Filed under: Software, Apple, Beta Beat
Apple emails Boot Camp users
I used the original Boot Camp beta last year just to see it work. I applied the subsequent updates, but haven't tinkered with it since.Today, I received an email from Apple that reads, in part:
"...With the introduction of Leopard, the Boot Camp Beta program has ended. The Boot Camp Beta software will expire on December 31, and Apple won't offer further updates of Boot Camp Beta for Mac OS X Tiger."
There's your warning, Tiger users. The Boot Camp beta expires December 31st. Upgrade to Leopard or run unsupported. You don't want that, of course. Windows needs all the support it can get.
Thanks to everyone who sent this in.
![TUAW [Cafepress]](http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/tuaw-cafepress-promo.png)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Fritz Laurel said 3:27PM on 11-28-2007
So, wait. The big question is will Boot Camp continue to run after Dec 31 under Tiger?
It would seem that you imply you can "run unsupported" but Apple says "The Boot Camp Beta software will expire on December 31..."
Reply
Adam said 3:44PM on 11-28-2007
Isn't Boot Camp just the driver software and partition app? Isn't the real technology (the BIOS emulator) a firmware update, so Apple can't disable it on Dec 31
Reply
CUBSWILLWIN said 4:02PM on 11-28-2007
not so good...
I'm like some people who like the previous version of softwares as much as the new one. I obviously don't wanna spend money. That's why I'm running xp stil unlike a lot of people. Still, for mac users you get free upgrading plus 5 bucks shipping
Reply
Dan Parmelee said 4:08PM on 11-28-2007
Boot Camp partitions will still be bootable and work fine. They will not offer any new updates (drivers, etc.) after that point.
Reply
Brian said 4:55PM on 11-28-2007
Set your system clock to January 2008, and see if you can still boot into Windows.
Reply
Naren Hazareesingh said 5:18PM on 11-28-2007
Just go to an apple store and extracts the drivers from a computer. Then just email them to yourself.
Reply
slaw_dawg said 5:20PM on 11-28-2007
Last time I had a boot camp beta that expired because I was not using it any longer. I decided to remove the partition, and tried to use boot camp assistant. But it would not let me do anything because that version of the beta expired. So, I had to download the latest version of the beta. If this current version expires, you may not be able to remove your partition with boot camp assistant any longer(and there will not be a version of boot camp to update to). However, I beleive you will be able to still boot into windows.
Reply
pikelet said 7:33PM on 11-28-2007
Windows will still work. You'll still be able to use the Boot Camp assistant to remove / change the partition if you set the clock back. This just means no driver updates and no support if you screw it up.
Reply
Mitchell Oke said 8:34PM on 11-28-2007
How does this change anything? I mean Apple never supported the beta anyway?
Reply
john freibourn said 9:00PM on 11-28-2007
I'm not so happy about this. Yeah yeah, so it's a beta and you shouldn't expect much--BUT, it's a beta in Tiger. By saying that it's ended, now you have to upgrade to Leopard...well, that sounds a lot like I was using a beta of Leopard, not an upcoming application that works in Tiger.
I think this is a cheap move by Apple. They should allow it to run in Tiger, some of us still need to use Tiger until other apps are solid in Leopard, and we use Bootcamp. Go ahead, charge me a little, but don't force me into Leopard when my work depend on more that that shiny new OS.
Reply
Scott Brookes said 9:38PM on 11-28-2007
Arent they planning a Release for Purchase version wasnt that what they said hey were going to do when they released the beta
Reply
Kiley said 1:07AM on 11-29-2007
I had to turn back the system clock in order to remove a Boot Camp partition using Boot Camp Beta. If the beta does expire, it seems they have only built in protection using the computer's time, so it's easy enough to get around.
Reply
Wilder K. Wight said 1:46AM on 11-29-2007
Just a plug for one of my favorite dock items relating to Boot Camp... I don't know what I'd do without BootChamp. It lets me boot to Windows without having to sit there and hold down the Option key, but it doesn't make a permanent change to my startup disk preferences.
Seeketh it and ye shall be happy. Dulang! dulang!
Reply
Andrew Stone said 2:06AM on 11-29-2007
Apple's tune will change if Leopard still sucks.
Reply
Fernando said 2:54AM on 11-29-2007
Oh Man...Again the same comments as with the iPhone bricking. Apple must support me because my pants are on too tight! The beta version is not supposed to go on forever. Fork over the cash that is necessary to get the current version. This is like saying: "I bought 1.0 of Great Software, and I expect it to have all the features of 7.0 for no cost to me!
If you believe Boot Camp is useful support it's progress: PAY FOR IT!
Reply
Jonathan said 5:47AM on 11-29-2007
Shut up Fernando. It's not as simple as that, especially if you have applications that don't run on Leopard properly, and need the flexibility to boot into Windows.
Reply
Al said 12:06PM on 11-29-2007
a) it's not going to kill your Boot Camp partition, so what's the big deal? This change should not affect your work.
b) http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=303572 specifically states all the stuff about when it expires, that it is beta ("Warning: Boot Camp Beta is preview software licensed for use on a trial basis for a limited time."), so you should know that getting into it.
Andrew Stone said 10:29AM on 11-29-2007
Here's a thought... Why doesn't Apple offer Boot Camp as a standalone product for $29.95? Then we can all use boot camp and not have to install an OS that isn't ready for prime time.
Reply
ksmith said 1:17PM on 11-29-2007
"Windows needs all the support it can get"
Because Leopard is a flawless piece of kit itself.
C'mon guys, rise above the cliche windows bashing. Don't be an Apple Asshole.
Reply
marcj said 6:33PM on 12-01-2007
This is clearly a plot by Apple to get Tiger users to buy Parallels. Those fiendish bastards!
Reply