Windows XP on an iBook G4

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Level 1

4 points

Windows XP on an iBook G4

Hey, first post ;p

Umm.. I currently have Windows XP and I am looking to buy an apple iBook G4. I was wondering if I could buy it and instead of using Mac software, I could buy a Windows XP and put it on the iBook G4? Or would it mess things up?

I'm just want the physical part of the iBook G4 but I want the software, or insides, of Windows XP.. can this be done? And is it very difficult?

thx

Windows XP

Posted on Mar 18, 2006 8:33 AM

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Answer 1

mecklists

Level 4

1,795 points

Mar 18, 2006 9:27 AM in response to k8e

Lots of folks would love to be able to do this, but it's not possible. Apple designs and manufactures its own hardware as well as the operating system so that they are interdependent. One can't run without the other and neither will work with a non-Apple counterpart. Mac OS X won't run on Intel machines designed for Windows and Apple computers won't run Windows.

Or will they? 😉

Today, you can get Microsoft's Virtual PC 7 and run Windows on your iBook in emulation. It's not fast but it's effective. Plus you still get the advantage of the Mac OS and BSD UNIX. That's three operating systems on one computer! Not a bad trade off.

If you currently have a Windows XP Professional PC, you can use Microsoft's Remote Desktop Connection client to remotely log in to your PC. It's not emulation and is therefore pretty fast. But of course, you need network access to the Windows XP system whenever you want to run Windows. Have a look at Microsoft's website for the free RDC client http://www.microsoft.com/mac/otherproducts/otherproducts.aspx?pid=remotedesktopc lient.

With Apple's introduction of Intel-based Macs, folks immediately considered the ability to run Windows and someone even posted a $10,000 (plus additional donations) reward for the first person to do this. Just this past week someone officially claimed the prize. Have a look at http://onmac.net/. This, however, requires an Intel-based Mac and the iBook has yet to go Intel. If you're interested in a MacBook Pro, which is a little more expensive, then you may get what you want.

Hope this helps! bill

1 GHz Powerbook G4 Mac OS X (10.4.5)

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