PRESS RELEASE 05 April 2006

Apple Introduces Boot Camp Assistant

Public Beta Software Enables Intel-based Macs to Run Windows XP

SYDNEY—6 April 2006—Apple® today introduced Boot Camp Assistant, public beta software that enables Intel-based Macs to run Windows XP. Available as a download beginning today, Boot Camp Assistant allows users with a Microsoft Windows XP installation disc to install Windows XP on an Intel-based Mac®, and once installation is complete, users can restart their computer to run either Mac OS® X or Windows XP. Boot Camp Assistant will be a feature in “Leopard,” Apple’s next major release of Mac OS X, that will be previewed at Apple’s Worldwide Developer Conference in August.
“Apple has no desire or plan to sell or support Windows, but many customers have expressed their interest to run Windows on Apple’s superior hardware now that we use Intel processors,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. “We think Boot Camp Assistant makes the Mac even more appealing to Windows users considering making the switch.”
Boot Camp Assistant simplifies Windows installation on an Intel-based Mac by providing a simple graphical step-by-step assistant application to dynamically create a second partition on the hard drive for Windows, to burn a CD with all the necessary Windows drivers, and to install Windows from a Windows XP installation CD. After installation is complete, users can choose to run either Mac OS X or Windows when they restart their computer.
Pricing & Availability
The public beta of Boot Camp Assistant is available immediately as a download at www.apple.com.au/macosx/bootcamp, and is preview software licensed for use on a trial basis for a limited time. The final version of Boot Camp Assistant will be available as a feature in the upcoming Mac OS X version 10.5 “Leopard.” Apple does not provide support for installing or running Boot Camp Assistant and does not sell or support Microsoft Windows software. Apple welcomes user feedback on Boot Camp Assistant at bootcamp@apple.com.
System Requirements
Boot Camp Assistant requires an Intel-based Mac with a USB keyboard and mouse, or a built-in keyboard and TrackPad; Mac OS X version 10.4.6 or later; the latest firmware update; at least 10GB of free space on the startup disk; a blank recordable CD or DVD; and single-disc version of Windows XP Home Edition or Professional with Service Pack 2 or later.
Press Contacts:
John Marx
Apple
(02) 9641 8399
jmarx@asia.apple.com
Rob Small
Apple
(02) 9641 8180
robsmall@asia.apple.com
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