Apple on Wednesday introduced Boot Camp, a program to allow Windows XP to run on an Intel-based Macintosh.
Although Windows has already been successfully booted on several Macs, the software is Apples acknowledgement that customers are interested in dual-booting the Apple OS as well as Windows XP on its new Intel-powered Macs.
Boot Camp will also be a feature of “Leopard,” Apples next major release of its OS X operating system that will be previewed at the Apple Worldwide Developer Conference this August.
The public beta of Boot Camp is available immediately as an 83-Mbyte download at Apples Boot Camp web site, and is “preview software licensed” for use on a trial basis for an undisclosed, limited time.
To use the software, users need an Intel-based Mac with a USB keyboard and mouse, or a built-in keyboard and TrackPad; Mac OS X version 10.4.6 or later; the latest firmware update; at least 10GB of free space on the startup disk; a blank recordable CD or DVD; and single-disc version of Windows XP Home Edition or Professional with Service Pack 2 or later.