14 DAY TRIAL // With the new Intel based Macs out, many people have been giddy with excitement at the possibility of using Windows on the new Macs, however, this is just not going to happen for the time being.
With the new processors, Apple has also moved from Open Firmware to Extensible Firmware Interface (EFI). Advanced features of EFI include the ability to boot in the EFI shell and run diagnostic routines as well as power up the CPU to a fully functional state immediately; and separating device control from the operating system, meaning that hardware can be initialized before OS load.
The problem is the EFI, which is used in the new Apple machines? current releases of Windows need BIOS, and Apple doesn't use BIOS, for the plain reason that it is antiquated. Vista supports EFI, but currently only the 64-bit version is available for testing, and since both the new iMac and the MacBook Pro are 32-bit, they are not going to work with each other.
Of course, this does not mean that a way for running Windows on the new Macs will not be found, but rather that it will take some time and will not be as simple and straightforward as inserting the Windows CD and clicking Install.
Microsoft's reaction to the situation was priceless: "We have an open specification and a process for certifying the hardware. We welcome all efforts in this area and we'd support Apple the same way we support every other PC manufacturer," a company spokesperson told BetaNews. "Anyone, including Apple, can purchase and re-sell Windows for use on their industry-standard hardware."