"Don't get too excited about the whole Mac/Windows dual-boot thing. Although a wide range of starry-eyed experts have lauded Boot Camp in tones not heard since the days of OS/2, it's really nothing to get excited about. Here are my top reasons why - at least to real computer users - 'Boot Chump' is a snore."
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Member since:2005-07-09
"All it is is a boot menu that will not ask you what OS you want to load by default or give you the menu upon starting up."
You've obviously never used it. You are given a default OS, and you can choose which one; OS X doesn't need to be the default.
The only key you have to press to get your options is the Control key. This is hardly different than GRUB, as most distros set it with a default OS and require a key press to choose an alternate OS.
Speaking about something you have no idea about will just make you look ignorant.
Member since:2006-01-24
> All it is is a boot menu that will not ask you what OS you want to load by default or give you the menu upon starting up
No, it is NOT a "boot menu". It is a partition "wizard" that also creates a XP drivers CD. Boot Camp made a few things easier, but the "magic" behind Macs running XP was the FIRMWARE upgrades that load legacy BIOS support. Most user familiar with Dual Booting scenarios do NOT EVEN REQUIRE Boot Camp to install XP once the firmware update is in place. Although, they would likely use it to create an XP drivers CD.
> If grub ran on Macs, it would be a lot better situation for everyone.
Grub DOES run on Macs. Like it's PC counterpart, it can only boot the most simple setups, enjoys hanging up on "stage 2" and often has issues with booting from USB, SATA, and, Firewire. Grub is in fact one of the nastiest pieces of GNU software in widespread use. To make it remotely useful in modern booting schemes you have experiment in manual editing. Often times writing a boot loader from scratch seems a better solution. How this displaced LILO as the running standard is beyond me, I mean LILO was a manual configure situation too; but at least it usually worked. Isn't XOSL gnu? WTF - why ain't it standard?
> Except Apple who wants to make it difficult to get into alternative operating systems.
Apple would have not released Boot Camp if they wanted it to be difficult. The vast knowledge and skill of the GNU community has successfully implemented 12 page instructions on how to make Mactels boot XP after months of work competing for cash and prizes. Apple got tired of waiting. They didn't want users to wait 4 years or so for the GNU wanna-be-hackers to come up with an elegant solution.
> Seriously how are you supposed to know what keys to press to get into Windows and why do you have to remember to do it every time?
It's point and click thru System Preferences Panel which all OS X user are familiar. A start up key for a graphical boot menu is also available, as most Mac users know (it was available LONG before Boot Camp).
Perhaps you should stick to commenting on things you are familiar with.
Member since:2005-06-29
Member since:
2006-01-25
All it is is a boot menu that will not ask you what OS you want to load by default or give you the menu upon starting up. Sounds like a crappified boot loader. If grub ran on Macs, it would be a lot better situation for everyone. Except Apple who wants to make it difficult to get into alternative operating systems. Seriously how are you supposed to know what keys to press to get into Windows and why do you have to remember to do it every time?