So it was only natural. On the one hand, there’s a simply superb personal computer, the 17-inch MacBook Pro, and the ability to run two or more operating systems. Independent tests show that it actually can run Windows XP faster than many dedicated Windows boxes. So with two popular methods of setting up the “Dark Side” on an Intel-based Mac, I decided to take the ultimate plunge: The public beta of Windows Vista.
This isn’t quite as simple as it seems at first glance. Yes, the download process proceeded with nary a hitch. In fact, I got the file via Apple’s Safari, and used Mac OS X’s Disk Utility to convert the disk image to a DVD. Piece of cake. At first, I wanted to use Parallels Desktop to host the Vista beta, hoping it would let me do some direct comparisons with Tiger without a reboot.
Alas, that wasn’t to be. The PC BIOS that Parallels supports isn’t compatible with Windows Vista. That’s a limitation that will be addressed in a few months, so far now I decided to see if Boot Camp would work, without any weird workarounds or hacks. In order to deprive myself of even the most basic common sense information, I decided to approach the task directly without doing any research first. That, as you will learn shortly, is not the path of least resistance.
Story continued in this week’s Tech Night Owl Newsletter. [1]