Apple Updates Boot Camp Beta
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Apple today released an update to its Boot Camp software. The latest release, 1.1.2, adds new functionality and fixes some issues when running Windows on an Intel-based Mac.
Boot Camp was introduced concurrent with Apple's switch to Intel microchips earlier this year. Still in beta—and scheduled for full release this spring with Mac OS X 10.5 “Leopard”—it allows Mac users to partition their hard drives and install and run Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2 natively on Intel-based Mac hardware, including iMacs, Mac Minis, MacBooks, MacBook Pros and Mac Pros.
Boot Camp includes a utility that creates a Windows partition on a Mac's hard drive, which can then be used for installing Windows XP. After Windows is installed, users can choose which operating system to boot into by holding down the Option key at startup. When users are booted into the Mac OS X environment, they can access and make changes to the Windows volume, such as transferring files between partitions.
The latest 1.1.2 update fixes some isues that have been nagging, particularly with users of Mac notebooks. These include the ability now to use scrolling and right-clicking two-finger gestures with the Mac's trackpad and improved wireless 802.11g networking. Other changes include:
- Fixes to idle sleep bugs;
- A fix for the Apple USB modem;
- Improvements to international support;
- And a reduction of the number of dialogs when installing Windows drivers.
Note that Boot Camp is still in beta form, and Apple does not recommend using it for anything but, essentially, testing purposes at this point.
Apple Boot Camp 1.1.2 beta is available for free download now and requires Mac OS X 10.4.6 or later. For more information, visit http://www.apple.com.
About the author: Dave Nagel is the executive editor for 1105 Media's educational technology online publications and electronic newsletters. He can be reached at [email protected].
Have any additional questions? Want to share your story? Want to pass along a news tip? Contact Dave Nagel, executive editor, at [email protected].
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