what does the intel chip actually do?

Not programs, but an entire Operating System. Now that Mac's have an Intel Chip inside, they can run Windows!

You need to actually install Windows. To do this, you can either use Apple's own Boot Camp software http://www.apple.com/macosx/bootcamp/ or Parallels Desktop for Mac http://www.parallels.com/en/products/desktop/

Whichever application you use, you will need a full version of Windows XP Home or Professional edition with Service Pack 2.

Post back if you have any more questions!

Bob

but what if i want to run mac osx and run a windows
program? wouldnt virtual pc be the tool to use?

Parallels Desktop for Mac would be by far the easiest solution. You can download a free trial version to see if you like it.

In Parallels, you can run Windows in a window right in Mac OS X. This is very convenient because you don't have to restart you computer to run Windows (you have to do this if you use Boot Camp). Also, you can drag files from your Mac desktop right into Windows!

Bob

Sorry, Virtual PC is a Microsoft Application that was made for the Power PC processor. Unfortunately, it is not compatible with the new Intel Processors. Check out this link:

http://www.microsoft.com/mac/default.aspx?pid=macIntelQA

there's also crossover mac

http://www.codeweavers.com/products/cxmac/

Crossover is highly unstable, in my tests at least. It is a great concept, with seemless integration with OS X, but it needs further development.

Because it on intel, you can also run Linux distro's for the intel architecture

I tried Parallels, and I've never seen XP run so fast. Unfortunately, I found Parallels to be extremely unstable and demanding (I have 1.5 GB of DDR, but that was nowhere near enough). I was getting kernel panics every 10 minutes.

I also tried Boot Camp, but it fails to make a partition. Apple apparently expects me to backup my data, and re-initialize my hard drive, then MAYBE it might work. I don't want to run a 6 year-old piece of software (XP) badly enough to do that.

You have 2 viable options to run you .exe files on your new Macbook. Both options are in 'beta', meaning that the software isn't finished and you may experience some problems.

The first option is to download "Parallels Desktop" -- you can get it at http://www.parallels.com. This promises to be very convenient because you don't have to exit Mac OS to run your Windows software. Unfortunately, I have found Parallels to be too unstable for day to day use. Others have had better experiences.


The second option and the one I use, is to down load Apple's "Boot Camp" beta from http://www.apple.com/macosx/bootcamp/. This is not as easy as Parallels because you have to actually restart your computer running Windows to run your .exe files. But it works perfectly.

In both cases you have to actually buy a copy of Windows XP so things can be a little pricey.

So if it's so complicated, why all the excitement over the Intel chip? The reason is that both Parallels and Boot Camp can run your Windows software as fast or (usually) faster than you are currently experiencing on your 'real' Windows computer. When Apple used the PowerPC chip, Windows software would run so slowly that you really didn't want to do it if you could find any other alternative.

If you have to run Windows programs for work or some other reason, then the new Intel chips are great. With the right software installed your Macbook is basically two computers in one -- a Mac OS X powerhouse and a fast Windows XP laptop.


G5-B Dual 1.8, Blackbook, PPC Mac Mini Mac OS X (10.4.6)