After installing Windows XP in MacBook Pro and having received tons of comments and emails from the readers I’m just wondering what’s next? For users, for Apple and for Microsoft. Being able to dual or even tri-boot intel Macs (actually any single hardware) would be a bliss. Imagine having seamlessly, legally and with full support booting a single machine with OSX, Windows and Linux. I don’t think normal home users would be excited about this for now but this would be a nirvana for majority of geeks. For Windows users (like me), they can easily see and try for themselves what’s it that makes the Mac users so religious about their OS. And if they can find this X factor that hooks the Mac users then this might even trigger a mass migration from windows to Macs.

The best of all three worlds in one machine. The first step has been taken. Thanks to OnMac.net. And now progress will greatly depend on Apples next move. I think Microsoft is not in a position to influence the game ahead because they’re just a software company and would be happy to sell more Windows. Apple has the ball in their court and let’s see how they’ll play. What is apple planning to do about this? or they already knew this would happen and have prepared a good plan to make best out of this situation?

What will Apple do next?

Apple has already said in the past that it will not try to stop those trying to run other OSes in it’s hardware. So, there are several possible actions that Apple might take.

  1. Honestly stick to what it said and just carry on as if nothing has happened. But I doubt this will happen.
  2. On every major update try to break the dual-trio boot. Making the life of dual/trio booters a nightmare.
  3. Quietly encourage this. Maybe they wanted/expected/knew this would happen. And take full advantage. Being the number 1 hardware maker beating Dell, HP and IBM. They’ll be the only hardware vendor whose hardware can run all major OSes including the one and only OSX.
  4. Offer an alternative solutions similar to wine (crossover) that can run windows applications within OSX. This will definitely pull a lot of users like me to Macs.

What about onmac.net?

I think this will be a major movement that will grow for some time to come. This project will be popular and successful if Apple doesn’t officially let other OSes in it’s hardware. The enthusiasts, geeks and hackers will be more determined to find solutions, hacks and workarounds to defy every obstacle Apple creates (intentionally or unintentionally). I think that this is going to be a big community which Apple cannot ignore. But this project will die if Apple officially lets you install Windows/Linux in it’s intel Macs.

What do you think?

                           

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