While you may have to keep a few grains of salt nearby for this one, it appears as though internal emails are going out to Microsoft support techs informing them that the company is going to changing it's stance on issuing support for copies of Windows that are installed on Apple computers using the Bootcamp software available with OS X.
Before the rumored change, Microsoft treated Bootcamp installations of Windows as their own red headed step child. To put it simply: They refused to help you if you had a problem. Apparently, however, papa Microsoft has had a change of heart and is extending a helping hand to those Mac users who still have a soft spot for Windows. While the support will not include any help with the actual installation process, configuration of Bootcamp, or anything related to the EFI employed on Macs, all retail copies of Windows will now receive the standard two free warranty calls afforded to their PC counterparts. Something is better than nothing, right?
Before the rumored change, Microsoft treated Bootcamp installations of Windows as their own red headed step child. To put it simply: They refused to help you if you had a problem. Apparently, however, papa Microsoft has had a change of heart and is extending a helping hand to those Mac users who still have a soft spot for Windows. While the support will not include any help with the actual installation process, configuration of Bootcamp, or anything related to the EFI employed on Macs, all retail copies of Windows will now receive the standard two free warranty calls afforded to their PC counterparts. Something is better than nothing, right?
Nothing has been confirmed by Microsoft themselves, though, so there's no promises coming from us, but if you are one of those people running Windows on your Mac and could use a little help, hang in there. Microsoft may just answer your calls one day.
News source: Neowin.net (thanks Cansokid)
It's not a software company. Atleast.. not a good one. It gets people by it's hardware, and as it's preloaded with their OS, they "sell" that too. Then they get fanboys (90% of all Apple buyers) who upgrade to the next version for 120 bucks, recieving a couple bugfixes and more desktop effects.
It's not a software company. Atleast.. not a good one. It gets people by it's hardware, and as it's preloaded with their OS, they "sell" that too. Then they get fanboys (90% of all Apple buyers) who upgrade to the next version for 120 bucks, recieving a couple bugfixes and more desktop effects.
While Windows users shell out $400 for nothing but bugs.
Ah I see. So if you're a dedicated customer because you believe in what the company does, and you think they make great products, you're automatically a fan boy? Does the same apply to ANYONE who is loyal to a brand? Are you a fanboy if you've always bought your cars from Honda simply because the dealer always gives you great service? Are you a fanboy because you've always bought Sony or Technics stereo gear because it's always lasted years and never let you down?
You know i'd happily continue dishing out $120 until the end of TIME for a 'few desktop effects' and a couple of bug fixes (your naiveity knows no bounds, so it seems) because its worth it. I'm not going to draw comparisons to competing products because there isn't any need - if you'd used Leopard, you'd know. Its wonderful. Powerful. So fast. So well designed. It's everything I ever wanted in a desktop OS.
Seriously - step away from the computer.
Im still intrigued to see an Apple running both OSX and Vista using bootcamp, - but yeah Microsoft are just as awful as Apple and they don't allow stores to do this.
Both Apple and Windows are awful, not because of what they release.... but because they don't want to co-exist, along with all users wanting that too.
And yes if you always buy Sony without looking at alternatives, and then claiming it to be superior because of all your ideas are from 30 years ago when you got your first sony product. - yes indeed you would be a fanboy.
It's not a software company. Atleast.. not a good one. It gets people by it's hardware, and as it's preloaded with their OS, they "sell" that too. Then they get fanboys (90% of all Apple buyers) who upgrade to the next version for 120 bucks, recieving a couple bugfixes and more desktop effects.
While Windows users shell out $400 for nothing but bugs.
And how does this differ from Windows "FanBoys" who drop a bunch of change to get Windows Vista Ultimate on day 1 and get the same, a few bug fixes, some new bugs and a more desktop effects?
Regards
Simon
It's not a software company. Atleast.. not a good one. It gets people by it's hardware, and as it's preloaded with their OS, they "sell" that too. Then they get fanboys (90% of all Apple buyers) who upgrade to the next version for 120 bucks, recieving a couple bugfixes and more desktop effects.
While Windows users shell out $400 for nothing but bugs.
And how does this differ from Windows "FanBoys" who drop a bunch of change to get Windows Vista Ultimate on day 1 and get the same, a few bug fixes, some new bugs and a more desktop effects?
Regards
Simon
If you people seriously think vista is just a few more desktop effects, you really are incredibly naive.
Microsoft does not only make software, although they are not responsible for the assembly of hardware that drives their software. So they do not make software and computers like Apple does.
QFT
whocares78 : what part of the EULA are you talking about
Jokes aside, I'd think if anything PC makers would be more upset since they could suffer in sales if people could choose to buy trendy Macs which can multi boot OSX/Win/Linux or their PC which can only boot Win/Linux legally.
One big issue is businesses. Many businesses are interested in making the switch to Mac but need a way to transition gracefully. Bootcamp is one way and if MS provides support it'll make the decision to change that much easier.
8. SCOPE OF LICENSE. The software is licensed, not sold. This agreement only gives you some
rights to use the software. Microsoft reserves all other rights. Unless applicable law gives you
more rights despite this limitation, you may use the software only as expressly permitted in this
agreement. In doing so, you must comply with any technical limitations in the software that only
allow you to use it in certain ways. For more information, see
http://www.microsoft.com/licensing/userights. You may not
· work around any technical limitations in the software;· reverse engineer, decompile or disassemble the software, except and only to the extent that
applicable law expressly permits, despite this limitation;
· use components of the software to run applications not running on the software;
· make more copies of the software than specified in this agreement or allowed by applicable law,
despite this limitation;
· publish the software for others to copy;
· rent, lease or lend the software; or
· use the software for commercial software hosting services.
8. SCOPE OF LICENSE. The software is licensed, not sold. This agreement only gives you some
rights to use the software. Microsoft reserves all other rights. Unless applicable law gives you
more rights despite this limitation, you may use the software only as expressly permitted in this
agreement. In doing so, you must comply with any technical limitations in the software that only
allow you to use it in certain ways. For more information, see
http://www.microsoft.com/licensing/userights. You may not
· work around any technical limitations in the software;· reverse engineer, decompile or disassemble the software, except and only to the extent that
applicable law expressly permits, despite this limitation;
· use components of the software to run applications not running on the software;
· make more copies of the software than specified in this agreement or allowed by applicable law,
despite this limitation;
· publish the software for others to copy;
· rent, lease or lend the software; or
· use the software for commercial software hosting services.
No it's not, you are not modifying the software to work, you are modifying the hardware to work... therefore not a violation of the EULA... A violation of this is using a patched uxtheme.dll to install unsigned themes... that is working around a technical limitation... when EFI uses bios compatability you are not working around anything inside of windows... for all windows knows its running on a bios based machine...
8. SCOPE OF LICENSE. The software is licensed, not sold. This agreement only gives you some
rights to use the software. Microsoft reserves all other rights. Unless applicable law gives you
more rights despite this limitation, you may use the software only as expressly permitted in this
agreement. In doing so, you must comply with any technical limitations in the software that only
allow you to use it in certain ways. For more information, see
http://www.microsoft.com/licensing/userights. You may not
� work around any technical limitations in the software;� reverse engineer, decompile or disassemble the software, except and only to the extent that
applicable law expressly permits, despite this limitation;
� use components of the software to run applications not running on the software;
� make more copies of the software than specified in this agreement or allowed by applicable law,
despite this limitation;
� publish the software for others to copy;
� rent, lease or lend the software; or
� use the software for commercial software hosting services.
No it's not, you are not modifying the software to work, you are modifying the hardware to work... therefore not a violation of the EULA... A violation of this is using a patched uxtheme.dll to install unsigned themes... that is working around a technical limitation... when EFI uses bios compatability you are not working around anything inside of windows... for all windows knows its running on a bios based machine...
neofuse is right imho, besides i say its a clever ploy by ms, why not its intel hardware and standard pc (personal computer) parts that we have been swearing by Intel gear for over 10 years buddy
I dont own any "PCs" i own computer systems...yes it means MS are encroaching into Apple territory but hey linux and windows been at it at years (and it hasnt done linux much harm its more popular now than before and has come on leaps and bounds to equal quality to xp products and personally i think superior to vista), and the best part now MS actually support both to a level, can u ever see Apple providing support to any of their own OS general installed non Apple purchased machines? (nah I couldnt see that either buddy)
I support and use 3 Operating systems, 2 personally linux and XP and they each serve a purpose.
And as most Apple haters are keen to point out, Apple just use mostly off the shelf PC components/chipsets these days in their computers - so whats the problem?
If you can run windows on the hardware, then it gets supported. Whoever said it wasn't is making **** up.
If you have a retail copy of Windows XP or Vista then Microsoft pretty much have to support whatever hardware you install it on. The licence is with the user not the PC.
OEM versions of Windows are tied to the PC not the user so the OEM has to support the OS and the hardware.
That's what the extra cost of Retail over OEM goes towards; Support.
If you could get your washing machine or dishwasher to install Windows XP then MS would need to support it.
Kind Regards
Simon
However, by "support" I wouldn't be surprised if it was more a case of "we wont deliberately do anything to break it" rather than offer proper support.
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