Running Windows on a Macintosh
October 18, 2007
by Walter S. Mossberg
Would you discourage someone from buying an Apple Macintosh with the intention of running Windows as the sole or primary operating system? In your opinion, would running Windows as your primary operating system present more significant issues than simply the lack of a right-click button, keyboard differences and other minor issues?
Apple makes beautiful hardware, and, in my experience, it runs Windows quite well. In fact, the mouse and keyboard problems you cite are easily overcome, since you can plug almost any USB keyboard and mouse made for Windows into a Mac and they will work fine, right-mouse button and all.
However, what makes a Mac a Mac is primarily Apple’s OS X operating system, and the software Apple bundles with it, the iLife suite. If you don’t intend to use that, I don’t see much point in buying an Apple computer. You won’t get the advantage of the Mac’s lack of viruses and spyware, which stem from the operating system, not the hardware. And you can buy a Windows computer for less than the least expensive Mac.
In my view, the main value of the Mac’s ability to run Windows is that it allows Apple owners to use the few Windows programs they require or prefer that lack Mac equivalents, while primarily running the Mac operating system and programs designed for it.
How can one send an email to a group of people without all of their individual email addresses showing?
The most common method is to put your own email address in the “To” field and the names of all the recipients in the “Bcc” field, which is designed to be invisible. There’s always a danger someone quickly scanning just headers will decide not to read the email, since it isn’t addressed to her, but most email veterans understand the technique.
Is there a way to regain the traditional drop-down menus and other interface items in the new, redesigned Microsoft Office 2007?
There is at least one third-party add-in program designed to do this, but I haven’t tested it. It’s called Classic Menu for Office 2007, and can be found at www.addintools.com.
You can find Mossberg’s Mailbox, and my other columns, online for free at the new All Things Digital Web site, http://walt.allthingsd.com.
Write to Walter S. Mossberg at mossberg@wsj.com
Comments
Walt said,
“You won’t get the advantage of the Mac’s lack of viruses and spyware, which stem from the operating system.”
I think the biggest source of protection against viruses and spyware is that Mac’s have only about 3% of the market, so no one cares, they are just not worth the effort.
Posted by Richard Mitnick at October 18th, 2007 at 11:53 amHello Richard and all. Not to start a flame war, but the mac osX is based on a variant of linux. Linux and Unix based operating systems have been running viruses free for decades. If you understand how the operating system. It is not impossible to get a virus, however, it is very difficult for one to be propagated. That being said, Windows is a good operating system. I have used it for years and then made the switch and have not regretted the choice. The choice is up to you and that is my take on this topic.
Enjoy -
Posted by Caleb Rodriguez at October 18th, 2007 at 12:50 pmRichard, your market share numbers are way off. I suggest you read more before you write. Apple market share is demonstrated by its stock performance—which keeps going up at a much higher than any Windows vendor. Apple market cap is now above Dell, HP and will surpass IBM in early 2008.
Why not read what people are saying about OS X vs. Vista. If you do, then perhaps you will understand why there are so many “Switchers.” You might also appreciate that this is not the same old Mac OS and that now with Intel [inside] and that all of the rules have changed.
Disclosure: I own Apple stock!! (YAHOOOO!)
Posted by Dave Hanks at October 19th, 2007 at 1:53 am“but the mac osX is based on a variant of linux.”
Mac OS X’s heritage is BSD UNIX; not Linux.
Mac OS X began life in the 1980’s as NeXTSTEP. NeXTSTEP had a Mach microkernel with a BSD licensed UNIX personality. When Apple acquired NeXT the BSD licensed UNIX code was replaced with work from the FreeBSD project.
Leopard is certified UNIX.
Posted by Ken McKee at October 19th, 2007 at 3:16 amhttp://www.apple.com/macosx/technology/unix.html
I personally find my Mac much more secure than my Windows.
Posted by Arthur Beckel at October 20th, 2007 at 2:52 pm