Windows/Linux On Mac?

[Cityscape]

Can you install Windows or Linux on a Macbook with an Intel CPU?

I know that when Macs used the PowerPC you had to have a PPC OS such as Windows NT or Ubuntu 6.10

But now that Macs use Intel CPU's can they run Windows or Linux?
And what Linux would they use, an I386 disto?

[socrates]

you can in fact install windows on an intel cpu mac.

Apple even provides the software (installation gui and drivers) for windows xp and vista.  (Do a google search of "boot camp")

As far as linux goes, it's definitely something you can install, but you need to have working drivers for your mac.  The easiest way to do this is use parallels or vmware to install a virtual machine of linux on your mac.  If you want a native boot version you may have to do a bit more searching.

[Quantos]

There are also even LUG's(Linux User Groups) that can help you install and run Linux on whatever computer you wish.

[Cityscape]

you can in fact install windows on an intel cpu mac.

So you really run Windows Natively / Dual-Boot on a Intel mac?
How would Windows have working drivers then?

[Quantos]

So you really run Windows Natively / Dual-Boot on a Intel mac?
How would Windows have working drivers then?

The drivers can be downloaded from the Mac site.

[socrates]

Correct.  Or if you have Mac OS 10.5, they are on your install dvd.

[Cityscape]

So I could buy a Macbook, completely erase the HDD.
And Install Windows XP and it would work with drivers and everything?

[Quantos]

Why would you want to?

With the Mac I believe that the processor matters.  Are all the new Macbooks Intel chips?

Unless it's for gaming you would get a lot more power with Linux, of course the whole 'ease of use' is a factor there.

[jerryheavyarms]

Hello,

If you would like to test a linux distro on a MAC, try using first a LiveCD of a certain distro. You could try out Ubuntu and see if all your peripherals would work on your MAC.

[Cityscape]

So I could buy a Macbook, completely erase the HDD.
And Install Windows XP and it would work with drivers and everything?

Well I'd like to get a Mac and I want to run Windows XP or 7.

So I can erase the HDD and reinstall with Windows and use the windows drivers from the Mac disk?

[socrates]

Hello,

If you would like to test a linux distro on a MAC, try using first a LiveCD of a certain distro. You could try out Ubuntu and see if all your peripherals would work on your MAC.

This is great advice.

[socrates]

Well I'd like to get a Mac and I want to run Windows XP or 7.

So I can erase the HDD and reinstall with Windows and use the windows drivers from the Mac disk?

I haven't ever tried to do it the way you're suggesting, and boot camp is not meant to work that way.  Boot camp aids you in installing windows xp on a second partition or second hard drive... not as the primary OS.  If you are going to install windows and completely remove Mac OS X, why would you even get a mac?

[2x3i5x]

if you just want windows xp and you are not planning to do anything heavy duty, a cheap non-mac laptop or desktop would suffice as long as you got at least 512 mb of ram.

[socrates]

if you just want windows xp and you are not planning to do anything heavy duty, a cheap non-mac laptop or desktop would suffice as long as you got at least 512 mb of ram.

agreed. 

[ThomasTheXPUser]

BootCamp = Windows on Mac
VirtualBox = Linux on Mac

But buying a computer w/windows is a lot cheaper if you are just going to wipe the Mac Hard drive and install Windows