaded and installed Apple's Boot Camp software (beta). This performs the re-partitioning of the hard drive into two partitions (one Windows and one Mac) and sets up the necessary subsystem for dual booting. This part was very straight forward and well thought out. Once Boot Camp was installed and a Windows XP installation disk was inserted, the mini was restarted and the bastardization began.
The rest is all a fairly boring tale of ugly blue DOS-like installation screen for Windows and the typical long-winded and confusing Windows XP installation - with one exception; once the Windows install was complete and the system was booted into Windows XP, I was able to insert a Windows driver CD (kindly burned by Apple's Boot Camp) and install Apple-provided drivers for the mini's special hardware. The driver CD provides updates as well as enabling the built-in Bluetooth capabilities of the mini. WOW!
Overall the process was doable, but not as simple as the average Mac user is accustomed to.
In the end though, the result is pretty astounding. Now I'm going to have to tear myself away from this little beast long enough to get some real work done.
The only real problem we had was one of the minis decided not to boot, at all, straight out of the box. The light was on but no one was home. Our first idea was to take it back to the store the next day, but I took a look at Apple's support site for the mini. Apparently this is a known issue with the mini and firmware updates have been released to fix it. There are also some very detailed instructions on resetting the PRAM and the PMU. These have to be followed EXACTLY for the process to work. Fortunately for us I had a computer-savvy octopus nearby who was able to perform some of the steps, especially the one where we had to plug in the power cord, hold down command, option, X, P, T, A and 3 (all at once), rub the mouse on one of our noses, turn around 5 times and shout "start, please, start." OK, maybe it wasn't that bad - but pretty stinking close.
It will be pretty interesting to see how this dual boot capability and its not-so-easy (or Mac-like) setup is received by those who may be potential "switchers."
Anyone else have similar experiences? I'm curious to know if the process is the same for the Intel-based Mac Books and Mac Book Pros.
Technorati Tags: Apple, bootcamp, dualboot, mac, macmini, macmini, mini, puppy, tech
Technorati Tags: technology, mac, apple, switch, windows
This evening I was strolling the West Town Mall - just for fun... OK - it really wasn't for fun - I was helping my nearest and dearest shop for clothing. Anyway, just a few steps before the Brooks Brothers store - right at the place my stomach usually starts turning in anticipation of the hideous southern preppy, seersucker, navy sport coat assault on the senses that is Brooks Brothers - my whole evening got a little bit better.
So I wet myself a bit. I'm not ashamed. We're getting a freaking Apple store!!! No details on the time table yet, but there's a construction wall with a nice, big Apple logo printed on it.
After a bit of checking, I turned up a couple of other sites who've been speculating about this. Mat on Macs scooped this over a month ago after an article in the Knoxville News Sentinel. The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) had a post on the subject as well.
Technorati Tags: Apple, applestore, iPod, knoxville, mac, shopping, suburban, technology, tn
Until this afternoon I was practically wetting myself over the fact that Intel-based Macs can now easily dual boot both Windows XP and Mac OS X. This is obviously a cool development with many potential upsides for all involved. My problem with it began when I read Greg Storey's account of his Mac-hating buddy lining up at the Apple Store to buy a shiny new MacBook Pro on which to run Windows XP. How is this a problem? Until now the Apple store had been a sort of refuge from your typical computer geek (not used affectionately here). You know the type; poorly dressed, coffee-breath-breathing, wannabe I.T. workers stalking confused-looking consumers in the aisles of your local Best Buy, waiting for someone to ask a question about the benefits of Windows vs. Mac OS X or firewire vs. USB 2.0. These guys (this is an almost exclusively male pursuit) live to spew incomprehensible streams of tech jargon (mostly incorrect) towards unaware and visibly impressed neophtyes for hours on end. Usually the Best Buy help makes some vain attempt at rectifying the situation, but ultimately succumb to the superior punditry of the formidable, slightly chubby geek that has wooed the potential customer into his lair of lies and half-truths. This is my fear - an army of these guys descending on the local Apple Store, braying about how "it's about time Apple realized that OS X sucks - good hardware - but they had to admit they needed a new OS - so they're moving towards Windows XP." Look out Genius Bar resident gurus, you may be in for some "heavy" competition.
Technorati Tags: Apple, blogs, bootcamp, mac, macbookpro, tech
Let the rush to the Apple Store begin. Apple has officially released a public beta of "Boot Camp," allowing owners of the Intel-based MacBook pro to dual boot Windows XP.
CUPERTINO, California—April 5, 2006—Apple® today introduced Boot Camp, public beta software that enables Intel-based Macs to run Windows XP. Available as a download beginning today, Boot Camp allows users with a Microsoft Windows XP installation disc to install Windows XP on an Intel-based Mac®, and once installation is complete, users can restart their computer to run either Mac OS® X or Windows XP. Boot Camp will be a feature in “Leopard,” Apple’s next major release of Mac OS X, that will be previewed at Apple’s Worldwide Developer Conference in August.For Mac users like myself this is a VERY tempting reason to upgrade to a MacBook Pro. In my personal life, I use nothing but Macs. At work I'm forced to live with XP due to various internal applications we use on a regular basis. In addition, I travel frequently and always get stuck taking my bulky work laptop and leaving my sexy Mac behind. Now I'll be able to do it all with one machine. Oh, if only I could convince my "financial planner" (i.e. spouse) to go along. More from the NY Times.
Technorati Tags: mac, apple, macbookpro, windows, tech, xp, bootcamp
SubSystm serves up a live "iPod autopsy" video for your viewing pleasure.
Technorati Tags: Apple, autopsy, iPod, reviews, tech, technology, toys
MacTheRipper allows Mac users to backup legally-owned DVDs to their hard drive for viewing or burning to a back up DVD. There are several of these applications in the wild, but they are highly targeted for destruction by "The Man." When a legitimate link is posted for download - it's best to get it while it's available - it may not be around for long. Get it here.
Update: RipDifferent is now the best place to download MacThe Ripper - the original site is down again.
Technorati Tags: backup, DVD, mactheripper, mac, ripping, technology
Technorati Tags: Mac, OS X, useful, tips, free, freeware, Apple
