Windows for Apple?

It seems as though the deal to continue making Microsoft Office for Macs wasn't the only thing Microsoft Corp. and Apple Computers had in common. Although Apple won't provide any support for such efforts, the potential a running Windows on an Intel-based Mac has is certainly possible.

Scott Erickson, director of product management and marketing for Microsoft's Mac Business Unit said, "Any new machines that are on the market that run Windows are great." Indeed, this would be a great thing for Microsoft. But maybe they aren't thinking it through all the way. Down the line there could be a developer that enables an easy switch to and from a Windows operated system to a Mac operated system on the same machine, this would undoubtedly attract borderline Mac/Windows users to purchase a Mac more since they could essentially get the best of both worlds.

Philip Schiller, VP for Apple Computers said that Apple has no problem with anyone who may wish to install the Microsoft OS on a new iMac or MacBook Pro, he even added "That's fine with us…We don't mind. If there are people who love our hardware but are forced to put up with a Windows world, then that's OK."

While removing most of the risk from changing back and forth between MAC and Windows, users are more likely to get a Mac because they'd try out all the positives on the Mac, without losing accessibility to games and non-MAC specialized applications.

The next question is who would provide the support? The OS developer? The Hardware developer? If this does happen, and one could certainly imagine it, who'd support this new super-system? With this in mind, I should add that Apple's use of the EFI (extensible firmware interface) rather than BIOS, current Windows releases will not run on the systems, but Microsoft's next big OS release of Vista should be able to. Prepare for dual boot capabilities coming to your computer in the future.

Windows might take a better look at the aspect of putting their OS on any system that supports it. It would be a great way for them to further Microsoft products while enabling the advancement of not only their products, but of overall technology.