Can I run Windows XP on my Mac with Boot Camp?

I agree with you that Apple's release of Boot Camp is darn exciting news for us Mac aficionados, but I have some bad news for you: If you're running a G5 Mac that means that you have a Motorola - not Intel - CPU powering your device and Boot Camp won't work for you.

Boot Camp is designed to allow people with the new Intel-based MacBook and Intel-based Mini's to reconfigure their systems to support dual booting Windows XP or Mac OS X. In the land of Motorola systems (G4s, G5s, PowerBooks, iBooks, iMacs, etc) we're stuck with emulators like Microsoft's rather pokey Virtual PC package. Can you say "upgrade?" :-)

Let's talk a bit about Boot Camp, however. To use it to configure your Intel Mac to dual boot, you'll need more than just an "Intel inside". The official site details these requirements:

• Mac OS X Tiger v10.4.6 (check Software Update)
• The latest Firmware update (check Support Downloads)
• 10GB free hard disk space
• An Intel-based Mac
• A blank recordable CD
• A printer for the instructions (You’ll want to print them before installing Windows, really.)
• A bona fide installation disc for Microsoft Windows XP, Service Pack 2, Home or Professional (No multi-disc, upgrade or Media Center versions.)

Notice that you will have needed to upgrade to the very latest version of Mac OS X and that you need a lot of disk space available for the Windows partition: 10GB. Of course, you can easily and painlessly buy a 40GB or bigger external drive and use that instead, with all the same benefits of dual booting.

Once it's all installed and configured (and Apple has extensive directions on how to use Boot Camp [PDF] if you want to try it for yourself) you simply hold down the Option key on bootup to be given the choice of operating systems, as shown in the screen shot above.

Boot Camp is way cool, pretty darn near enough motivation for me to buy yet another Mac, but this time have an Intel inside. On the other hand, don't forget Apple's ironic warning:

"Word to the Wise: Windows running on a Mac is like Windows running on a PC. That means it’ll be subject to the same attacks that plague the Windows world. So be sure to keep it updated with the latest Microsoft Windows security fixes."

Ayup. Don't be fooled into thinking that Boot Camp will protect you from any malware, spyware, viruses, trojan horses or any of the myriad of other things that Mac users are generally immune to while running Mac OS X.