Apple Boot Camp 1.1 adds XP features & supports latest Macs

Boot Camp - the free Apple application that lets you dual-boot Intel Macs between Windows XP and Mac OS X - has been updated to add quite a few things missing from the original version and also support the "latest Intel-based Macintosh computers".

Improvements in V1.1 (a 220MB download) include the ability to install XP on any internal disk (there's still no external-drive support, seemingly), the mapping of some Windows-specific keys (Delete, PrintScreen, NumLock, and Scroll Lock) to Apple keyboards and support for iSight cameras and built-in microphones.

Also listed are easier hard-disk partitioning - by offering a selection of preset splits - and the option to use the right-hand Apple key on Apple keyboards as a right-mouse click.

The purpose of this eludes us just now, since the default right-mouse action is to bring up context-sensitive menus and you can do this under Mac OS with a single-button mouse by holding down the Control key and clicking. Furthermore, as we made clear in our recent review of the Apple Mac mini Core Duo, we regard a multi-button mouse as a necessity for using OS X, just as it is with Windows XP, so this workaround really shouldn't be needed.

Perhaps most significant of all the changes in V1.1 is the added support for the latest Intel-based Macintosh computers. That presumably (and hopefully) includes the Mac Pro desktop models introduced on August 7 at Apple's World Wide Developers Conference in San Francisco and detailed in this HEXUS.hardline.

Version 1.1 follows in the wake of the undocumented introduction of a V1.02 updater in July and all versions, including the latest, are still offered only in beta form.

So, as before, Apple isn't supporting the program the way it would a release version. However, our hands-on experiences with V1.0 were very positive, as we describe in our reviews of Apple Boot Camp Public Beta itself and of the Apple Mac mini Core Duo. For us, Boot Camp just worked and the whole process was painless thanks to the first-class instructions that Apple supplied with the app.

Apple recommends that all users of earlier Boot Camp versions upgrade to beta V1.1 but this looks as though it should be relatively painless. There is, Apple says, no need when you re-install to re-partition the Mac's hard drive again (unless you want to change the sizes of the partitions) or reinstall Mac or Windows operating systems, software or documents.

Our advice, though, is back up both partitions first if at all possible - something we guess Apple will also suggest in the accompanying step-by-step instructions.

For sure, though, Apple does stress that it is important for existing users to update the Boot Camp Assistant software, create a new Macintosh Drivers for Windows CD and install on XP the updated software the CD will contain.

The requirements to use Boot Camp look unchanged. As well as an Intel-based Mac, you'll need:

* Mac OS X Tiger v10.4.6 or later (check the version number in Software Update in System Preferences)
* The latest firmware updates (check this support page and this firmware updates page)
* A minimum of 10GB free hard disk space
* A blank recordable CD (to create the drivers disc for XP)
* A kosher copy of Windows XP (Home or Pro) with Service Pack 2. Currently, Apple says, multi-disc, upgrade and Media Center versions of XP are not supported - though we don't know if the kludge that lets you use MCE with V1.0 still works with V1.1

So, how much of an improvement does Boot Camp V1.1 look to be? Let us know your thoughts - and hands-on experiences - in this thread in the HEXUS.community.