Great News About Windows for Intel Based Macs

As you know probably know, you can now set up an Intel based Macintosh computer so that it will start up in either Mac OS X or Windows XP. Now when you are wondering if you should purchase a Dell, Gateway, HP or other computer to run Windows XP, you can add Intel based Macintosh computers to that list.

Last week Microsoft had a conference call with four “Macintosh” schools across the United States concerning the purchase or licensing of Windows XP for these machines. The representatives from Microsoft wanted to know how many of our schools would want to have computers capable of running both platforms. The answer from all four schools was unanimous – we are all interested in having computers, especially in labs and laptop carts, capable of being used in this manner. One hour the room is used as a Windows XP lab, the next hour it could be used as a Macintosh OS X lab.

The result of this conference call is an official statement by Microsoft that Windows XP can be installed on the Intel based Macintosh computers under the XP Upgrade License. This price can vary from state to state, but is usually less than $75 per computer.

Discussions are also taking place inside Microsoft about the possibility of licensing MS Office so that both the Windows and Mac OS X versions can be installed on the same computer under one license. This would make it even more beneficial to having a dual boot computer lab in a middle school or high school.

Here is the official statement from Microsoft which was sent to me Friday, May 19, 2006:

The Mac OS is currently a qualifying OS for purchasing the Windows Upgrade License. The introduction of Apple’s “Boot Camp” does not change the implications of enrolling in volume licensing with a Mac OS.

Upgrading to Windows from a Mac OS in Volume Licensing does not prohibit the customer from continuing to use their Mac OS. Essentially “Boot Camp” lets a Mac user run licensed copies of Windows natively on the hardware. Before Boot Camp, Mac users had to run Windows in a virtual environment using VPC for the Mac. Customers are now able to partition their hardware and keep Mac OS in one and Windows OS in the other. At machine startup, they can choose to run the Mac OS or the Windows OS, but not both at the same time.

If Mac users want to run Windows on a Mac outside of VL, they would need to purchase an FPP copy of Windows for the Windows partition.

Regarding upgrade VS full bits……..though we have moved to the standard process of providing only upgrade bits in our VL kits, VL customers still have the right to request and obtain full Windows OS bits for and deployment either through free download or purchase through their Microsoft reseller.

Thank you to Eric Robertson and Shelley Furse from Microsoft for their work on this issue.