14 DAY TRIAL // Just in case you did not know this, Apple has no intention at all, no plan and no desire to either sell or support Windows. But the Cupertino-based company hesitated little when it came to jumping on the Windows Vista support wagon, in a certain aspect. I say that only in a certain aspect because, otherwise, Apple has dragged its feet when it came to delivering Vista compatible products.
The sole exception? Boot Camp, Apple's software that allows Windows to run on Intel-based Macs. Now Apple is really dedicated to scrape all things related to Windows like a bad taste in the mouth, but still, the Cupertino-company has added support for 32-bit editions of Windows Vista with the release of the Boot Camp 1.2 beta just before Mac OS X Leopard is scheduled for market availability. And although Apple has stated firmly that Mac users running Boot Camp will be on their own in a press release dating back to April 2006, "Apple does not provide support for installing or running Boot Camp," the software will be included in the next release of Leopard.
Now there are two ways in which Windows Vista can run on Intel-based Macs. One is via virtualization technology. But there is a catch with this scenario. Microsoft does not fully support Windows Vista virtualization for all editions of the operating system. In fact, Mac users looking to use either Windows Vista Home Basic or Windows Vista Home Premium in a virtual technology will discover that Microsoft has imposed limitations in the operating system's EULA.
And here is where Boot Camp comes in. Via build 1.2 of Boot Camp Apple is allowing Intel-based Mac users to install and run all the 32-bit editions of Windows Vista on their computers. "You'll need XP Home or Professional with Service Pack 2, WIndows Vista Home Basic, Home Premium, Business, or Ultimate. (No upgrade or multi-disc versions)," informs Apple.