Boot Camp isn’t training for Systems Engineers

A while back, one of the rumor sites had a contest to see who could successfully make a MacBook Pro boot on Windows XP. I figured it was inevitable with the Intel-based systems. When I read how the winner pulled it off, it was way too much trouble for the casual or even dedicated user. Only hobbyists with too much time on their hands would bother. 
 
Well Apple announced their solution to do such a thing yesterday. Surprisingly, it’s relatively easy, for Windows anything. I watched a co-worker set it up in our laboratory without all the weird “voodoo” tricks the rumor site documented. Even installing it on a true PC is formidable. 
 
The nagging question I have is why anyone of sound mind would bother? Windows is plagued with viruses, spyware, worms and a general unpleasantness (these problems are software-driven, they never were hardware). So who needs that installed on a Mac which is more expensive than the average PC. Not to mention a minimal copy of Windows XP will add $199 to the price tag. Outside of games, there is no compelling application my Mac can’t do. 
 
For me, the jury is still out. The only immediate upside is the declaration of no Windows support from Apple. Pretty upsetting for some since Apple’s ratings in Consumer Reports has clobbered the other major PC makers for over five years in a row. I would include Microsoft being bummed because I have never heard a good thing from anyone who called them for consumer-level support. Enterprise-level support is probably pretty decent due to its more expensive nature. 
 
If this will be the final push to get the remaining holdouts in my circle of friends though, then it will be worth it. I still have more mileage to drive out of my remaining PowerPC Macs until the Adobe CS3 package ships.