Windows XP support

[Jay Carr]

Now that apple has Boot Camp, and many Apple users now have Windoze (lord save us all), might it be a wise idea to have a section for Apple specific Windows questions? Not sure what that would be but... I know that having Windows XP support would be odd, since there are plenty of sites for it. But having one for Apple specific questions might not be a bad idea.

[voldenuit]

We've already had a number of purely Windows related questions without any Macs involved recently from posters who seem to have the equation Apple=Bootcamp=Windows in their head and creating a specific section for it will worsen things.

People with Windows problems should use Windows ressources to fix them.

The rest will fit in nicely with the existing categories.

[griffman]

We've been talking about it a bit between the mods, and I think we agree with that approach in general.

Windows-specific question: Find a Windows forum.
Question related to running Windows on a Mac: If via Boot Camp, then it probably belongs in System. If via Parallels, then Applications ... or as appropriate (networking question in Networking, etc.).

But we're clearly not the place to go for pure Windows answers :)

-rob.

[solipsism]

"Apple specific Windows questions"

What would be an example?

[griffman]

"Does anyone know if the XYZ USB device will work when running Parallels? If so, what driver might I need to install?"

"I was running Boot Camp, and when I went to restart my Mac, it would only boot into Windows. Help?!"

"I was running Parallels when the session locked up, and now, when I go to restart the XP session, Parallels just quits. Is there any way to restore the data on the virtual disk without losing it?"

For example :)

-rob.

[Photek]

I would second the motion for letting Windows users use one of the hundreds of thousands of Windows specific forums.... and not this one!

That aside, as I will probiably always work in a multi platform environment it is good to know so many people at this forum are skilled enough on so many differents OS's that I can generally find an answer to my problems.... Mac or Windows!

[scottfsmith]

I for one would support a Win on Mac forum -- right now I am having problems with my Mac bluetooth keyboard and I doubt any Windows forum is going to be able to help me, whereas here there will be a specialized audience. I am also having problems with monitor resolutions. All these kinds of things are not Windows issues, they are Win-on-Mac issues. I should add that it all works fine under OS X so they are not pure mac issues, either.

Scott

[voldenuit]

I for one would support a Win on Mac forum -- right now I am having problems with my Mac bluetooth keyboard.
Yeah, tough luck, Apple didn't bother to write a driver for now.
Already treated here.

Like Rob said:Question related to running Windows on a Mac: If via Boot Camp, then it probably belongs in System. If via Parallels, then Applications ... or as appropriate (networking question in Networking, etc.).
So, no problem.

Creating a Windows section would increase the amount of confused Windows-only-users we can't possibly help and make sorting things harder:
Does your BT-keyboard problem belong to hardware or Windows ?

We've seen interaction-with-Windows questions for quite some time now and they fit in nicely within the existing categories.

[scottfsmith]

Yeah, tough luck, Apple didn't bother to write a driver for now.
Already treated here.


Ah, thanks. I think the search box here led me astray, the keyword "XP" brings up nothing. I tried again with boot camp bluetooth and got some hits. Still I'd vote for a forum. Nobody is going to be throwing money away by buying Apple hardware just to run Windows, so no Windows-only users are going to be showing up.

Its pretty clear that facts are not the order of the day here, and an allergic reaction to Windows is. Not that I can complain, I nearly broke out in hives last night while doing the initial install of XP -- what a load of crap installer!

Scott

[solipsism]

I nearly broke out in hives last night while doing the initial install of XP -- what a load of crap installer!

I installed Vista this week on a Compaq notebook I use as an external HDD and backup machine (I'm not interested in the OSXonX86 Project, or whatever it's called). I thought Vista was going to be more "Mac-like", but it wasn't even close. I looked over every aspect and came away thinking MS was smart to delay Vista once again. On top of that, Vista ran incredibly slow, so I ended up reformatting and going back to XP.

[Jay Carr]

(I'm not interested in the OSXonX86 Project, or whatever it's called).

For the record, it's called Boot Camp, and it's an official Apple Product. They plan on incorporating it into Leopard as I recall. But, don't take this as a sign that I think you should use it (I don't really enjoy using Windows), I just wanted to clarify.


Okay, I know that before I said it should only be Windows on Mac specific questions. But then it occurred to me. We have three forums devoted to the use of UNIX (the TUI, if you will), despite the fact that there are many excellent sites devoted to it. Why shouldn't we do the same for Windows?

Couldn't it be annoying to have to go to a bunch of different sites to fix your one computer? Besides which, I think a lot of the users here appreciate the general attitude of this forum (which is delightful in contrast to many others I've been on), and might not want to go elsewhere. Just some more food for thought I guess. But I'm slowly starting to sell myself on the idea that we should have a Windows section just like we have a UNIX section. And if we run into the stray Windows user we can politely tell them that we are an OSX site primarily, and that we all feel the best cure for their virus problem/driver conflict/security issue is to use OSX ;).

[solipsism]

Zalister, I think you misread my post. I am talking about the OSX86 Porject, which is attempting to get OSX on non-Apple approved x86 architecture, not trying to get Windows on a Intel Macs.

http://www.osx86project.org/

[guardian34]

We've been talking about it a bit between the mods, and I think we agree with that approach in general.
I also agree.

[voldenuit]

Couldn't it be annoying to have to go to a bunch of different sites to fix your one computer?
Absolutely.
Then again, just like someone who runs Linux, NetBSD, FreeBSD, OpenBSD or some other oddball OS, most of the time you'd want to go where people are using the same OS as you do. And if it's somehow Mac related, we'll deal with that part as we always have.

...we should have a Windows section just like we have a UNIX section...
We have a Unix section, because Darwin is Unix.
Since BootCamp, this site has already started to attract confused Windows users too dense to understand what these forums are about.
Having a Windows section will look like we would actually, you know, care about Windows or even consider it a viable OS.

[solipsism]

Having a Windows section will look like we would actually, you know, care about Windows or even consider it a viable OS.

Not if you have a bot in that section that replies with, "Then run OS X, Windows Fanboy!", for all comments made.

[Jay Carr]

We have a Unix section, because Darwin is Unix.
Since BootCamp, this site has already started to attract confused Windows users too dense to understand what these forums are about.
Having a Windows section will look like we would actually, you know, care about Windows or even consider it a viable OS.

I know that Darwin is UNIX, but running in terminal is still a different world than the regular OSX GUI, that's the only point I was trying to make. You do make a point though, in saying that we use a very specific form of UNIX...

I dunno. For the most part it's food for thought really. If it was me, I'd have a Windows section (one that most likely would tell people to use OSX). But, I don't have to deal with the headache personally, and as a result I'm not going to lodge it as a complaint, or even a suggestion, just a thought.

Zalister, I think you misread my post. I am talking about the OSX86 Porject, which is attempting to get OSX on non-Apple approved x86 architecture, not trying to get Windows on a Intel Macs.

http://www.osx86project.org/

Ah, my apologies. There was another project that was trying to do what BootCamp did, and I thought that one was osx86project. Well, I've never been very good at keeping names straight...

[guardian34]

If it was me, I'd have a Windows section
I still don't understand what kind of questions would appear in such a forum.

[griffman]

From my post above:

"Does anyone know if the XYZ USB device will work when running Parallels? If so, what driver might I need to install?"

"I was running Boot Camp, and when I went to restart my Mac, it would only boot into Windows. Help?!"

"I was running Parallels when the session locked up, and now, when I go to restart the XP session, Parallels just quits. Is there any way to restore the data on the virtual disk without losing it?"

[voldenuit]

Wow, guardian, you have a future in professional politics ;) .

You just got Rob to say what would go into a new forum section he doesn't want to create in the first place...

Trying to get back on messsage, here's what he meant to add:

Windows-specific question: Find a Windows forum.
Question related to running Windows on a Mac: If via Boot Camp, then it probably belongs in System. If via Parallels, then Applications ... or as appropriate (networking question in Networking, etc.).

[guardian34]

Wow, guardian, you have a future in professional politics ;) .
Ugh… I'd rather not. :)

You just got Rob to say what would go into a new forum section he doesn't want to create in the first place…

Trying to get back on messsage, here's what he meant to add:
He's already said all of that before, and I already said I agree with it. My implied question was directed to those who would like to see the seperate section.

[ArcticStones]

Its pretty clear that facts are not the order of the day here, and an allergic reaction to Windows is. Not that I can complain, I nearly broke out in hives last night while doing the initial install of XP -- what a load of crap installer!
I respectfully disagree, Scott. Facts are precisely the order of the day here -- with little chatter, virtually no BS, and an almost total lack of animosity display.

What really astonishes me, is how time and again Windows users who bring sensible questions and help requests to the Forum are treated to truly helpful, polite answers, and no mockery. Sure, most Mac users have chosen Mac for a reason.

My own allergic reaction to Windows is almost visceral (I literally had to quit a big project, because using the required OS was totally depressing). Ironically, it was localisation of MS software into Norwegian -- and Microsoft didn’t trust the integrity of their own word processing software run on a Mac platform!

Lots more could be said.

[Jay Carr]

Hmm... The point that I was trying to make is that it might be nice for the small amount of window/osx users to not have to travel to more than one site. Reason being what ArcticStone just said, people here are awful polite (for the most part) and are highly knowledgeable.

All I'm saying is it would be nice. But I think I agree that running a full fledged windows help site would be too much work if every run of the mill windows user were to try and use the forum. And since I don't know how you would refine the forum to simply be OSX/Windows users without being somewhat rude, I think I'm just going to have to throw in the towel with the rest of you. Sometimes 'nice' just isn't feasible.

[bored28]

Apple itself has stated that they will in no way support Windows XP on Macs. Shouldn't this forum also follow suit?

Personally, I see no correlation between specific windows problems and OSX problems. However, that being said, if the questions were generalized, there is a correlation, such that can be found in the generalized sections named "System" , "Networking" , Hardward..." and etc.

And to answer griffman's questions.....

1. Can be found in either the Hardware section or Parrallel's website.
2. Can be found in the System section
3. Can be found at the Parrallel's website under FAQs.

See, no need to change! :)

After all, this is OSXHints Forums, not WindowsHints Forums, right?. At least, I think it is?!?! ;)

Wow.....what a mess a WindowsHints Forums site would be!!!!

[guardian34]

The point that I was trying to make is that it might be nice for the small amount of window/osx users to not have to travel to more than one site.
Then I'd also like to see a section for DOS/OS X users (emulation) for the same reasons…

[solipsism]

Could we also have a NetWare and AS/400 section too.



(I know, I'm not helping here)

[solipsism]

I just finish reading Tom's Hardware's 500 Hour Test of Windows Vista Beta (http://www.tomshardware.com/2006/05/31/windows_vista/) and I would like to change my stance from not supporting Windows to supporting Windows Vista on this site. After all, who better to assist new Vista users than those who have several years experience using it's "new and innovative" features.

(I know, I'm still not helping)

[hayne]

(I know, I'm still not helping)
Please refrain from "not helping" any more.
This is not the Coat Room. It is not the place for random comments pro or con Windows, nor for attempts at humour.