Despite the popular feedback it’s generated for Apple, there is a finish line in sight. The Boot Camp program, released as an unsupported public beta in 2006 that allows Intel-based Mac owners to create separate partitions and run Microsoft‘s Windows XP and Windows Vista operating systems, is set to expire on September 30th or whenever Apple releases a commercial version under the upcoming Mac OS X 10.5 operating system according to MacNN.
To this end, Apple has stated that Boot Camp users who’ve created Windows paritions will not see their files instantly disappear, but stated that there will only be limited support for those continuing to use the beta.
“The Windows installation on a user’s Mac will continue to work after the Boot Camp license expires,” said Lynn Fox, a spokeswoman for Apple. Fox warned that the Boot Camp Assistant software will no longer function when the test period expires and that Apple will no longer provide driver updates to beta users following the expiration.
As mentioned on this site before, Apple has been viewed as gearing up for a commecial release of Boot Camp, perhaps to be sold as a standalone product once Mac OS X 10.5 ships. A final price for such a product has yet to be announced.
If you have any thoughts or comments on this, let us know.

Despite the popular feedback it’s generated for Apple, there is a finish line in sight. The Boot Camp program, released as an unsupported public beta in 2006 that allows Intel-based Mac owners to create separate partitions and run Microsoft‘s Windows XP and Windows Vista operating systems, is set to expire on September 30th or whenever Apple releases a commercial version under the upcoming Mac OS X 10.5 operating system according to MacNN.
To this end, Apple has stated that Boot Camp users who’ve created Windows paritions will not see their files instantly disappear, but stated that there will only be limited support for those continuing to use the beta.
“The Windows installation on a user’s Mac will continue to work after the Boot Camp license expires,” said Lynn Fox, a spokeswoman for Apple. Fox warned that the Boot Camp Assistant software will no longer function when the test period expires and that Apple will no longer provide driver updates to beta users following the expiration.
As mentioned on this site before, Apple has been viewed as gearing up for a commecial release of Boot Camp, perhaps to be sold as a standalone product once Mac OS X 10.5 ships. A final price for such a product has yet to be announced.
If you have any thoughts or comments on this, let us know.